Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe popularly known as Ehiliz is a gospel artiste and host of Vivid View with Ehiliz on TVC. She talks about the programme, music, family and style in this interview with glamtush.
How long have you been into gospel music?
It’s precisely 22 years now because I released my first album in 1994 and the 10th album.
How were you able to pursue gospel music because secular songs were the in-thing back then? What kept you going till now?
When God calls you He gives you grace and support so because of that you continue striving. A lot of things have actually taking place since 1994 in terms of packaging, scoring our songs to make it look better as well as the beats. Initially gospel music was just one way and it was not appealing to so many people. We came up with a union in Benin City where I started that brings all gospel artistes together. It is called Christian Gospel Artiste Association of Nigeria (CGAAN). We started off by talking about how to package ourselves well as well as scoring our songs to be appealing. Back then they feel gospel music is for old people and we wanted to correct that notion. I happen to be the first female president of the union. We also talk about piracy and so many other things on how to move gospel music forward.
How do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration can come at any time and from anywhere. It can come through an inscription written somewhere, in my quite moments or when am sleeping. When I sing in the dream, I just jump up, pick my pen and scribble it down, put sofar notation on it so that I won’t forget the beat. But now with electronics, one can just sing and go back to bed so that you don’t forget the key.
You are also anchoring a TV talk show, Vivid View with Ehiliz. What is it about and what made you go into it?
Vivid View with Ehiliz is a youth programme, ages 18 to 30 years. And that is the physical audience I have in the studio. But it’s a programme for everybody. Initially I thought it was just my own idea but it’s what god wanted me to do. When I told my friend who works with AIT about the idea of the programme, we drew up a plan and even came up with different names before ending with Vivid Views with Ehiliz. She advised me to try and build my own studio. But when she told me how much it would cost to build a studio, it was much so I decided to continue with my gospel music since I was still working for God that was in 2011.
In 2014 precisely January 2 early in the morning, I saw a huge man, like a giant. I don’t think I was even up to his waist warning me. He said, “I gave you an assignment and you refused to do it. If you don’t do it, I will give it to somebody else but you will face the consequences.” And then I woke up. The worst part was that I couldn’t even figure out the assignment the man was talking about that I refused to do. But much later, everything was clear. I remembered that God asked me to do a progamme about youths in 2011. It actually cost me some money to build the studio but I’m glad the progamme has been making impacts in the lives of those who have been watching it. We have been on air for almost two years. The programme is to sensitize the youths to say ‘No to evil’ no matter what. It’s educative, informative, interactive and inspiring.
Obviously you are a very busy woman but how do you balance the home front, role as a wife and a mother?
It has not been easy as a matter of fact when I started. But now it is getting clearer and better because the children are grown up now. I’m now a grandmother and my last child was born in year 2000. So I don’t have a baby at hand per se. But when I started in 1994, I had just two children before I had the other three. If I recall, it wasn’t really easy. I had to look for a house-help and the one or two I got were not favourable and I had to relieve them and continue struggling on my own. I started teaching my children to be like adults – be domesticated and cook from a tender age. Today, they are all grown up. Now I have someone who cooks. I was also attending evening school. I did my first and second degree at old age so it wasn’t easy for me. But I believe in planning: plan your work and work your plan. My husband was also very supportive.
Do you have time for leisure?
I do have time for leisure. My own policy is that I don’t carry work home no matter what. I learnt that when I was working in the bank. When I didn’t have a help, I do my cooking and house chores, then, I watch tv, African Magic or any drama and I laugh, have eased myself of stress. I also tune to any Christian progamme that can make me sing along with them.
Is there anything new from you?
I made the promise that I will be dropping an album every two years, which I have actually been doing. I just dropped two singles. One is “heal our land” looking at what is happening not only in Nigeria but globally, the kidnapping, killing, bombings and more. The song featured Mike Abdul and Monique. The second single is titled, “Only You” and by God’s grace the full album should be coming in December.
You are now a grandmother but you still look young. What is your beauty secret?
I do exercises and the kind of cream I use is also very helpful. I use Forever products because all their products are organic. I do exercises as well. For instance, I dance; dancing is part of exercise as well. I don’t jog but I walk 3 kilometers every two days and I also watch what I eat. I eat lots of fruits, my dinner does not exceed between 5 and 6 pm. It is also important to reduce certain things when you are aging.
How would you describe your style?
I am a fashionable woman but I do not believe in expensive clothes or jewelleries. I can make many things from any material especially from Ankara. I have my tailor, Mercy Cut. In fact she has known me to the extent that once I give her materials she knows what to make for me. I am not crazy about fashion. I’m not also an old school I will just say I’m in-between. But because I also play music, my styles are sometimes different from others. I’m fashionable but decent in dressing.
Are there fashion accessories you can’t do without?
No, I’m a focused person. There are few occasions I forgot to wear earrings, I just go out like that. Of course, I won’t go back home because of earrings. I will just conclude that God does not want me to wear earrings that day. The only thing that if I forget to wear I will go back and pick up is my glasses and that because I can’t see well without it. But if I’m performing as an artiste, I don’t wear it because of my dance moves so that it doesn’t disturb me. Also, if I forget my phone I will go back and pick it up because it’s important.
What words of encouragement do you have for women in this present economic situation?
Those who don’t know how to manage before, it is an opportunity to know how to manage. If you cook food excessively before and throw away, if you need to use ruler to measure it, please do that. The condition will surely improve but right now we all have to calm down and spend wisely. The advice is that if you are not managing before, learn to manage. Second, you should corporate and plan with your spouse, reduce a lot of gratification and enjoyment even up to buying recharge card. Also, don’t be a full time house wife now, things are too difficult. Even before now, I don’t advise any woman to be a full time housewife. Things are hard but there are still things you can do to put food on your table. Also, those with three or four cars in the house should use only one and warm the others. Everybody needs to manage.
If you are to say a word of prayer for Nigeria what will that be?
That God should heal our economy and to make us understand that the gift He gave to us need to be properly managed. What we are facing in Nigeria is lack of management and selfishness.
What makes you different from other gospel artiste and what is your contribution to the society?
We all preach the same message but the way we go about it is what is different. Personally, I take my gospel music to some extent. I hold a music programme called Gospel Live with Ehiliz. I started in Ogba, from there we moved to Ajegunle and the programme held on October 2. It was really a great event.
