DESPITE the prevalence of war, pestilence, natural disasters, terrorism, anger and deceit which are all accomplished by humans today, there is a supreme being at the centre of our lives who is continually mediating and putting us on the path of rectitude. This may sound annoyingly familiar to you, but despite repetition, the truth of it cannot be denied.Gospel artistes consistently remind us of this truth. They give us the insight through their songs. They capture our attention through their attempts to speak to our conscience, our inner minds.First, it was Mahalia Jackson who earned the accolade of the world's greatest gospel singer and became top of the bill at jazz festivals and concerts. Then came the Grammy award-winning Edwin Hawkins Singers whose Oh, Happy Day has become a classic. But now, its Cee Cee Winans, Kirk Franklin and a whole new generation of gospel singers who are daily provoking our consciousness with good news from the Bible.On the home front, we have our own gospel singers who, over the years, have attempted to give us a dimension that stems from their religious viewpoints. Many have expressed themselves through the medium of highlife while others continue to give vent to their musical capabilities through hip hop and rock. One woman who has made the effort ' from the depth of her heart ' within the context of a musical idiom that is truly original and African, is Mrs. D.A. Fasoyin, leader of the historic Good Women Choir.For a decade and half from the seventies to the eighties, Good Women Choir ruled the scene and established its dominance with good gospel music, an involvement which still remains its main preoccupation.However, the popularity of the choir has waned over the years. Not that the quality of its music has in anyway deteriorated, but because the mood of the record-buying public has altered in favour of foreign-based gospel which now has a powerful influence on the youth. And this is because the music has been deliberately made overtly commercial to engender popular appeal, with elements of rock and funk as the main underlying features.However, under the able leadership of Mrs. D.A. Fasoyin, the group, which is based in Ibadan, wails from one chorus to another, employing an effective group ' vocal harmony style that identifies gospel with African music in terms of rhythm and the call-and-response pattern of singing. Usually, Fasoyin dictates the tunes and the choir replies with joy, peace and good tidings as it preaches the gospel of Christ.The group's first big hit was Jesu O Seun and way back 1977 when Radio Nigeria 2 was dominating the air waves and making history, I gave the music a lot of air play because the choir sounded to me as the Nigerian indigenous answer to the Edwin Hawkins Singers of America who were reigning supreme at the time.Consequently, I was involved in the pre-release arrangements and ceremonies for one of the choir's subsequent albums in 1980. Titled Odun yi a Tura, the album has eight songs with its main focus on Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the redemptive work that he did on the cross of Calvary.Other songs in this album are Eje Jesu ba colour mi mu, Kosi agbara bi ti Jesu, Mo gbekele o, Somi deru jeje fun ota, Mofe losi Jerusalem, Jesu ngba dura and Oluwa ku ise o.The choir's formula for success is simplicity in terms of melodic inventiveness, presentation of message and the rhythm accompaniment which employs organ as the only Western instrument with all the others being percussive African instruments.The accompanying music is unambitious in terms of progression and choice of instruments, and this has paid off tremendously because it has eliminated all the inadequacies of wrong chords and atonalities which usually render the music of most groups discordant and unpleasant to listen to.The Good Women Choir owes its continued popularity to the indigenous rhythmic approach, which has earned it a unique style with a gospel sound that is easily identifiable. For this reason, the music continues to remain authentic and down to earth.Another hit album for which the Good Women Choir will forever be remembered was recorded in 1978 as follow-up to its initial hit.Titled Oluwa mbo, this album is a warning to unbelievers as well as devout Christians to be ready at any time for the coming of Jesus Christ; so that when the trumpet sounds they will all be part of the rapture that will take place. Other songs in this package are Kama sora, Gbigbega ni Oluwa, Jesu dara pupo, mo nwoju Olorun, Bamise temi, Baba gbe soro mi fo.The messages are based on Biblical texts and scriptures but have been composed for gospel singing by Mrs. D.A. Fasoyin who is also the leader of the choir.The Good Women Choir is still exploiting this individual and original approach with which it now appeals to a matured target audience. Needless to say that its impact is very well felt at the grassroots level ' an indication that the Good Women Choir will remain relevant for many years to come.
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