Omowunmi Esther Oyeleke: A Gospel Singer’s Journey from Surulere to Edinburgh

By Oladayo Nuel

On a brisk Sunday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edinburgh Tabernacle, United Kingdom, Omowunmi Esther Oyeleke’s voice fills the room, steady and soulful, like a thread connecting Nigeria to Scotland.

For 20 years, this gospel singer has poured her heart into music ministry, from the choir stalls of Surulere to leading worship across the sea. Her story is one of faith, family, and a calling that’s taken her far—yet kept her close to her roots.

Her love for music sparked early. “Growing up was full of fun,” she recalls. “My family was always singing. My mum spotted my talent and got me into the choir fast.” At home in Surulere, radios played gospel hits, CDs stacked high, and Omowunmi pored over songbooks, copying lyrics by hand.

She led coral groups in primary and secondary school, her voice a constant hum—on the playground, in class, everywhere. That passion found a home in the RCCG choir. “I was just a kid among adults,” she says with a laugh. “They’d tease me—‘Who’s this tiny girl?’—but when I sang, they’d say, ‘That’s a big voice!’” Her mum and choirmaster saw her potential. “They believed in me,” she adds. “They’d push me to take hard parts, even as a teenager.”

Though the push seemed hard, those days of endless rehearsals shaped her. “We had concerts every few months, plus Sunday services and special programs,” she explains. “Rehearsals never stopped. And the uniform—white and black—was a must. Every chorister had those colours ready.”

Looking back, Omowunmi finds everything funny. The grind wasn’t just routine—it built her skills. She met singers from different towns, swapped notes, and learned the craft. “All that work made me who I am,” she says.

By her 20s, Omowunmi was leading praise teams in Nigeria. She explains that the congregation was everything to her. She didn’t want it to feel like a show because church isn’t a theatre. I wanted lives touched and hearts healed, she says. That often leads to people testifying about music ministries. “That’s what drove me to put my soul into music,” she says, beaming a smile.

She’d rehearse hard with her backup singers and instrumentalists, making sure everyone clicked. “I’d get us aligned,” she adds, “then step back and let God work. I’m just the vessel.” Her focus wasn’t applause or standing ovations—it was impact.

Her first song, “Sufficient Grace,” marked a turning point. “It started at a teen praise session,” she remembers. “I was leading, and it didn’t even have a verse. I made one up right there at rehearsal, scribbling it down fast so I wouldn’t forget. No phone to record—just me singing it over and over.” When it caught on, spreading through churches, she felt her purpose snap into focus. “It was wild,” she says. “People knew my song before they knew me.”

In 2022, she relocated to Edinburgh with her husband. “Adjusting wasn’t hard,” she says. “The RCCG here felt like home, just extended. The worship style was different, but it was all to one God. I blended in.” She learned the local ways of working with singers from varied backgrounds. “I had to unlearn some things and pick up new ones,” she admits. “But I’d suggest ideas too—ways to make it special for everyone.” Her knack for innovation kept her music fresh.

Now, she’s eyeing a new project. “I’ve got songs from Nigeria and some I wrote here,” she says. “I want to release a single soon—something that catches fire before I do a full album. Maybe a live concert next year, once I’m settled.” She’s met talented people in the UK and hopes to team up. “They can help make it real,” she says, her voice steady with intent.

Worship fuels her after all these years. “It’s how I reach God,” she explains. “My first real moment with Him was through worship. I won’t trade that for anything. It’s what I was made for.” She sees music as a lifeline. “It lifts people when they’re down,” she says. “Not everyone picks the gospel, but I want mine to change them. I preach the word through song—that’s my aim.” The church has shifted since her born-again days. “People might skip sermons,” she notes, “but they’ll hear it in music.”

With a newborn at home, life’s busier. “It’s exciting,” she says. “Balance is tricky—I manage it with my husband’s help.” She doesn’t slack on her ministry, juggling diapers and rehearsals, feeding bottles and microphones, refusing to let her calling falter because too many people count on her. “I will always show up,” she says firmly. “For God, my family, my church, and myself.”

Reflecting on her path, she sees divine threads. She says her movements from Surulere to Edinburgh are all God’s plan. “Every step, every person, every song—it’s no mistake. I’m grateful for it.”

Omowunmi hopes that anyone who listens to her doesn’t remain the same. She wants them to experience salvation and healing, peace and love.

She’s already doing that at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Edinburgh Tabernacle, United Kingdom. Her voice fills people’s hearts with salvation, healing, peace, and love, by leading the congregation in worship through music.