Daniel Olukoya

Daniel Kolawole Olukoya (July 15th, 1957) widely known as Dr Olukoya is a Nigerian born pastor, molecular geneticist, composer, conductor, organist and author. In addition to being the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Worldwide, Dr Olukoya is reputed to be one of the pioneer composers of gospel folk music in Nigeria. Having composed over 100 songs, he is known to write majorly for solo voices, small vocal ensembles and SATB choir - this perhaps highlights his interest in vocal music and why many refer to him as a music composer who is passionate about writing for the voice. Dr Olukoya’s musical oeuvres which are often simple, tuneful and unique have since garnered interest from some Nigerian born music composers. These individuals, including music scholars such as Seun Owoaje and Oyinkannsola Akinselure (formerly known as Funmilayo Boamah) have performed and even rearranged many of Dr Olukoya’s compositions. This is arguably a testament to the wide reach and acceptance of his musical works.

Childhood

Dr. Olukoya was born on July 15th, 1957 in Ondo state, Nigeria (western part of Nigeria) to Mr. and Mrs. Amos Olukoya, a retired police officer and a petty trader respectively. He grew up in a police barracks because his father was a police officer who later became a pastor. Shortly after Daniel was born, his family relocated to Akure (the capital of Ondo state) where he started his primary school education. After living in Akure for a couple of years, his family moved to Lagos state where he resides until the present. His love for music started at the age of 6 when he would listen to folk stories that were interjected with songs at school and in the community. At that time, the storytelling tradition was trending and children would gather under the moonlight to listen and sing along with “the tales by moonlight”. Dr. Olukoya came from a humble background where he had to work very hard to achieve anything. His parents were described as strict but very religious Christians. As a child, Dr. Olukoya loved playing football in the field with his friends in the barracks and soon became the captain of their amateur football team. One day, his father walked into the football field and dragged his son out of the field, took him straight to the church and handed him over to the choirmaster saying “this is your newest member”. A decision that young Daniel really disliked at first because “there were too many women there” he said. Over a period of time, he grew to love the choir and to this day, he thanks his father for making that decision because it transformed his life.

Education

Dr. Olukoya started his primary school education at Saint John’s CAC Primary School, Akure, Ondo State. He also joined the school choir and learnt how to sing pentecostal hymns. However, he didn’t complete his primary education there because his family moved to Lagos state, so he transferred to Saint Judes Primary School, Ebute Metta —an anglican school where he learnt to sing anglican hymns— to complete his education and he excelled greatly in both institutions. He proceeded to the prestigious Methodist Boys’ High School (MBHS), Lagos, where he was also in the choir and learnt how to sing the methodist hymns. At MBHS he had an Indian teacher who said in a class, “Boys, if you want to escape poverty, READ YOUR BOOK!” Dr. Olukoya obdurately followed this advice, and commenced study from 9pm to 3am daily. This decision enabled him to finish with Grade One Distinction as the best student of his set.

In his pursuit for higher education, he proceeded to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he studied Microbiology and came out with a first class degree honors, the first from the department since the university was established in 1962. Through his education (from elementary school to college), he was studying music on the side and sang in the choirs in school. While he was in college, he became the choir co-ordinator of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adekunle which later moved to Oyinbo.

After about two years of teaching and subsequent employment as a Research Assistant in the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Olukoya travelled to the United Kingdom under the Commonwealth Scholarship, to the University of Reading, where he obtained a PhD in Molecular Genetics. He finished his PhD degree in record time, and was the first Nigerian to obtain a PhD in this field of study in the university. During his study at Reading, Dr. Olukoya continued in his musical exploits by taking private lessons to learn the trumpet and guitar and continued writing his music.

Marriage and Family

In 1989, Dr. Olukoya got married to Mrs. Shade Olukoya. “I met him when he was a music director and he met me when he was a preacher. I prayed to the Lord that I didn't want deceit, I didn't want to make a mistake. I wanted a happy marriage and God confirmed his word. God confirmed it by showing a revelation to me.”said Shade Olukoya. Shade Olukoya was born into the family of Mr. & Mrs. George F. Adesanya as the fifth of seven children. All members of the family were brought up as God-fearing Christians and attended the Christ Apostolic Church. In 2004, Dr. Olukoya and Shade were blessed with a boy that was named Elijah Toluwani Olukoya.

Career

Upon his return to Nigeria, Dr. Olukoya rejoined the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, and equally served as lecturer and external examiner to many universities, among which were UNILAG (where he had studied) and the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Dr. Olukoya was the first scientist to establish a local laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in Nigeria. His laboratory was the first to clone genes in Nigeria. He has supervised over 30 Ph.D. students, most of whom are doing well now in their chosen fields. As Dr. Olukoya excelled in his primary field of study, he also continued composing music for the choirs that he worked with (as the choirmaster), and eventually for his church . He composed his first piece, “Nipa Eso won” (By their fruits) at the age of 18 (1975) for the CAC choir that his father dragged him to. The song was composed for SATB choir and the theme of the texts were based on the bible verse, Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”. Since then, Dr. Olukoya has composed over 100 choral pieces and some solos for voice and piano.

Music in MFM Headquarters

Dr. Olukoya founded the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in 1989 and its headquarters is located in Yaba, Lagos state, Nigeria. MFM is known to have the most diversified, constantly improving and numerous number of musical ensembles having over 80 ensembles which spread across several genres of music, style, language etc. These ensembles range from vocal to instrumental groups consisting of: classical music choirs and ensembles, Nigerian folk music choirs and ensembles, acapella groups, negro spiritual choirs, a symphonic orchestra (Divine symphony orchestra), several orchestras, several instrumental groups (Guitar choir, Saxophone band, violin ensembles, flute ensembles, to mention a few), and childrens choirs. “I believe that church members should be exposed to and taught Godly and clean music in church, because for some people here in Nigeria, that’s the only training they can get” says Dr. Olukoya. Hence, this is why he has established free music training in all fields and genres of music in church and this is available to all members. Additionally, the church hosts an annual international music examination (ABRSM- Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) for all music students to keep them encouraged and focused in their learning and to also advance in their musical artistry by taking higher grades every year. Over 4,000 candidates are registered every year for both theory and practical music examinations with international examiners from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Council. This examination was no longer held in Nigeria for a while due to so many factors, but Dr. Olukoya single handedly ensured that it was brought back and assumed all financial expenses for its resuscitation.

Dr. Olukoya’s contributions to music in Nigeria

In a country like Nigeria where classical music is not the indigenous music or the most popularly accepted music, Dr. Olukoya has worked so hard in the advancement of classical music in the country. Aside from the music in church, in 2011, MFM opened a conservatory of music close to the headquarters in Yaba. The “Mountaintop Conservatory of Music” (MTCM) —which was formerly called “Mountaintop International Music School (MIMS)”— was established to help musicians study music in a conducive, Godly and highly equipped environment. “I opened the Mountaintop Conservatory of Music to improve the music education in Nigeria, encourage young ones to learn music and ensure that there is a place we can find clean music especially with the decadence and degeneration in the world today.” says Dr. Olukoya. In 2015, the Mountaintop University (MTU) was established in Makogi Oba, Ogun state, Nigeria. To ensure that the students graduate with some form of musical knowledge, Dr. Olukoya established a program called “Every Student a Musician” (ESM) embedded in the school’s curriculum as a requirement for graduation. Also embedded as a requirement is foreign languages and entrepreneurship. Every student of MTU is required to learn at least one foreign language, one musical instrument and one hand made trade. The music department building of MTU, which is called the “Organ house” was built like the shape of an organ and has been described to be the best, most sophisticated and most equipped music department in Africa. Additionally, all the music students in MTU are on fully paid scholarships sponsored by Dr. Olukoya. Apart from establishing schools to promote good music in Nigeria, Dr. Olukoya is one of the major contributors and sponsors of other music programs, students and universities in Nigeria. He donated pianos and other musical instruments to the music department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) , Lagos state university (LASU) and University of Port-harcourt (UNIPORT). He has also been a major source of financial support to the music programs in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (UI), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Musical society of Nigeria (MUSON) Lagos state university (LASU), University of Port-harcourt (UNIPORT)and many others.

Dr. Olukoya and his contemporaries

There are not many composers of classical gospel folk music in Nigeria but some of the composers and arrangers of this genre of music include Yinka Oyesanya, Seun Owoaje, Oyinnkansola Akinselure, Ayo bankole, Ayo Oluranti, Dayo Dedeke, Emeka Nwokedi, Laz Ekueme, Sam Ojukwu, Christopher Oyeshiku, Mr. F. Oyebadejo etc.

Compositions

Due to his involvement in ministry, Dr. Olukoya writes majorly for church choirs and he has also written for solo voices. Highlighted below are some of his compositions: Choral works “Nipa Eso won” (1978) “Oke nla” (2004) “Waka jo jo” (2008) “Ina Olorun Elijah” (1980s) “Olorun Beteli” (2019) “1930” (2020) “Eba wa yin oluwa” “Ma sai bikita” (2020) “Ekun mi yio dayo” (2019) “Asalogbge” “Mo fe gbo ohun re” “Konigba” “Gbekele Jesu” “I go pray” “Mo gbojule Jesu” “One way to God” “Ono toro” “E yin baba” “Jeka dupe” “Awon to duro de Oluwa” “Dake Je” “E bawa yin Oluwa” “Ha-le-lu” “Igbala” “Je ka dupe” “Mo f’ara mo Jesu” “Jesu seun reni o” “Jesus de call you” “Korin halleluyah” “Make you pray your troubles away” “Mo di ti Jesu” “Ole” “Ni eti odo babiloni” “Okan mi yin Oluwa” “Ona toro” “Wi jade” Solos “Ka gbe jesu ga” “Okuta ti omole ko sile” “Awamaridi” “Ise po”

Style

Unlike western music composers, Dr. Olukoya writes his music using tonic solfa notation instead of staff notation and usually the music is later re-arranged into staff notation by other arrangers. When he was asked why he composed in such a format, he responded “because that was what the choir of those days understood and it was the simplest way to teach inexperienced singers. Only a few organists used to read music in those days and most of the organists could not read music so they just vamp simple chords on the piano or organ. It was also pretty hard to teach the choir how to sing in parts (harmony). We had to lock them in a room and teach them their part as a separate song or tune and hope that when they come together to sing, they remember to stay with their melodic lines and not mistakenly join the original melody/tune of the song .” until present, most of his music is still taught to the choir orally as the oral tradition of African music is very much alive. Though, the church musicians are now being trained to read music and don’t need to be locked up in a room to learn their parts, it is the culture that African music is still learned orally.

Most of Dr. Olukoya’s compositions fall into the category of Nigerian classical gospel folk music. Nigerian folk music originated from the traditional popular culture and is written to inflect the Nigerian tonal languages. Folk music is typically of unknown authorship and is transmitted orally from generation to generation and this is why Dr. Olukoya’s music is majorly taught orally at first, and then transcribed later by himself or other arrangers. Compositions by Dr. Olukoya are usually written either in the Yoruba dialect of Nigeria, Pidgin english  or very few in regular English. 

Nigerian dialects are usually referred to as tonal languages because the words differ in tone just like pitches in music and this makes it difficult for non-native speakers to understand and speak the language. Hence, Nigerian classical folk music composers do not only consider the western rules of harmony and structure, they also need to consider the tonal inflection of the language. If not, the music will not be well understood and could be misinterpreted. For example, according to Dr Oluwafemi Ayodeji, a Pentecostal music researcher, he explains that most times these composers have to throw out the western harmony rules and write our music to reflect these tonal inflections against all odds because the language and the tonality should be the major focus. “The use of the pentatonic scale is quite common among the different language groups of Africa, but the arrangement of the pentatonic scale varies from language group to language group”. In order to enunciate the tonal inflection of the yoruba and pidgin english dialects, Dr. Olukoya’s music is centered around the pentatonic and diatonic scales. In some cases, chromaticism is incorporated in the music to keep it interesting and give the melody and harmony more color. Like other Nigerian folk music, the melody is simple, repetitive (strophic) and tonal. “Probably the most outstanding characteristic of African music is its emphasis upon rhythm as well as upon a percussive concept of music performance”. Like most African music, the music is rhythmic and has a percussive feel and we see that in works like “Asalogbge”, “Ina Olorun Elijah”, “Waka jo jo”, and “Nipa Eso won”. In the chorus of his first composition “Nipa Eso won”, the soprano voice sings a simple legato melodic line and the other parts sing a percussive ostinato line to accompany the melody. The percussive feel is not only present in the melody and rhythm of the music. In “Waka jo jo”, where the soloist sings (call) “ n wo pa fun olorun mi” (I will clap to the Lord ), the choir responds in harmony and accompanies the music with a synchronized clap pattern. Call and response is one of the most prevalent styles employed in African vocal music and this also is a common feature in Dr. Olukoya’s music. In “Oke nla” —which is one of the most frequently sung pieces by Dr. Olukoya— the lyrics are repeated as call and response between the soloist and the choir with different melodies. In other songs like “One way to God”, and “Dake je”, the choir completes the sentence (musical and lyrical) of the soloist in their response. Another way Dr. Olukoya uses call and response is in form of an exact repetition of melody between the soloist and the choir —as in “Ina Olorun Elijah” in the lines “gbo temi, bami se, se temi lasepe” (hear my cry, do it for me, perfect all that concerns me).

Reputation, awards and legacy

In 2012, Dr. Olukoya was conferred with his first honorary doctorate degree from the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) for his contributions to music and religion. In 2019, he was also conferred with another honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lagos State for his immense contributions to the university and his inputs in music education. The Vice Chancellor of the school added that Dr. Olukoya’s contribution to youths and humanities has been massive. Dr. Olukoya has also been awarded by several music institutions (Nigerian musical society, Musical society of Nigeria (MUSON), music departments of different universities in Nigeria) for his incessant and interminable support towards music in Nigeria.

References

Merriam, Alan P. "Characteristics of African Music." Journal of the International Folk Music Council 11 (1959): 13-19. Accessed April 25, 2020. doi:10.2307/834848. Leslie R. Saunders and Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko, “Conversation on African Music,” Music Educators Journal 71, no. 9 (May 1985): 56, https://doi.org/10.2307/3396526.

“My wife was custom-made for me “Dr. K. Olukoya,” The Nigerian Voice. NBF News - https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/41900/my-wife-was-custom-made-for-me-dr-d-k-olukoya.html

“How I proposed to my wife in 1986 by pastor D.K Olukoya,” MFM - the place of miracles. https://ar-ar.facebook.com/MFMThePOT/photos/how-i-propose-to-my-wife-in-1986-by-pastor-dk-olukoya-general-overseer-mfmmarita/1892907157410170/

D.K Olukoya, “MFM at 30”, Mountain of fire and miracles miinistries, Ebook. https://books.google.com/books?id=hFKwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT159&lpg=PT159&dq=mtu+organ+house&source=bl&ots=MvM_770FVt&sig=ACfU3U1GXbylSMbuAKBI7ZCZbDfzLgocJw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_mYyZoInpAhWUmXIEHXflDwkQ6AEwDXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=mtu%20organ%20house&f=false

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