Oba Dafidi

Oba Dafidi is a Highlife and Afro-fusion gospel musician whose music is rooted in faith, culture, and purpose. From an early age, he found joy in singing and playing instruments like the piano and guitar, drawing inspiration from legends such as Ebenezer Obey and Orlando Owoh. For Oba, music has never just been a hobby—it’s always felt like a calling.
He got his start in the church choir, attending rehearsals and vocal training sessions while building his foundation in music. Although his path included a career in nursing and a relocation that took him away from music for a while, the desire to sing never left him. He now sees those life experiences as preparation for the journey he's on today.
Oba’s shift into gospel music came after a series of powerful spiritual moments, including being approached by strangers who told him he was meant to sing. Those encounters, along with his reflections, helped him realise that using his gift was part of God’s plan for him.
That realisation led to his debut EP, Triumph of Grace, which marked a turning point in his life and music. Since then, Oba has been writing, recording, and performing songs that blend gospel messages with the rich, soulful rhythms of highlife and Afro-fusion.
His upcoming album, Between Me and God, is a deeply personal project inspired by quiet moments of prayer and reflection. Set for release on June 20, 2025 (with presales starting June 11), the album captures the heart of what it means to walk closely with God, even when it’s not the easiest path.
Oba is also back to learning guitar, pushing himself to grow musically and offer even more excellence in his worship. For him, music isn’t just about sound—it’s about ministry and encouraging others to follow their God-given purpose.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to thank God. It's Toby Highlights, the podcast version
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(00:22):
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
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Speaker 1 (00:32):
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Speaker 1 (01:01):
A cast is home to the world's best podcasts, including
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Right Now. Oba the Fitty is a high life and
Afrofusian gospel musician whose soulful sound and spiritual calling blends
to create music that ministers up left and honors God.

(01:24):
And Oba is with us here. How are you today?

Speaker 4 (01:27):
I'm all right, thank you to be.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Before you go into music full time, you worked in nursing.
So what was it that made you want to transition
from nursing to pursuing music?

Speaker 4 (01:38):
Because my love for music continued to grow and I
couldn't let go of that career path, so to the
extent that on multiple occasions I've had a count out
with people coming to me and telling me that this
is what you're meant to be doing. And then you
are on the wrong path, so you need you need
to switch to the right path so that you know

(01:59):
you can't achieve your gender and then you know objectives
in terms of music. So and then I sat down
and prayed to God to show me, you know, to
drive part and this disappoints me. He opened the way
and let me know that this is the way to go,
choose music and continue to go.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
And you've got a new album called Between Me and God?
So what's the story behind that?

Speaker 4 (02:23):
Between Me and God? This is something that grew up
as as a form of relationship from from between me
and God. It's simply it's simple as that. It's like
an intimate relationship between that I have between myself and God.
I'm very close to God. I prayed to him, I

(02:44):
seek guidance. I think, I think you know solutions to
my problems. Whenever I have issues, I go to him.
So it's my best friend. So I'm making my wonder
knowingly that I can go to just like this is
where people go to staggyful solutions of things. I go
to God and play to him that God, I need
help in this area of my life. And then there

(03:07):
were moments when things were so tough for me, there
was no one to learn to go Whenever I wanted
to God. The a setment and they figure out away
from me. So I chose God and I made that
album between me and God because what's the contest? And
then lyrics of that album and Copacies is about everything
that has to do with myself and God and my

(03:29):
relationship with God and my faithful life with Him.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
And how does your African musical roots influence your gospel sound.

Speaker 4 (03:37):
Because growing up I used to listen to a lot
did you artists legiond Risks like so their Day, Emenies,
Our Bay Orlando War and other gospel artists like Talk Blabby,
Larry Teriba, I do Bay this to a you, Feilures
and some other popular artists like that. So and the

(03:58):
most majoritis Juruba language, which is my native language. And
then combination of their you know general with my gostfel
and then faithful life. It's what made me alive at
you know, the high life gostful music. So they they
really inspire me. And that's that is why I wanted And.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
What are your hopes and goals for the future of
your music career.

Speaker 4 (04:21):
I really do hope to be bigger than what I
am today because I believe in in my capacity. I
believe so much in God that it wouldn't let me
down for Him to put me in this part. Definitely
I'm on the live spot. So I believe that in
future I will be greater than this. I'll be well known.
And then my music who would touch a lot of

(04:42):
people's souls, to heal a lot of people's lives, to
make a lot of impact around the world. So and
then the general of my music, I want to also
grow to you know, incocate other people's kind of music
into my delights of Arabi the lives you know, you know,
imputing some rapping style into my music so that it

(05:05):
would be well accepted in the following world, in the
Western world I have, but not changing the world or
the context which I'm trying to pass across. The most
important thing is pressing the gospel with the music, So
I would not I would not let that tage, but
using more of my native combining my native language with
English so that the Western world also accepted and to

(05:27):
also be able to impact them. So that is my
goal for my future.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Well, in the meantime, where can we find all the
music that you've came out with so far and keep
up to date with.

Speaker 4 (05:37):
You on all streaming platforms as my name is this Abadapidy.
So if you go on Facebook, you go on the Stagram,
you go on YouTube, you go on TikTok, you find
me there and swimming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, Audio Mark,
Boom to Down and others like that. My songs, all

(05:57):
my music are all over there for and this between
me and god' I've made it, you know. Well, well,
I ring that I have the lyrics in English translation
on all these streaming platforms, so that for those that
don't because it's it's a combination of my native language
and English. But for those are also I want to

(06:18):
get the real context of the message and passional cross
they can't you go along with the lyrics as the
song explained on all this platforms, so they can they
can easily get the message and.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
Persons absolutely well, many thanks for joining us on the
show today. It's been great having you here.

Speaker 4 (06:34):
Thank you very much to be I really do appreciate
you for bringing me here.

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Speaker 2 (06:59):
I Fridays for celebration, good times and relaxation. So turn
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Or because of your host, Tommy Grandma, I guess some

(07:19):
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It's not now we can right, thank god, it's Toby