Apostle Emmanuel Iren, the lead pastor of Celebration Church International, exemplifies the dedication found within the music ministry in Nigeria and beyond. His latest musical project, “Spirituals,” beautifully fuses sound doctrine with Spirit-filled worship. Apostle Iren’s journey in music began with his debut album, “Kerygma,” released in 2017 through the Outburst Music Group, a gospel band formed by the church’s choir.
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Since then, he’s written numerous songs and in 2021, Iren was featured on Odunayo Adebayo’s widely received single Zoe. In 2022, he released “Apostolos: Sounds of Transition,” a 13-track album that included collaborations with renowned Nigerian gospel artists like Sinach, Nosa, and Judikay, achieving a spot in the top 10 on Apple Music.
Released in November 2024, “Spirituals” is a 12-track album by Apostle Iren that builds on the spiritual depth and creativity he showcased in his debut album, “Apostolos,” released in 2022. This project invites listeners into a profound encounter with God, featuring spirit-filled lyrics and meticulously crafted instrumentation. The album also showcases collaborations with some of today’s anointed voices in gospel music, including Nathaniel Bassey, Sunmisola Agbebi, Yetunde Are, 121Selah, Mike Abdul, Todd Dulaney, Stephen Adeniyi, and Joshua Obafemi.
Watch Apostolos Here
The album establishes an atmosphere of anticipation right from the opening track, emphasizing the power and presence of God in every song. “Spirituals” stands out not only for its meaningful message but also for its rich musical diversity. Apostle Iren brings together different music elements creating a refreshing and engaging experience throughout its extensive runtime of over an hour.
One of the standout collaborations on the album is “Agalliao,” featuring Nathaniel Bassey. The title, derived from the Greek word meaning exuberant, jump-for-joy praise, perfectly encapsulates the song’s essence. With its energetic instrumentation and jubilant call to worship, the track truly lives up to its name. The theme of this album revolves around God’s love, the believer’s authority, divine joy, and the power of praise. It’s not just an album meant for casual listening—it’s a tool for prayer, reflection, and personal revival.
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One standout track is “Agbara Olorun Po,” featuring Yetunde Are, which is sung in Yoruba and in English and it powerfully conveys the immense strength of God. Another notable piece is “Sing Over Me,” featuring 121 Selah, a meditative track that highlights God’s love and reassurance, bringing in the soothing essence of a lullaby from Heaven.
Watch Sing Over Me Here
Additionally, there are other impressive songs, including “Shekinah” featuring Sunmisola Agbebi, “Walk on Water” featuring Todd Dulaney, “Jesus” featuring Praise Adeniyi, and praise medley featuring Jesus Obafemi.
In his album “Spirituals,” Apostle Emmanuel Iren shows that he is not just a preacher but a contemporary Psalmist as well. The project serves as a powerful reminder of music’s dual role as both a spiritual experience and an artistic endeavor of high quality. His music, much like his sermons, seeks to equip and edify. Whether listeners seek songs for prayer, worship, or simply to immerse themselves in the presence of God, “Spirituals” delivers on all fronts. And as lovers of gospel music we hope to see more spirit filled songs from Apostle Iren.
