When you hear someone shout “The Bible says!” over the speakers, you can bet it’s probably Bidemi Olaoba behind the mic. In just the last couple of years, this energetic praise leader has made a name for himself in the Nigerian gospel music industry. But how did Bidemi Olaoba become the amazing gospel star we see today?

Let’s dive into the story of Abidemi Ayodeji Ogunmolu, also known as Bidemi Olaoba.

Humble Beginnings

Born on October 15, 1991, in Lagos, Bidemi hails from Ikale, Okitipupa in Ondo State. Growing up in a religious family, he fell in love with music pretty early on and started singing in his local church choir. Just like a lot of gospel legends, he got his start in the church — specifically at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) — before getting involved with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Music Ministry.

Before he was wowing crowds as a minister, he was just a student studying Civil Engineering at Yaba College of Technology. Later on, he snagged a degree in Economics from the University of Lagos. Who would’ve guessed that a guy deep into blueprints and balance sheets would end up rocking one of Nigeria’s biggest Gospel music stages?

Read Also: Tope Alabi: The Journey of A Legend So Far

From “Final Say” to “Tehilah”

Bidemi jumped into the gospel music scene back in 2016 with his first single, “Final Say.” But it was his 2017 song “Bonjour” that really got people to notice him. After that, he started performing at all sorts of big events like RCCG’s Marathon Praise, The Experience, COZA, Festival of Life, The African Praise Experience (TAPE), and a bunch of other popular gospel gatherings both in Nigeria and overseas.

And let’s not forget — he’s doing all this while keeping the traditional Nigerian sound alive, showing that you don’t have to abandon your cultural roots to create global, spirit-filled music.

More Than Music

Some folks see music as just a way to have fun, but for Bidemi, it’s all about the ministry. He’s not just aiming to get people up and dancing (though that’s definitely part of it); he’s focused on winning souls and sharing the message of God through his songs. He’s mentioned before that his music is high-energy and gets the crowd moving, but it’s all grounded in Scripture. That’s why you’ll often hear him drop lines like “The Bible says…” in his tracks.

In 2020, right in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, he took a big leap by launching Unrestricted Praise, a virtual concert that brought together gospel stars like Tope Alabi, Mike Abdul, Sammie Okposo, and Eben. This move didn’t just keep his ministry alive during lockdown; it really boosted his global reach, connecting him with people all over Europe, the U.S., and other parts of Africa.

A New Chapter with GNT

In June 2024, Bidemi made a big move by joining GNT Music, a new record label started by Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa.

Watch his Prayer Video here 

His latest tracks, like “Give Me Chance” featuring Mercy Chinwo, “Isi Gini,” and “Prayer,” are really blowing up, showing that this new journey is off to a great start. He even dropped his debut album, Tehillah, under the label