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•Debuts with I’m Grateful
By Cosmas Omegoh
A Catholic priest of the Oblates of St. Joseph congregation based in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Rev. Fr. Paul Okoromi, has joined the growing league of gospel artistes with his new offering, I’m grateful.
According to Fr. Okoromi, who was ordained in 2018,“I’m Grateful is a song of thanksgiving; it is a song of gratitude – a classical. The video has been done; the song is out. That’s where we are now.”
Speaking on the essence of his songs, he said: “At every point in our lives, we have to be grateful. All through the year, our lives ought to be that of gratitude to God. Even if there is nothing to celebrate there must be a way to do so.”
Fr. Okoromi collaborates with singer, Chidinma Ezike aka Chinel as a backup artiste. According to her, “I met Fr. Okoromi when he visited our church, Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Afromedia, Okokomaiko, Lagos. At that time, I was singing in the church choir. I sing auto and tenor; I began singing at seven. And so far, I have backed-up gospel artistes like Femi Balogun and Gbenga Adenuga. It’s great working with Fr. Okoromi. He is a talented person and a songwriter too.”
The priest said he first launched into music with his friend, Nonso. Both were billed to debut with the once popular Danfo Driver crooner.
He recalled that he, Nonso and the Danfo Driver exponent were to be signed by Cornerstone label at that time, but they later dropped the idea to answer “Lord, here we are” to their creator whose call was by far more compelling.
“While I was working in one of the parishes in Lagos as a seminarian, one of my friends, Nonso – now a priest working in the UK – and I teamed up. We were signed by Cornerstone Records, alongside the Danfo Driver star. But we later dropped the idea to pursue priesthood.
“At that time, we did 10 songs on the whole; Nonso did five while I did five; we had pidgin, Igbo, Edo and English songs. They were all gospel songs; we called our brand Afro gospel. But at some point, we backed off to answer fully to pursue priesthood. That was how the songs were not released. But, what I have done now is entirely different.”
Now, many years after, Fr. Okoromi has been unrelenting. “I like doing new things,” he said, exploding with wild laughter as he spoke.
Recalling how it all began for him, he said: “To tell you the truth, music is not new to me. Before I was admitted into the Oblates of St. Joseph as a seminarian, it came to a point where our creativity was tested. They wanted to know what we could individually do if admitted. In my own case, there was a song I wrote which I presented. That earned me admission.
“In fact, all through my days in the seminary, I was noted for my songs. Anytime there was a chance to sing, I was always the one to do so. So, I have been singing for a long time.”
Fr. Okoromi is, indeed, a very busy fellow. He celebrates daily and Sunday Holy Masses. He also teaches in his congregation’s formation house. He is an active herbal medicine practitioner who runs PDO Herbal Clinic. In addition, he is into animal husbandry.
“All that I do are connected. I’m in the work of healing as a priest and herbal doctor. I help train priests so that they too can have compassion towards mankind. Then I sing. Songs bring healing. Let’s go to the scripture. David at some point was playing the harp to King Saul when the latter had health issues. Whenever David played the harp, King Saul got relieved. So, all that I do are connected,” he declared.
