I played saxophone despite being asthmatic –Adebola Shammah

Budding gospel saxophonist, Adebola Shammah, has revealed to Sunday Scoop that when he started playing the saxophone, he was asthmatic. Recalling how he started his career, he said, “I started playing the saxophone professionally three years ago. I used to be a keyboard player because my parents are pastors and they encouraged me to play different instruments. I had always seen people such as Mike Aremu and Kunle Ajayi play the saxophone, so I was interested in it. But I never had the opportunity to play it because I had asthma then, so my parents wouldn’t have allowed me to play such an instrument.

“However, there was a time my mum was sick for about six months. And after she got better, she said God told her to buy an instrument of praise, so she bought a saxophone for the church. I recall that I used to practise with it whenever my parents were not at home. I kept playing and I gradually stopped having asthma attacks like before.”

Expressing gratitude at the success of his recent event, Psalmist’s Praise, Shammah said, “I was blown away by the turnout. A lot of people I had not seen in years attended the event. It was my first major concert, so I wasn’t expecting that many people. Gospel musicians such as Beejaysax, Jerry Omole, Bukola Olubona lent their support. Towards the end of the programme, about 50 saxophonists came together to play. It was such an awesome moment and I’ve been getting a lot of wonderful feedback from guests that they were blessed at the programme.

“God gave me a mandate to start an online worship (session) and invite great ministers. Throughout last year I had at least one of those sessions with different gospel ministers on Facebook and Instagram, and I honoured them in every way I could.”