How Music Rescued Me From Suicide — Ooni Of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has revealed how he once contemplated suicide but had to change his mind after listening to inspirational music.

The first class monarch has also described music as a key component of human existence, an iconic cultural expression and the best endowment from God to humanity for all seasons. 

Ooni Ogunwusi made this revelation while speaking during the opening session of the maiden edition of 'Memorable Moments With Music' at the Muson Centre, Lagos on Wednesday.

"This is a very great moment for me. There is power in music. When I almost committed suicide in my younger age as a real estate broker, it was music that saved my life. Music is a perfect communication with God. 

"I had become very successful in the real estate sector at a very young age. I took a loan of 8 billion naira about 12 years ago to build a high rise building which I had to pull down by myself when we were already on the 10th floor, and the money went down the drain. Life turned upside down thereafter and the only option was for me to commit suicide, but listening to series of inspirational music reset my thinking faculty to remember the common saying 'There is Hope When There is Life.

"I have since then adopted music as a very powerful tool when faced with challenges and I made up mind to invest in music and art for the economic empowerment and mental liberation of our youths and the less privileged people in our society. Ladies and gentlemen, whatever you are going through, please don't give up. Use inspirational music to elevate your spirit.

"This is indeed a calling for me and I feel so happily fulfilled tonight with this first day of this musical project, a 3 day musical show which I tagged 'Memorable Moments With Music, " the monarch said.

The foremost monarch stated that he has taken it as part of his overall mission to establish a viable model of social cohesion through the formation of "Memorable Moments With Music” using as an holistic, invaluable and tremendous strategy that embraces and amplifies the thematic rich stories of Africa through the voices and sound of different musical genres and groups across Africa. 

 He disclosed that he is in collaboration with different musical groups like his own Ile-Ife based Akorin Oodua, Emerald Choir in Akure, Bethesda Home for the Blind, Lagos, UNILAG Choral, Xplicit Dancers, Ibadan, Ekemini Theatre Troupe, Oghene Umu-Africa (Children of Africa), Team De finition, appearance of Kenny Blaq, Bisola Omoge Bata, and other exceptional groups to achieve success in the 3-day musical event.