Emmanuel alias ‘Zerubabel’ is a 26 year old student of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria. He comes from a large nuclear family and is the tenth child of four sons and six daughters. Emmanuel began singing early in life. When his family fell into hard times, singing together became a source of solace and this was when Music became an even bigger part of Emmanuel’s life. He has memories of his sister singing with him from his childhood right up till she left home for University. She was his closest companion and so when she left, Emmanuel desperately threw himself into music. To him, music was synonymous with his sister and so it reminded him of her. Whenever he listened to and sang along with his favorite male vocalists, the tears would roll down his cheek.
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His first stage performance was at a wedding in 1998, memory of which remains indelible in his heart because he made his first two hundred naira from that event. It’s been a long road from that first stage performance and Emmanuel says he will forever remain grateful to his elder sister for introducing him to the music that he loves and follows so dearly now. Not only does he sing, he plays the drums, piano and the guitar. He derives inspiration from J Moss and Asa. Emmanuel imagines that the Academy will be challenging and inspiring and he is looking forward to this. Even though they are long way away from the days where music gave them refuge as scared little kids who didn’t know what the future would bring, Emmanuel is still grateful to his sister and looks forward to making her proud in the Academy.
