Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai Biography, Net Worth, Date of Birth, And Ministry

Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai Biography, Net Worth, Date of Birth, And Ministry
Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai Biography, Net Worth, Date of Birth, And Ministry

Biographical Information, Wealth, Date of Birth, and Ministry for Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai

Minister Buchi Bwai, a gospel artist with a special talent for gospel reggae music, was born on June 24. He is a novelist, producer, and composer.

Buchi, whose parents are from Abia State and who was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, received his early schooling in Enugu before moving on to Methodist College in Uzuakoli and Federal Government College in Enugu. He moved to Lagos in 1983 to study English language and literary studies at the University of Lagos, graduating with a BA in 1986 and an MA in 1988. The following year, he accepted a position as a lecturer at the same university alongside a PhD program. Buchi worked at the English Department until 1994, when he left to follow a higher calling to spread the good news of Jesus by writing and singing in the reggae genre.

While in the university, his casual involvement in black activism through reggae club became intense after listening to Oliver Thambo and the officials of ANC (African National Congress) from South Africa, during the club’s exhibition on “Apartheid in South Africa” Again, having studied the black activist literature of Dennis Bruts, Professor Wole Soyinka, Muta Baruka and the likes, his preoccupation with reggae music as an “outcry against oppression” became deeper.

Little wonder he also became involved in one of the campus confraternities which at the time prided themselves as anti oppression movements. This preoccupation with reggae music took a new turn when his friend Ras Kimono invited him to join the team of deejays on the Floating Bukka – a reggae nightclub situated on a docked vessel on the Marina , Lagos Island.

Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai Biography, Net Worth, Date of Birth, And Ministry

Eric Donaldson, Joseph Hills, Burning Spear, and Frankie Paul are among Buchi’s major musical inspirations. In 1992, Buchi committed his life to following Jesus Christ at Christ Embassy Church. He then transitioned from the ministry’s nightclub chorus to its choir, where he has remained ever since. Initially released in 1999 (These Days), the second record was released in 2002 (So Beautiful), and the third record was released in 2005 (What a Life).

Four children and a wife named Jane have performed acts of ministry at church events, including the sold-out outreaches of Reinhard Bonnke. multiple award winners, including the 1999 Faith, POMP, and TOMA Awards for Best Artiste, Reggae Artist, and Gospel Album of the Year, respectively. In addition, she received the prestigious AMEN Award for Best in Gospel Category. 

Buchi Atuonwu Bwai, popularly known as Buchi, is a Nigerian reggae gospel artist who started his music career as a disc jockey in night clubs.

Although he hails from Ikwuano, Abia State, Minister Buchi was born on the 24 June 1963 in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

GospelReggae music

Occupation(s)

Singer, Songwriter, Reggae Artist, Poet

Labels

Loveworld RecordsBIG TOONZ

Buchi is part of Christ Embassy’s LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry.

Almost his entire life has been spent in Lagos.

Buchi began his academic career at the Federal Government College and Methodist College in Enugu. In 1983, he was accepted to the University of Lagos to pursue a degree in English and literary studies. He received his BA and MA at graduation in 1986 and 1988, respectively. At the conclusion of his program, he accepted a position at the institution to lecture and direct a PhD program. Buchi worked at the university’s Department of English up until 1994, when he began producing reggae music and authoring reggae songs.

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Minister Buchi Atuonwu Bwai Biography, Net Worth, Date of Birth, And Ministry

Buchi has published two books and eight studio CDs. These are the audio albums:

1999 – These Days

2002 – So Beatutiful

2005 – What A Life

2008 – Sounds Of Life

2011 – Judah

2014 – I See

2017 – Red, Gold & Green

2020 – 11:59

Books by Minister Buchi

1. Cease Fire

Buchi Atuonwu is a gospel reggae legend who once combined his singing career with a lecturing job.

Starting out in 1984, He has been in music for over 35 years, 

Legendary gospel reggae singer Buchi Atuonwu previously blended his singing and teaching careers.

He began playing music in 1984 and has been doing so for more than 35 years.

He received some informal training before starting his musical career. Additionally, he had not yet become a Christian at the time. He claimed that he had practiced playing reggae music while already playing it. As a result, when he converted to Christianity, I was required to sing, and I had already had enough exposure to reggae music. I worked as a DJ in the floating club “Floating Buka” in Victoria Island, Marina, Lagos.

Then, I used to play with Ras Kimono who was a DJ there too at that time. In fact, it was he ( Ras Kimono) who invited me over to come and play there with him. That was precisely between 1987 and 1988. Then, I was a postgraduate student at University of Lagos. Thereafter, I went for my doctorate degree in English Language in the same institution. I was also teaching in the Department.

While I was doing all that, I continued with my DJ work. You can see, it was an odd combination. Yet, I continued until Jesus found me in 1992, when I moved over to the church from the club.

At the time, I wasn’t paid for my DJ duties. It originated from passion. I was doing it because reggae music was so dear to my heart.

The informal training I was referring to was my time spent working as a DJ at that reggae bar. At the time, I was not a born-again Christian. And in my perspective, until you are born again, you are not a Christian.

Gospel music chose me; I didn’t pick it. Reggae chose me, not the other way around. When I was young, reggae chose me. I was drawn to it deeply and started to listen to reggae music. I had a wonderful romance with reggae music as a child and listened mostly to Jamaican music, and that shaped my sense of music. When Terracotta, Ras Kimono and Majek were making their album and I was a DJ in the club, I had already fallen in love with reggae music.

So, as you can see, reggae chose me very early. And then as I said, gospel chose me in the sense that Jesus found me and put a message in my mouth. My style of music is not gospel, there is no type of music called gospel. Gospel is the message of the music. But in terms of style, you can have reggae, pop, rock R n B among others. In terms of message, you can use your medium or style to speak of whatever you believe. I believe in gospel, so my message is strictly gospel. That’s how the combination came about.

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Most reggae artistes we know in Nigeria speak Patois. Would you say that is one of the criteria for being a reggae musician?

Reggae music cannot be completely divorced from its culture since it is a culture with a language, a history, and a style all its own. You can’t completely separate the sound from the culture that surrounds it. Because of this, most reggae musicians speak patois. Reggae originated in Africa and developed in the Caribbean. As a result, the language of reggae music was accompanied by Jamaican and Caribbean patois.

You may see that you are unable to completely escape the language. I made every effort to do that because I felt the need to convey to my audience the significance of my message, which is why I have reduced the usage of such language. It has a style. Most reggae artistes wear dreadlocks but I don’t wear dreadlocks – even when I was much younger.

What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have ever had while on stage?

I’ve told this tale about being asked to leave the stage in front of the public countless times because it was a crusade. The organizers of the Christian crusade started to complain when I started playing my music, asking, “Who brought this person to this stage?” They then urged me to leave the stage, but everyone was dancing to my music. They appeared to be listening to the beat rather than my music. They were observing my dance moves; their attention was on the body rather than the words.

*Buchi

*Buchi

Are you the sort to wear a cap?

I’m a man with a cap. It’s something I really enjoy doing. I really enjoy how it makes me feel. Without the cap, I feel exposed. I enjoy doing it, and it helps me get in touch with the people I want to influence. What happens to the common man on the street matters to me more than what happens to the powerful people in society.

I dress so they can freely interact with me without feeling threatened since I believe I am the guy. I don’t want to change my appearance to gain their trust. I want to present myself to them in a way that makes me accessible and approachable.

Was music on your mind while growing up?

Yes, music was on my mind but being a musician was certainly not on my mind. I recalled that my greatest moments were the times I enjoyed this romance with music, when I would sit alone and sing to myself. I didn’t sing to entertain  people. I only sang for myself most often as a child.

Were you a smoker before now and how were you able to overcome the habit?

I don’t want to give you a cheap headline. But what I know is that, to stop any habit is very difficult especially when you allow that habit to eat deep into you. The easiest way to leave a habit is to receive Christ. I walked clean away from smoking. The last time I smoked was on 30th of December 1992. I never smoked again since then.

Aside music, what else do you do for a living?

I type. I just released a novel called “Ceasefire.” Because I was a part of it, the book is a tale of campus cultism. It narrates the story without naming any names, but it teaches you all there is to know about college cults. I authored the book with the goal of exposing the system, not of outing any specific individuals. The biggest tragedy with cults is that neither the members nor the initiates fully comprehend what the system means or what its repercussions are.

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Before they understand the nature of the conflict, people find themselves in the trenches. I also released a book of poems and song lyrics called “Behind the Songs,” which is an anthology. It also tells the inspiration behind the songs. Something inspired me to sing “It is Well” and  other soul-lifting songs.

How many albums do you have so far?

I have about five audio albums and  two video albums. My sixth album is due to be released soon. I  just came out of the studio last month. It is titled, “Over the years”. It’s a collection of songs that I have released and re-worked for today’s audience. There are some songs I have released some 15 to 20 years ago and I know they are evergreen. So, I need to do something on them because, some of them, I didn’t express myself the way I had wanted to. I need to rework them.

Songs and Music Releases by Minister Buchi

1. Yes Lord

His daughter Olachi earned a magnificent First Class in Mass Communications (Advertising) when she graduated from Babcock University in 2020 with a First Class! The gospel singer wrote, “Praise the Lord!!!

He also marked the 26th anniversary of his marriage. His wife and he were married on November 26, 1994.

Buchi What A Life! Album Released in 2005

Beware

Hallelujah

Jerusalem

Mma Mma

What A Life

What A Thing

Wisdom

Buchi Red Gold and Green Album Released in 2017

Almighty

Amarachukwu

A Song For Caro

Beyond Words (Kololo)

Hallelujah Medley

His Grace

Holy Holy

It’s Still Legal

N di Niile

Not Ashamed

Red Gold and Green

Sing Unto The Lord

Why

Buchi So Beautiful Album Released in 2015

Bridegroom

It Is Well

It Is Well (Yard Version)

Joy

Lo I Am With You

Make Him Smile Again

Prologue

So Beautiful

Strength

Trumpet Sound

Buchi Judah Album Released in 2011

Brand New Man

Ceasefire

Champion Lover

Created

Created To Praise

Epilogue

God Alone

God Alone (Acapella)

Here I Lay

Holy Ghost Party

Judah

Intro (Judah)

Number One (Version)

Number One

Odighi Onye

Thank You

We Lift Your Name

Buchi Sound Of Life Album Released in 2011

Ekele

Flying High

I Know His Name

Let Them Come

Made Like God

Revelation

Smell Of Praise

Sound Of Life

Thanks and Praises

The Land Is Good

Three In One

Buchi 11:59 PM Album Released in 2020

11 59 Pm

Bia Nu Le

His Mercy

His Mercy II

I Am

Melody

More and More

Normally

Seven Women To One Man

Shalom Jerusalem

Sing Hallelujah

Soon Gone

Buchi I See Album Released in 2014

Bari Odule

Cultural Festival

Fire

Friends

Greetings

His Name Is Holy

I See

It Is Possible

Ke Hossana

My Helper

Rhapsody

Buchi These Days Album (2021)

Born Again (2021)

Jesus Must Be Honoured (2021)

No Other God (2021)

Preach The Gospel (2021)

These Days

Three In One

What A Mighty God

Congratulations

Social media is where Minister Buchi Bwai is active. Through his official social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, you can communicate with him.

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