The Long Road Back to Music: Ogocity on Faith, Waiting and Finding Her Voice Again

After a challenging season marked by technical difficulties, a delayed release and surgery, Nigerian gospel artiste Ogocity is making her return with a song inspired by gratitude, faith and her belief in the finished work of Christ.

Ogocity has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her parents say she started at three, and throughout primary and secondary school, she was often the person called upon to sing or lead praise and worship. At university, she became a choir soloist. Music, as she puts it, seemed to find her everywhere she went.

But music was not the only path she pursued. She studied law and practised for a while. Yet, even with a legal career behind her, something kept drawing her back to music.

“It was tugging at my heart so strongly that I decided to just do what I feel like is my purpose, which is music,” she says.

That decision would shape her journey into gospel music, where she sees herself less as the centre of attention and more as someone entrusted with a message.

“I Bring God”

When asked what she believes she brings to gospel music, Ogocity's response is simple: “I bring God.”

For her, gospel music is not about personal recognition. It is an act of service and a response to what Christ has done. 

“I don't personally think I bring anything other than that uniqueness in God,” she explains. “I normally say to people, I decrease so that God will increase.”

When the Plans Did Not Go as Expected

Ogocity's return to releasing music was not something she had planned to delay. In 2024, she began preparing a live recording project after the idea came to her while she was in her room. She contacted her producer, and the process moved forward with surprising ease.

The recording took place around August and September. With the music captured, she expected to spend the following months on mixing, mastering and other finishing touches before releasing it in 2025.

She was excited. She had already imagined the year as the beginning of a new season in her music career. Then she experienced what we can call technical difficulties.

The problem took a year to resolve, putting her plans on hold. What she had expected to be a year of releases became a difficult period of waiting.

“It was a good year, because all in all, we give thanks,” she says. “But it was a hard year for me,” especially because she had expected 2025 to be her release year.

She found herself confronting the difference between what she had planned and what was actually happening. As she reflected, she returned to Proverbs 19:21, which speaks about the many plans people make and the Lord's purpose prevailing.

Just as she was preparing to move forward in 2026, another challenge came. She had surgery early in the year and needed time to recuperate. It was only after recovering and receiving what she describes as clearance in her spirit that she felt ready to release the music.

Looking back, she says surviving the surgery was a significant reason she chose “Thank You Jesus” as the first song to share from the project.

The Faith and People That Kept Her Going

Waiting was not always easy, and Ogocity does not pretend otherwise. When asked what sustained her through the difficult seasons, she points to three things: the Word of God, the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the support of good friends.

She recalls the account of Abraham in Romans 4, particularly Romans 4:3, which says that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. She also held on to the assurance in Numbers 23:19 that God is not a man who should lie.

For her, these passages reinforced the belief that God's promises remain trustworthy, even when their fulfilment does not happen according to her preferred timeline.

She also speaks about the Holy Spirit's consistent encouragement not to give up. But the support of her friends was equally important.

“When I would spiral and cry, they would always speak life to me,” she says.

Their words helped her through moments when the delay felt overwhelming. She also points to the wisdom that comes from receiving good counsel, reflecting on the biblical principle that there is wisdom in a multitude of counsellors.

It was the combination of faith, spiritual encouragement and people who stood beside her that helped her navigate the waiting period.

A Song That Came at 30,000 Feet

The inspiration for “Thank You Jesus” came during a flight from Abuja to Lagos.

Ogocity loves sitting by the window when she travels. She enjoys looking at the clouds, observing the beauty of creation and thinking about the work of God. On this particular flight, she found herself absorbed in the experience.

As she watched the clouds and reflected on God's goodness, a melody began to form in her spirit.

“I just started hearing, ‘Thank you Jesus, for living for me,’” she recalls.

Knowing how easily inspiration can disappear, she quickly reached for her phone and recorded the melody using her voice memo app. When she returned to Abuja, she contacted her producer and shared what she had received.

She explains that she also worked on the song with a friend, but describes the initial experience as receiving the words and melody together rather than having to build the song from scratch.

Her recording sessions are usually intimate, involving just her and her producer. He was the first person she played the rough voice recording to. After listening, he went straight to the keyboard, and the musical arrangement began to take shape.

That moment eventually produced the song listeners will now hear.

From an Idea to a Live Recording

The live recording format was initially suggested by her producer in 2023 while they were discussing another music video.

He explained that a live recording could allow them to capture several songs and videos in one production while also creating an audience experience. Ogocity, however, initially saw live recording as a major undertaking and felt she needed more time before attempting it.

Her producer did not pressure her. He simply introduced the idea and left her to consider it.

More than 16 months later, while praying, the idea returned to her. She says the Holy Spirit reminded her of that earlier conversation, and she eventually reached out to her producer.

Preparation began in earnest. They rehearsed for over two months, carefully selected the band and worked through the details needed to bring the music to life.

Even the visual elements came together in ways she did not expect. A fashion designer who was also a pastor listened to the songs and began sketching outfits based on what she heard. Ogocity says she had not given her specific instructions about what to design.

The venue, outfits and other arrangements seemed to fall into place.

Still, when the day finally arrived, she was nervous. Her family travelled in to support her, alongside her pastors and producer. Despite having fasted and prayed throughout the preparation, she admits that she was shaking.

But something changed when she held the microphone.

“The minute I held that mic, it was game over,” she says.

Some of the songs were completed in a single take. For her, the experience was a reminder of how much the preparation, support and grace of God had carried her through.

More Than an Everyday Thank-You Song

With “Thank You Jesus”, Ogocity hopes listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of gratitude.

She draws from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which calls believers to give thanks in all circumstances. However, she is careful to explain that the song is not simply a general expression of appreciation for everything God has done.

Its focus is specifically on the finished work of Christ.

The lyrics include the words, “Thank you, Jesus, for living for me, for dying for me.” Through them, she wants listeners to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for their lives.

She also points to Romans 8:32, which speaks of God not withholding His Son but freely giving Him up for humanity. Her reflection is that if God has already given what she considers the greatest gift, then everything else must be viewed in that light.

She uses this understanding to encourage people not to lose sight of Christ while pursuing other important parts of life, whether work, marriage or ministry. She connects this to Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and every other thing will be added unto you.”

Ultimately, she hopes the song reminds people of the depth of Jesus' love and encourages them to remain grateful, even when their circumstances are difficult.

Her Hopes for Nigerian Gospel Music

Ogocity is encouraged by the creative direction of Nigerian gospel music. She appreciates the willingness of artistes to explore different sounds, including jazz and Afro gospel, rather than feeling restricted to one musical expression.

For her, music itself is God's idea, and she draws from Psalm 24:1, which declares that the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it.

She believes that creativity should not be limited by assumptions about which genres belong in gospel music. What matters is that the message remains edifying and that the gospel is not lost in the process of experimentation.

She also hopes to see greater unity across the wider body of Christ, including churches, pastors, music ministers and prophets.

Reflecting on Jesus' prayer in John 17, particularly His desire that believers may be one, she says she would love to see more of that unity and oneness within the Christian community.

A Word for Creatives Experiencing Delay

For young creatives struggling with uncertainty, postponed opportunities or questions about their abilities, Ogocity offers an interesting starting point: it is okay to have questions.

“I genuinely think that it's okay to have questions,” she says. In her view, asking questions can help bring clarity, particularly when someone is trying to understand a difficult season.

She points to Joseph's story in the Bible. Joseph received dreams about his future but was later sold into slavery before eventually becoming governor of Egypt. Ogocity acknowledges that she is not a theologian, but estimates that he may have waited around 15 or 16 years between receiving the dream and stepping into that position.

For her, his story illustrates how long the journey towards a promise can sometimes feel.

She encourages creatives experiencing delays to draw closer to Jesus rather than allow disappointment to push them away from God. She also stresses the importance of being honest in prayer, admitting when something feels difficult and asking God for direction.

She finds encouragement in Romans 8:26, which speaks about the Spirit helping believers in their weaknesses. She also returns to Philippians 1:6 and the assurance that the One who began a good work will bring it to completion.

“Delay is definitely never denial,” she says.

A Journey Still Unfolding

Ogocity describes her music ministry as a journey, one that requires patience and faith. She has more music and collaborations in view, although she is keeping the details under wraps for now. She hopes the remainder of 2026 and 2027 will be a fruitful season for her music.

She is also quick to acknowledge the people who have supported her along the way, particularly her family, friends, producer and longtime supporters. She describes them as blessings God placed in her life and prays that they will never lack help, that God will prosper their work and keep them in good health.

When asked to summarise her life in one sentence, she takes a moment before arriving at an answer that brings the conversation back to the foundation of everything she has shared.

“I am everything I am because of the grace of God.”

With “Thank You Jesus”, Ogocity returns to music with a message that reflects that conviction. Her story is one of ambition, unexpected setbacks, recovery and the people and faith that helped her keep going. And as she shares this new song, she hopes listeners will find their own reason to give thanks.

Thank You Jesus is out on all major streaming platforms. Follow @ogocity on Instagram for updates.