Early Life and Divine Gift

The story

Born on March 26, 1926, in Idiogba to Pa Ajimuda Philips of Idiogba and Mrs. Ketura Ajimuda (née Akinnire) from Motoro, Prophet Mennary began his elementary education at St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Idiogba, in 1932. While his mother was pregnant with him, she was gifted with remarkable spiritual abilities—she could see visions, prophesy, and operate in other gifts of the Spirit. These manifestations continued until the day she gave birth to him, after which the gifts were withdrawn.

The title “David of our time” was bestowed upon him not only for the sheer number of Holy Spirit–inspired hymns he composed but also because—like the Psalms of David—his songs chronicled his personal walk with God and deep encounters with the divine. In his first composition, “Ìwọ Ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run, Ọgbọ́n àti Òkè wa, sọ̀kanlẹ̀ sọ̀kọn gbogbo wa”, he specifically prayed, “Ìwọ orin mímọ́ tí Dáfídì ń kọ, Baba jẹ́ kí n lè má kọ nínú rẹ” (asking for the gift of sacred songs like David).

God granted this prayer abundantly—over his lifetime, he authored more than 5,000 hymns, earning him the titles “David of Our Time” and “King of Zion Hymnists.”

He was a pioneering member of Zion performing musicians and authored many Zionist musical albums, including:

• “Ìgbìn Ayé wọ̀nù àwọn Alùfá”
• “Ùgbọ̀n-nlá, Lene fi ẹ̀mí tẹ́do”
• “Ẹ̀ gbìn, ẹ̀gbìn nígbèhìn àdùn ayé yìí”
• “Olóba wẹ́nòṣo, Olóba wẹ́ nàjé”

These inspirational, healing, and thought-provoking hymns were embraced by Christian fellowships and evangelistic revivals worldwide, especially across all Zion Churches.