Benita Okojie's metamorphosis

Many years ago as a journalist on the entertainment beat for Punch Nigeria limited, I was called to Sigma Disc, King Sunny Ade's record label to preview a gospel record and speak to a young lady who was beginning her music career with her father as manager. Her name? Benita. Listening to the songs on her album I was impressed the maturity that a young girl was showing in singing at a very tender age. My premonitions were clear that day. This one will go far. When she recounted her story of how she began singing I was more enthused that here was a girl that will go far and make a name in this genre, if she does not go the way of others who had the church as a launch pad, but decided that gospel was not the way to make it in music. 

"My mother was billed to sing in church one Sunday, she said, "but mummy came down with a cold." Benita had watched her mother and understudied her for quite some time, she had even started some singing of her own. "So it was decided that I would sing the song in mothers place." That was how it started for Benita whose vocal capacity at her teenage was akin to that of an adult who had been singing for years. With every new album there was drastic improvement with this young lady. Growing up in music has only matured her more. Her songs have become a must sing in several churches around the country and indeed outside.
So a couple of days ago, you can imagine my excitement when I heard she was getting married. From child singing gospel sensation to adult married women. Watching her metamorphosis from my perspective has been a great experience. How I wish there could be more people like that.