Esther Igbekele Biography (Education, Career, Ministry)

Esther Igbekele is a well known female gospel musician who sings in Yoruba. Her genre of music is said to fall in the gospel pop category largely resembling music of the likes of Yinka Ayefele and Tope Alabi.

Biography

Esther Igbekele was born on August 16. She is a native of Ifon, Ose local government of Ondo state, but was born in Lagos at Orile Iganmu to the family of Pastor and Mrs. Isaac Oluwafemi Igbekele. She has four other siblings all boys. As at the time of her birth her father was a choirmaster at Christ Apostolic Church Oke Anu and a tailor by profession while her mother was a food seller.

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Education

She had her primary school education at Central Primary school, Orile Iganmu. She had her secondary school education at Lagos African Church Grammar school. She was sponsored by Apostle J.A Bankole when he discovered her talent at a crusade held at Orile Iganmu. He was a pastor and also a gospel singer who had a band of his own. She moved to Iju-Ishaga Agege to stay with the Bankole family there she had her secondary school education.

Career

She is not known to have had any professional music training. She joined quite a number of bands before finally beginning her professional music career in 1996. She was first a member of the band owned by Apostle Bankole called Ilu Ayo Gospel Singer. Esther began associating with other gospel bands and singers to learn the tricks of music composition and writing.

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She was a member of quite a number of gospel bands, she worked with Ayewa Int. Gospel Singer for five years, was with Imole Ayo Gospel Singer for about four years and Evangelist Kingsley Ogunde for two years. She has released about 12 albums which have been nicely received by the public.

Music is reportedly in Esther’s blood; as her father and his siblings were singers and her grandfather was a talented drummer acknowledged even by the king of their town. From a young age Esther always went along with her father for choir rehearsals because of her love for music. At the age of five she is said to have started leading the junior choir of her church and graduated to the senior choir at the age of seven because of her unique talents for music. While at the Bankole residence Esther became one of the band members and began developing her talent.

Personal life

There are a lot of things hidden about Igbekele Esther’s home or marriage. She however has two known children the last of which she had in September 2013. She was said to have earlier been married to a popular Alhaji in Lagos whose name is not known to the public. Their marriage from all indications crashed some time ago and both parties have supposedly moved on. She describes this marriage as a mistake made in her youth which almost put an end to her music career.

She is presently married to a man whom she describes as her God ordained man. His identity however is also not really known to the public.

Ministry

She began her music career in 1996 professionally and has produced over 14 albums to date such as Breakthrough, God’s special message, Proclamation, Sound of Joy and Everlasting Joy. Her Latest Album Taking Over which came out last Year is selling fast as gospel minstrel surprises fans with her new ventures in the afrobeat scene. Her Spirit-filled gospel Albums are available to download/stream online and can be bought at all leading record

Esther Igbekele not only use her voice as an instrument, but definitely has the same footwear as David did in the bible, with her lively dance moves, she can also play the drums which contributes to Esther Igbekele’s awesome praise attitude.

Esther Igbekele was once nominated for the Mega awards and won in a rather competitive category. She views Bola Are and Onyeka Onwenu as role models.