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Name: Aity Dennis - Inyang.
State: Akwa Ibom State.
Birth: 13th July 1965.
Education: * Primary School, Ituk Mbang, Uyo. Akwa Ibom State.
* Primary School Enwe Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State-FSLC- 1976.
* Secondary School, Ikot Ataku, Eket AKS - GCE 'O' level -1981.
* University of Grenoble III,France Diplome de Langues.
* Civilisation et Litterature Francaises 3e Degre -1984
* University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria -B.A. Hons French -1985
* University of Uyo, Uyo - M. A. Mass Communication - 1995
Work Experience:
French Teacher:
* Govt. Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State. (NYSC). -1985-1986
* Govt. Day Secondary School, Takum, Taraba State.-1986
* Methodist Girls Secondary School, Utu Ikpe, Ikot Ekpene, AKS-1987
* Lutheran High School, Ikot Obong Edong, Ikot Ekpene, AKS- 1988
* Comprehensive High School, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi AKS-1989
* Uyo High School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. -1989
* Producer, Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation Television Service
(AKBCTV) 1990-1997.
* Proof-reader, Success Digest Magazine, Okota, Lagos- 1997-1998.
* Client Service Executive, SO&U Advertising Agency, Ikeja, Lagos - 1998
* Director, Editorium -A Book Service Agency (currently)
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Favourites:
Food: Afang Soup.
Local Artiste: Panam Percy Paul.
Foreign Artiste: CeCe Winans.
Instrument: Keyboard
Biblical Verse: Several
Biblical Book: All
Turn Off: Pride, Deceit
Turn On: The Word
Languages Spoken: Annang, Ibibio, English & French
Countries Visited: Togo, Ghana, Rep de Benin, England, France, South Africa.
Matrimony: Married
Church: Sure Word Assembly,
Okota, Lagos
Hobbies: Traveling, Meeting people, & Reading Biographies
Membership of Organisation:
* Music Women Fellowship,
* Pastors' Wives Fellowship.
Awards: Excellence Award........ 2007
.............Music Icon Award
.............Christ Ambassador in Music
............. Excellence Award
Contact Address: Sure Word Assembly
148 Okota Road, Okota - Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria.
Phone: 2348027524700, 2348033742164.
E-mail: info@aityonline.com
.............aity@aityonline.com
............ aitydee@yahoo.com
Discography:
My Hiding Place............1995
There's a Difference..... 1998
Rejoice .........................2001
He loves me ................. 2006 |
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In the beginning
"Actually, the thought had never crossed my mind that one day I would leave broadcasting because I loved producing programmes. In fact, I recorded my first album as a broadcaster and most of my colleagues used to pull my legs, saying 'Aity, the way you are going, it seems you will soon drop this mic'. I always replied them that I won't leave the job.
"But at a point, the urge became much stronger and I had to give in because I was convinced I had the call into full time ministry. The power of the call became so strong that I couldn't resist it. There's a power of the call that you can't resist; it gives you fulfillment; it makes you to know you are in line with God's will.
"When I was a broadcaster with AKBC, I did a documentary on Mary Slessor, which inspired me a lot. While I was shooting the documentary, I travelled to the village where the missionary stayed as a spinster, drinking Gari with the natives.
There, I spoke with some of the descendants of the twins that Slessor saved. These people are still answering the names Slessor gave to their forebears. So, while I was carrying out the assignment, I asked myself, "what would make this white woman leave Scotland to come and stay in my place?"
"I became more convinced when I reasoned that if a white woman from Scotland could leave all the comfort in her country to live in that village (and before 1915 when she died, it was more of a village than what I saw), nothing should stop me from doing what God wants from me. No matter how much I loved my job, I knew then that it was time for me to make up my mind to go into full time ministry.
Journey into music
"In fact, I didn't't know I would become a full time singer. I know that in my family, we sing. My grandmother used to sing. My mother sings and my father was even a choirmaster. My siblings all sing.
In those days, we would gather together and produce a homemade 'album'. Even when my sisters were babies their cries often formed part of the music in the 'album'. My father still plays the 'album' when I go home.
Challenges
"Trying to get the producer to know what is on your mind is a big challenge because you learn a lot from it.
Inspiration
"Now, I have written over 1500 songs. Anything gives me inspiration but what inspires me most is the word of God. The hit track in this current album is "God's Love." I got the lyrics while my husband was ministering in church. Most of my songs I get them that way.
When a preacher is ministering, as I write the message and receive songs at the same time. working with you and knows your kind of music, you will be able to get along fine. |
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Promoting an album on your own is not really easy. Anyway, every challenge is good challenge. But when you have a good producer, you don't have a problem.
"If I am going through stress, or I am somehow discouraged, there is always a song to lift up my spirit. The time I wrote 'Rejoice', the title track of my 3rd album, I recall that on that day, I had just met with a disappointment. I was low-spirited but suddenly a voice ministered unto me, "Hey, what are you doing there with such a stony face? Are you carrying the whole world on your head? Hey, Hey, common give yourself a warm and hearty smile. Is anything too hard for God to do? If I have a joyous experience I receive songs too. That is how, for instance, I received the song Praise In the Morning.
Encouragement
"My husband believes so much in my ministry. I also have my pastor in Uyo, Dr. Ukafia who has encouraged me a lot. The hit track (Final Thank You) in my first album was dedicated to him. I have done a remix of it in my current album, He Loves Me. Those two people have really contributed in building me up in ministry.
Gospel music scene
"What we are seeing is very encouraging. The ministry is very viable as you can see, that's why everybody is playing gospel music now. Even people who don't understand anything about the gospel of Christ are also into it.
It's only good products that people imitate, people do not imitate a bad product. I see excellence in Gospel music now, it's not "anything goes" anymore. We serve an excellent God and many Nigerian gospel artistes are endeavouring to reflect excellence in their music and I am encouraged.
Family
"Apart from the fact that I am born again and I know my priorities, I think a woman is made in such a way that she has the capacity to cope with many things. She can be cooking and ironing at the same time and attending to the children's needs.
"Normally, I have to minister and counsel with women, youths and other members of the church in Sure Word Assembly. I have a church to pastor. I am an associate pastor with my husband. I don't allow my outside music ministrations to clash with major programmes of the church. I schedule my time so that my programmes do not conflict.
I'm a music minister in the church as well as the music director. And as if that was not enough, I also run a book Agency called EDITORIUM - we proofread and edit manuscripts to ensure they are error -free before they are printed. So, in my life there is no idle moment. I'm also training others to develop their music ministry.
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