About Me
Evangelist Dr Funmi Aragbaiye, Sonorous Singer, Gospel Musician and performing artist was born in Ondo town in Ondo State Nigeria on the 5th of July 1954. Her early education began at All Saints Primary School Ondo before proceeding to Offa Grammar School, Offa, for her secondary education and Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin for her Higher National Diploma in 1971.
Work experience for this Amazon of Gospel Music in Nigeria began immediately with Government Press, Ilorin, in 1972 as a Commercial Representative. When the Nigerian Herald was established in 1973, she was seconded from Government Press as foundation staff to Advertisement Department under Mr Aiyelabegan. There, she worked with personalities like Late Chief Ebenezer Williams, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Chief Peter Ajayi, Mr Achike Chucks Okafor and, a host of other media heavyweights.
She later transferred her service to the Sketch Newspaper in late 1976, upon her marriage to Mr. Bola Aragbaiye, then Editor, of Sunday Sketch. Meanwhile, the politics of the Second Republic got Mr Aragbaiye appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to the Late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, then Governor of Ondo State. As a result, her service was transferred to Ondo State Civil Service.
While in Ondo State Civil Service, she served in the Ministries of Finance and Education. Governor’s Office and Commerce and Industry from where she later transferred to Oyo State Civil Service when the Government was terminated in a coup that saw her husband relocated back to Sketch.
In Oyo State Civil Service, she worked in the Department of Establishment and Training, Ministry of Education and lastly, Ministry of Works and Transport, where she retired in 1997.
Her divine call to Gospel Ministry dates back to the early 70s when she was inspired through the ECWA Church in Ilorin, where she composed many songs to bless the congregation. The call to professional musicianship came in 1985 when she composed the songs in her first album Olorun Igbala, (1989) released on Decross Label, which has the hit Sioni O Ilu Ayo.
Olorun Igbala took the music industry by surprise and turned Funmi Aragbaiye into a household name and darling of music concerts, crusades and social functions. This inspired the release of Divine Call (Mo Gbo Ipe Olorun) (1991) on Sony Music Label, which has remained the yardstick to measure the standard of Gospel Music in Nigeria.
Dr Funmi Aragbaiye has indeed confirmed all the accolades heaped on her with these feats: The first to introduce choreography into Gospel Music Video in Nigeria. The one who took Gospel Music Performance to the high echelon of society, thereby bringing it into the music of choice in ceremonies, conferences, seminars and Annual General Meetings.
