Grace Jahdiel Benjamin (maiden name 'Okoduwa') popularly known by her stage name Jahdiel, is a contemporary

Nigerian gospel Gospel songs are a kind of motivational Christian music that has become a major part of Nigerian music. In the 1960s the Evangelical Church of West Africa Choir was popular, and in the early 1970s Bola Aare, Ebenezer Obey and later, Panam Percy P ...

singer, songwriter and vocalist. She professionally began her music career in 2006, releasing her debut album ''Heritage'' in 2008. She is one of several gospel artists under

Loveworld Records Loveworld Records is an independent record label established by Chris Oyakhilome with the sole aim of discovering and developing gospel artists. Founded in 2009, the record label has gone on to groom and produce notable gospel musicians including ...

Christ Embassy Christ Embassy (also known as LoveWorld Incorporated or Believers' Loveworld) is a megachurch and Christian denomination founded by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in 1987. The Church, with the headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, has since become a global ...

. Jahdiel is signed to Hammer House Records, a record label owned by her husband

Eben Eben is a name of Hebrew origin. It is sometimes short for Ebenezer. The name can refer to: People Given name * Eben Alexander (educator) (1851–1910), American educator * Eben Alexander (author) (born 1953), American author and neurosurgeon * ...

Early life and education

Grace was born in Ikoyi,

Lagos State Lagos State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West (Nigeria), southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, states, it is both the List of Nigerian states by population, most populous and List of Nigerian state ...

, Nigeria, where she had her primary and secondary school education at Aunty Ayo International School, Ikoyi before proceeding to further her education by obtaining a BSc degree in

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

Career

Jahdiel started singing at the age of five upon joining the choir of her local church before she began to play musical equipments like the piano and keyboard at the age of thirteen. After being part of various singing groups, she released her debut album ''Heritage'' in 2008 to massive reception, thereby gaining her new grounds in the industry and further earning her a nomination spot in the "Most Promising Artist or Group" category at the 2008 edition of Kora Awards. Her follow-up album ''Under Oath'' was released in 2010. Contained with songs like "Ebube Dike", "Oh God" and "Ayaya", ''Under Oath'' earned her a nomination at the 2013 Nigeria Gospel Music Awards. In November 2015, she released her third studio album titled ''Majesty''. In 2017, she was listed in ''

YNaija ''YNaija'' is a Nigerian online content publishing platform, founded by Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams of RED Africa media group. ''YNaija'' launched in May 2010 with columnists and various news sources. It offers news, original content an ...

''s list of "100 Most Influential People in Christian Ministry in Nigeria".

Artistry

Jahdiel's music style is influenced by a blend of rock, English and afrocentric pop. When asked about her style of gospel music, she told ''

The Nation ''The Nation'' is an American liberal biweekly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's '' The Liberator'', an abolitionist newspaper tha ...

'': "I think the blend of the English pop with African music makes it very, very different. If you listen to it for the first time you probably feel it's not from Nigeria". Her musical influences include Kirk Franklin and

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

Discography

Studio albums

*''Heritage'' (2008) *''Under Oath'' (2010) *''Majesty'' (2015)

Awards and nominations

Personal life

On 30 November 2013, she married Emmanuel Benjamin, popularly known as

Eben (singer) Emmanuel Benjamin (born 9 September 1979), known professionally as Eben is a Nigerian gospel singer, vocalist, and songwriter. Early life and education Eben was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, the fifth of six children. He is from a Christia ...

, a Nigerian gospel singer with whom she has three children.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Living people Nigerian women singer-songwriters Nigerian singer-songwriters Nigerian gospel singers People from Lagos State by occupation 21st-century Nigerian women singers Loveworld Records artists 1986 births