With musical influences like Anita Baker, Sade, and the Clark Sisters, local singer Gift Nwokorie’s love for music grew slowly within her.
It was her uncle, who was a singer himself, who discovered her singing voice. He then helped to harness it, encouraging her to sing with all her heart.
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Growing up, Nwokorie’s artistic ambitions lay elsewhere. “I thought I would go into dancing, but through experiences with my uncle, I started to fall in love with singing, and how much power it carries. Singing is my ministry now,” she said.
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This soulful singer describes herself as a jazz/neo soul singer, and her favourite song to sing is one she recently wrote, titled: I’m here. “It’s my heart singing,” she said. “When I recently performed it, the reception was amazing.”
Nwokorie was among the many artists that performed at Brixton’s Debates and Da Beats event recently. What she loves about performing in the Brixton community, is that it’s an old town, with an artsy flair to it. So, a performer is always guaranteed that the community will be open to whatever expression, idea, or new music they bring.
For her, reading the energy the crowd gives indicates what she should sing at any given performance. “Sometimes you prepare a whole set, but, just by reading the crowd’s energy, you know it won’t work. So, you switch it up. As an artist, with a band, we always make sure we have multiple sets prepared.”
Through music, Nwokorie believes she has found her ministry. “I found my purpose through singing and the message, through my songs, gives healing.”
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