Spellz Inspired Me To Be A Better Version Of Me – Alternative Singer, DeJon

Jonathan Ogbonna, also known as DeJon, is born into the family of four children; an elder brother and sister, and two younger sisters.

A graduate of Geology from the University of Ibadan. Jonathan is a Christian with a passion for music and married to the most amazing woman in the universe. He is also blessed with a daughter.

In this chat with SHABA GBENGA, the Publisher of Omonaijablog.com.ng, DeJon, an alternative singer spoke about his life, his career and music. He also revealed what he can’t do to ‘blow’.

He revealed much more, so much more.

Tell us about your journey into the entertainment industry.

My first encounter with music was as an eight-year-old boy. I was merely influenced by my mother, who was to release an album around that time. In primary 6, I started playing the keyboard for my Church and making melodies. During my 100 level in tje HigherInstitution, my friend and roommate, Toba, advised me to get lyrics for my melodies, instead of just letting them waste; so I wrote my very first song then. Of course, I did not release it, I was supposed to present it for the University of Ibadan Fresher’s Welcome Program at the Chapel of the Resurrection, The Youth Forum. However, I told myself, maybe I will still release the song, unedited so the world can see the growth.

How do you come about the name DeJon?

People call me Jon for short, but my mom calls me Dee Jon (which translates to Uncle Jon) when she is pleased with me and wants to pet me to do something for her. I liked the name; I decided to concatenate it and write it as DeeJon. To my surprise, I found out there is an actual name like DeJon which means ‘God is gracious’, often found among African Americans. I adopted the name, more so because of the meaning of the name.

What has been your experience since you started?

It hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t been unbearable either. There have been moments of both joy and pain, but through it all, one thing has been consistent – growth. My experiences have shaped me and given me new perspectives on life. They have also reshaped my understanding of the music industry through what I have seen and heard.

What is your genre of music?

I am an alternative singer.

As an alternative singer, who are those who inspired you to do music?

I have been inspired and influenced by lots of musicians. The first is my mom, although her songs were never released nor published. I believe I got my musical talent from her. I was first inspired to write my first song by my roommate Toba. He believed in me and told me that my melodies were worth listening to if only I would find words for them. I have also been inspired by the likes of Jon Bellion, Jon Legend, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber. Bringing it home, in no particular order, I have also been a lover of Rema Music, WizKid, Buju, Davido, and Burna Boy.

Who is your greatest inspiration of all time?

Of all the big celebrities in the music industry, Spellz happens to be the only one I have come close to, beyond studio sessions. He has inspired me to be a better version of the Me he first met and given me a better perspective on success in the music industry.

He has taught me a lot about the music industry, he gave my music exploration a definition. He has shown me music is beyond the studio room, and that the real life of an artist starts after he is done with his studio sessions and performances.

How do you source for inspiration to sing?

I take a walk, I sleep and receive melodies in my dreams sometimes, and I drive out in an open space enjoying nature and the breeze. Sometimes, I eat and take a shower. Some other times I see a movie or have a fun time with my wifey.

What’s that unforgettable thing you ever found yourself doing?

I remember a time in school when I took the punishment for my younger sister. As she was a girl, I didn’t want her to be punished. At the time, I was a prefect, and school rules prohibited public punishment of a prefect. I went to the principal, handed in my badge, and offered to take the punishment in her place. My sister appreciated and respected me even more for it. The school management was surprised and returned my badge to me.

Can you do a Sugar Mummy to grow?

No, please.

Why?

Apart from the fact that I’m married, I don’t see reasons why I need to do a sugar mommy to blow. Music is art; people love good art and are always drawn to it, just like an ant is drawn to sugar. If you have a good craft, and the right support system, the people will accept you. There is only not so much you can achieve as an artist if your foundation in the industry is sugar mommy. I would rather develop my craft to blow.

What do you consider a success in the entertainment industry?

It is being who you want to be in the industry without sacrificing your personality or breaking your rules to attain it. For me, success in the industry is attaining a position where I can freely relate without restrictions; my music to a stream of audience willing to vibe hard with me, and not sacrificing my persona. That is success to me. I want that freedom of expression. I do not want to lose myself or become whoever the market wants me to become in order to blow.

Why do you think most young artists find it difficult to succeed?

First success is relative. They have to define what success truly entails for them. Talent, persona, and a strong management team have a strong impact on the market value of an artist. When the artist lacks these things, they might suffer in the industry. However, there are no simple ways of explaining these things, as some people have succeeded without the obvious requirements and some have also not seen success although they have it all.

Lyrically, what are some of the works you have done. And what are you working on presently?

I am currently working on a couple of songs with Spellz.
Two of the songs are ready and we will be sharing with you all very soon. I am so excited about the project because we created something very spiritual.

OK. What do you do to relax?

I listen to music, I watch movies, I eat junks, take a shower, I take a walk, and I play with my girls.

What are some of the things most people don’t know about you?

I love eating food that I did not cook and I enjoy being in nature. I cherish life, and love, and believe that men should always love and protect the women around them.

Can you share your social media handles with us?

Sure, of course.
Instagram and thread- Officialdejon
Twitter: official_dejon
Tik tok: officialdejon_
Snap chat- officialdejon

#DeJon, #Spellz, #Jonathan Ogbonna, #Omonaijablog, #Rema Music, #WizKid, #Buju, #Davido, #Burna Boy #AlternativeSinger #AlternativeMusic, #Officialdejon, #official_dejon, #officialdejon_
#officialdejon, #Jon Bellion, #Jon, #Legend, #Rihanna, Justin Bieber

Grace Nation PSNF: When You Follow The Voice of God There is Stability – Dr Chris Okafor

The voice of God does not changes, it is the same yesterday, today and for Ever therefore the voice of God Teaches, Guides and does not intimidate.

This and more are the foundation raised at the PSNF Sunday service held at the international Headquarters of Grace Nation world-wide situated Ojodu Berger Lagos Nigeria.

Speaking on the Topic “How to Understand the true Voice of God” Global Prophet and the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor said to understand the voice of the Holy Spirit, the voice of God Teaches you, guide you and does not intimidate, he said any voice that intimidate is never a voice of God.

The Man of God said The voice of God will guide you in the truth path of Holiness and ensure that whatever you do is being directed by God.

The Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor emphasised that Holy Ghost is our teacher that teaches us everything, he said many believers suffer from different uncontrollably voice and behavior that brings destruction into the life of many, but when you seek divine knowledge and listen to instructions you will understand the Divine voice of God that will guide you through your endeavors.

When you follow the voice of God you will enjoy stability in your life and your business too, you will also enjoy divine blessing.

The Realms of the Prophetic witness supernatural deliverance, Healing, Restoration, Miracles and Solutions. The Mighty Hand of God came down Mightily profiling solution to deverse kind of problems, God released miracle jobs, wedding gown, foreign benefits and Miracle babies all to the Glory of God.

…Tackles Adebutu over comments on Shagamu-Iperu road

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the past five years of his administration as challenging, but added that his faith in God had brought the victory he desired.

Speaking during his 64th Birthday and 5th Year Thanksgiving Service held in his honour at the Ogun State Government House Chapel, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, on Sunday, Governor Abiodun recalled his journey to power despite all odds, attributing his victory to God Almighty.

He said: “The process through which I emerged as Governor was a very unusual one; one in which my predecessor who was in the same party with me was fighting me and campaigning for another person in another party, and I will sit down and ask myself, ‘Baba God, this is very unusual, why do I have to go through so much to assume this office?’ And then I will answer myself that it is because God wants to take that glory.

“The last five years of governance over the state of Ogun for me has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. It’s been extremely turbulent, it’s been very challenging, particularly, it has been rancorous. But the most important thing is that in all of this, God has given us victory.”

Gov Abiodun said his government was taking giant steps to reshape the economy of the state and that the steps were yielding results.

One of such steps, according to him, is the plan to make Ogun an oil producing State, as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources would soon begin oil exploration in the state.

“Only on Friday, the leadership of the Ministry of Petroleum led by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, was here with three others and the chairman of Shell to make an announcement that they would soon begin to drill oil in Ogun State,” he said.

Prince Abiodun also seized the opportunity to respond to comments by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, Ladi Adebutu, on the Sagamu-Iperu road project.

Adebutu had criticised the 8-kilometer Sagamu-Iperu road project of the state government.

The governor said his focus was to continue the positive trajectory of the Gateway State and not to dwell on the submission of a man who could not see the over 600km of roads across the length and breadth of Ogun State done by his administration.

Prince Abiodun said he had learnt not to respond to people who had developed the habit of barking whenever they are no longer in the spotlight.

“I read on one of the papers that someone was saying that he was embarrassed that I was commissioning an 8-kilometre road, and a counterpart of mine was commissioning a 77-kilometer road,” he said, adding that he had learnt not to respond to such ignorant remarks.

He wondered that despite the stupendous wealth of the Adebutu family, the road that runs through their house was in a deplorable state for a long time and the family could not deploy a fraction of their wealth to repair it.

Governor Abiodun promised that his administration would continue to make life comfortable for the people of the state by embarking on the provision of more infrastructure that would, in turn, improve their well-being.

Earlier in his message, the Shepherd in charge of Grace Baptist Church, Abeokuta, Rev (Dr) Emmanuel Ajayi, who took his sermon from Psalm 92 verse 1, said that it was a good thing to praise the Lord because of who He is.

Rev. Ajayi, giving thanks to God brings more blessings to those who praise Him.

While calling on the people of God to imbibe the culture of giving thanks to God in their closet, Rev. Ajayi said that praises help Christians to show their gratitude to God Almighty.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade had, in an earlier statement in response to Adebutu’s comments, said the defeated PDP governorship candidate lacked the requisite mental capacity to assess Governor Abiodun’s performance in office.

He said: “It is rather laughable if not completely bizarre to learn that a suspect in the on going case of money laundering and electoral banditry in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, could summon courage to speak on any issue whatsoever in the public space, not to talk of issues pertaining to governance.

“Adebutu’s recent gibberish in the media, where he queried the leadership capability of Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration’s performance eloquently gives out the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate as a man with little mind and zero cognitive capacity.

“Obviously, no right thinking individual with sound mind could just wake up on the wrong side of his bed and start discrediting what the global community is applauding from all fronts. While we understand the limitations of Oladipupo Adebutu as a certified indolent and overfed brat, we never realized his mannerless tendency had grown to this level of nuisance.

“For crying out loud, what does a man that could not manage an ordinary small-scale business know about the government that superintend the affairs of over six million people in a geographical location of over 16000 square kilometres.

“Adebutu antecedents are majorly rooted in the life of recklessness and uncontrollable verbal diarrhoea, with no single achievement except the free money of his octogenarian father.”

Akinmade also said Adebutu pretended to be blind to the developmental projects and policies of Governor Abiodun in all the sectors of the State’s economy, ignorantly thinking he could score cheap political points and sneak out of his present oblivion.

“Like he himself rightly observed, he should be ashamed of himself for coming from the same town with a personality like Prince Dapo Abiodun, who has showcased leadership acumen and rare sagacity for inclusive governance beyond expectations.

“We hereby advise Adebutu to concentrate on his criminal case in court and face it squarely, while it is necessary for him to go for rehabilitation after facing the full wrath of the law on his atrocities,” he said.