"I Lost favour with friends and became broke after I separated from Infinity" - Kenny K'ore

                                                          Eledumare - Kenny K'ore


Kenny K’ore, a former member of the multiple award winning gospel group, Infinity, is a gifted and versatile songwriter, a man of great passion who loves God, a unique gospel minister, and a musician with a rare and unique kind of creativity and artistry. He continues to establish himself as one of Nigeria’s leading and brightest prospects for Gospel music. Whilst “Kenny Kore” is his stage name, Olumide Kehinde Akinbode is a dynamic music minister, a versatile singer with the primary goal of pleasing God on and off the stage.

Kenny K'ore

He is currently exploring wider creative possibilities as a solo artiste, Kenny believes in bridging the extremities between art and spirit. His affinity strong use of the Yoruba language garnishes his sound. Furthermore, he believes that gospel artistes are strong tools of evangelism and that gospel music should not be in collaboration with anything that is odd to the message of Christ.

Youths, please take some time off to enjoy this piece about this dynamic man of God. You've got a lot to learn from him.
RWN: Please, let us meet you.
K'ore: I am Kenny K'ore. Kenny from the name Kehinde, and K'ore from the Yoruba word, ‘Ku orire’, meaning congratulations. I believe there is something in a name, and that the names we bear are prophetic over our lives. Hence, Kenny Congratulations, a prophetic declaration, which anyone who consciously or unconsciously calls my name affirms over my life, celebrating with me for what God has done, is doing, and will yet do over my destiny. 

My real names are Kehinde Olumide Akinbode. I have been what folks have called a gifted and versatile singer / songwriter. With songs like Infinity's Olorioko, Aye Ole, Only praise e.t.c to my credit. A world acclaimed best gospel album in my debut effort called Eledumare, which was reloaded, and the final of the series, Eledumare classics that has both humbled and delighted me, seeing how God can take a boy from the backside of the wilderness and make him a man of valour. He has only just begun with me. I do think of myself as a musician who has a rare and unique kind of creativity and artistry that is why I have retained the motto that brought me to international recognition, “bridging the extremities between art and spirit.”


RWN: “Bridging the extremities between art and spirit? Could you please explain what you mean?
K’ore: For example, church institutions tend to use what is available, and most times what is available is not the best. We should not despise the days of little beginnings but at every level, we can also shoot for excellence even with what is available. As a believer, I pursue an excellent spirit through a continuous life of obedience to God and as an artiste, I push to perfect my skills such that excellent skills meet with an excellent spirit, when that happen, God happens.

RWN: From afar, you come off like someone with very strong moral standing, which is a bit alien to people in your category. What gave rise to this? Could it be family upbringing, self-discipline, focus or an encounter with God?
K’ore: I gave my life to Christ in the early 90's. My educational background does little credence to who and or what I am today, then again maybe it does. I am a product not of any institution or denomination. The body of Christ is one. I have been yielding myself to a daily practical walk with God, practicing His presence. It is not “beans” to say the least. However, my God is not just able to deliver from Egypt. He is also able to preserve in the wilderness and sustain until His own gets to the Promised Land.

RWN: Going through the lyrics of your songs, they are weighty with messages being passed across in a unique form. Where and how do you get your inspiration?
K’ore: Inspiration is in the ether. It is everywhere around us. In our waking moments and when we lay our heads to sleep. Inspiration is there when we are most happy or sad. At the height of our achievements or when we commence our pursuit. I am mostly inspired by our daily attempt at practicing our faith in a world that is hell bent on secularism and everything antithesis to the scriptures. Friends and enemies alike inspire me. Good and bad times alike. I am inspired first and last by God.

RWN: If you did you not tow the music path, which career path would you have towed?
K’ore: If I were not a musician, I would be a doctor or a pilot.

RWN: How did you come about gospel singing and what roles did your parents play?
K’ore: I was born into a family where music is a passion so it just follows that I would pick it up. My parents’ role in my choice of music as a career happened by the default of them being avid music lovers. Secondly, by their effort of not discouraging me. My dad bought me my first piano.

RWN: So many speculations about your leaving your former group, Infinity. If you do not mind, can you share with us the main reason for backing out? 
K’ore: I left Infinity because I was led to. I did not leave willingly but I cannot be more grateful that even though my exit from the band was not cheerful, God accepted it as obedience anyway.

RWN: Who exactly led you to leave?
K’ore: God. He owns me by default of Him being my creator and I have willingly given my life to Him through His son, and my big Brother, Jesus Christ. I do not write as someone who has apprehended, I write as someone who knows that his right standing before God is a gift. I qualify because Jesus paid the price. “I Holy Pass because of His grace and Mercy.”

RWN: What were the challenges you faced after backing out?
K’ore: Some of the immediate challenges after leaving the group were loosing favour with friends who sincerely couldn't understand, becoming broke, as Infinity was my only means of livelihood and missing the brotherhood.

RWN: Who are your mentors and role models?
K’ore: Daddy Panam Percy Paul and Don Moen are gospel ministers whose personalities have really inspired me over the years. When you are looking for authentic worshipper, you would not need to look further than Kenny K'ore.

RWN: Please tell us some of your principles/values in life.
K’ore: My principles and values for life are all set in the Bible. Some of them are;

I believe in respect for all men
I believe death is only a door that opens to eternity in either Heaven or Hell.
I believe faith is a defence.
I believe money is not what makes the world go round, it is meeting needs.
I believe in love.

RWN: Do you have any mistakes you have made in the past?
K’ore: I have made several mistakes in my life but there's one I know would specially interest any youth; it is one where I kept up an active sexual relationship with a girl friend because I didn't want to loose her [sex is sweet so I did it for that too], but I lost her eventually. I learnt to watch out for the signs that show there is love or there is no love lost. I learnt not to always be the first to compromise because when she leaves, (in my case, she left) you would not understand what you have become. At that point, only a miracle can help you.

RWN: Seeing that you are a staunch believer in the bible, what is your take on Christians doing “collabo” with secular artistes viz a viz christians, especially choir members from some of our notable and well respected Pentecostal churches going to context at shows like MTN Project Fame where they have got to do quite a number of secular songs?
K’ore: Christians should not do collaborations with secular artistes when such artistes are known to portray lewd values, and principles that lack virtues in their music.
Christianity is not an exclusive way of life, it is inclusive. However, we are the harbinger of light and whenever someone boldly makes representation for the kingdom of darkness promoting the abuse of alcohol, women etc he\she should be put at arms length. Moreover, folks exploiting social mediums or platforms to better their lot in life, I have no objections. If the church institutions can meet our social needs as Christians, we would not need to do it any other way. Having said that many Christians abuse their liberties in Christ, this is very sad, and I am not in support of it at all.

RWN: How do you see gospel artistes putting money forward and setting standard charging rates before they would honour an invitation for a musical ministration?

K’ore: The Bible says a man's gift shall make a way for him and we are all gifted so that we may prosper thereby. However, there is what the scriptures call ‘just weight’ and an ‘unjust weight’. Gospel artistes do no wrong when they ask to be ministered back to in material things having been of spiritual benefit to a church, they do wrong when their expectation is unjust.

RWN: What’s your idea on sex before marriage and an ideal relationship? 
K’ore: Sex before marriage only helps to complicate issues between the courting couple, so it'll get thumbs down from me. Believe me, I have been there! An ideal relationship is one where both the man and the woman share a mutual regard for God, and gives Him first place in each of their hearts. Their humanity may catch up with them every now and then, but they will do just fine putting God first.

RWN: Tell us about your love life. Are you in any relationship? If not, why?
K’ore: Anything about my private life is going have to be kept private because that's why it is called private. Except I am led otherwise, but about my relationship, time to walk the aisle etc the answer would have to be no comment for now.

RWN: 2012 is almost here. What should your fans be expecting from you?
K’ore: It is a year where I would want to release more life changing music and continue on the track that has been set before me. 2012, let it come, not as my will but only let His will be done.

RWN: Could you just talk to the youths please?
K’ore: A young person who is still turned between several career paths should never make a decision when he\she is angry or make a promise when he\she is very happy. It helps to leave the part you are least motivated and follow the road of your greatest passion. If you are talented in a particular field that is what you would probably end up doing. I often stress that we all need money, and we must be careful and not let opportunists use our passions to imprison us. The scriptures say a man’s talent shall make a way for him. I also noted that a portion of the tithes of the Israelites to the Levitican priesthood was given to the musicians among the others, so yes, musicians should hope to make decent living off their music, but money should never ever be the focus. Any person who makes money his or her focus is living under a curse and can never be blessed by God. Such has chosen mammon over Yahweh.