Ordination and Innovations

The story

In 1960, Baba Lene recalled him to Ugbonla, where he was trained, ordained as a Prophet, and appointed Choir Master General to teach the choir members the Zion songs. Through him, Zion received distinctive innovations that transformed worship:

• “Sainary” garments and garment underwears
• Numerous Zion garment styles
• Zion hats and Zion head-wears (ìborí)
• The trumpet
• Chorister Anniversary
• A rich body of Sainary songs

On two further occasions, he faced persecution and migrated to Sapele and Seja-Oke respectively, but each time he was recalled and vindicated by Baba Lene. These were also accounted for in hymns, with one of them being “Ìhìn rere Jesu, Iṣẹ́ Ìyanu Jesu, ló mú mi gùn Òrí-Òkè Ugbonla.”

Many hymns from these years carry the date and the service where they were given. In 1964 he wrote “Dau mini senciry Herma Elio” (January 16), “Mislow Eri alau” (January 24), “Gbogbo ẹnyin Nasiry igbani” (April 3), “Mo fi aiye mi fun Jesu” (April 18) and “Eri Alore bami siro” (May 5). On Sunday, October 31, 1965, “Bami toju emi mi” was written down in the house of the choristers at Ugbonla, and on August 23, 1968, he wrote “Funfun gbo, lọrọ Ọlọrun”.