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

Christ Embassy Christ Embassy (also known as LoveWorld Incorporated or Believers' Loveworld) is a megachurch and Christian denomination founded in 1987 by Chris Oyakhilome from Edo State, Nigeria. The denomination, with its headquarters in Lagos, has since ...

. 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 (author) (born 1953), American author and neurosurgeon * Eben Alexander (educator) (1851–1910), American educator * ...

Early life and education

Jahdiel was born in

Ikoyi Ikoyi is the most affluent neighborhood of Lagos, located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area. It lies to the northeast of Obalende and adjoins Lagos Island to the west, and at the edge of the Lagos Lagoon. Popular with the extreme upper class r ...

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

, 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 scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...

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 The KORA All Africa Music Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. The awards were founded in 1994 by Benin born businessman, Ernest Adjovi, after a discussion in Namibia with the country's President H ...

. 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 ...

''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 a progressive American monthly 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 ...

'': "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 Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American Gospel music, gospel musician. One of the List of best-selling gospel music artists, best-selling gospel music artists, his accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. ''Variety (magazine), Var ...

and

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion (born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Power Ballads", Dion's powerful, technically skilled vocals and commercially successful works have had ...

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 two children.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Living people Nigerian women singer-songwriters 21st-century Nigerian singer-songwriters Nigerian gospel singers 21st-century Nigerian women singers Loveworld Records artists 1986 births