‘Nigerians Should Support Artistes With Disabilities’

A visually impaired gospel artiste, Simeon Fujamade, has called on well meaning Nigerians to support artistes living with disabilities as activities of such artistes could contribute to bringing peace into the country.

Fujamade, who leads the Simi Fuja Music Band, made this call at a recent outreach of his band in Lagos, which he said involved a lot of planning so as to touch the minds of fellow Nigerians.

“This outreach is just a kind of evangelism. Evangelism is more than carrying the Bible. It could be through this that a terrorist will repent. It will also showcase the band, Simi Fuja Music Band will be announced by the grace of God.

The virtually impaired guitarist said the outreach was initially planned to showcase the band and was scheduled to hold for three hours, 7pm to 10pm.

Relaying his experience and how he learnt playing the guitar, Fujamade said it was not easy as a virtually impaired person to learn handling a musical instrument like the guitar.

“It was the grace of God. When I started, I was afraid. But today God has made it possible. There is nothing easy in this life. Even keyboard is not bread and butter.

“Anybody that can keep at it. What you start dropping will leave you, if you can stay with it for 24 hours every time, you will master it. That is the truth about learning,” he said.

He also talked about the support he has received from his mother, Mrs. Fujamade.

“Mummy has tried a lot. She has tried for me since my childhood. She was always there. She always stays around in my rehearsals. In learning the guitar, she was in support. Mummy brought a brother, Brother Dele to assist me. Today, he is the manager of my band.

“There is story before any glory. People say some people want to have glory they don’t want the story, it is not possible. The person must find alternative. Nothing goes for anything. This concert will bring me out, I believe,” he said.

On his future plan, Fujamade said he is optimistic God would use the concert to showcase the band. “If we can do the concert once a month, God can use it to expose us.

“I just tell people if you are learning anything, it is not easy except for individual determination. When I started with box guitar it was not easy at first you would make mistakes but with determination you will get it,” he advised.

Meanwhile, he plans to engage in more evangelistic outreaches between now and the next five years. “By the grace of God, we are going to attract nations between now and the next five years,” he said.

“We started the band about two years ago, we have about 10 members in the band including back-up singers, instrumentalists etc.,” he said, adding that assembling the band was by the race and leading of God.

“A brother of mine brought the idea then we started it. One day we went for Let’s go a fishing program of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I ministered in song and after the outreach, my brother just brought the idea, and God has been faithful.

“God’s grace has been there. Most of my band members usually have their own schedule, but when they don’t have schedule, they would turn up, they always want to help,” he said.