Laolu Gbenjo

Olaolu Olagbenjo, professionally known as Laolu Gbenjo, is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter, worship leader and live performer known for his energetic blend of Yoruba gospel, African highlife and traditional praise music. His performances are built around live instrumentation, dance, call-and-response and a strong connection with Yoruba musical traditions, giving him a distinctive place within Nigeria’s contemporary gospel scene.

Gbenjo’s musical journey has been marked by persistence and reinvention. He began singing in church while growing up in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and professionally entered the music industry in 2008. After an initially difficult start that led him to temporarily step away from music, he returned to the scene and eventually developed the high-energy Alujo Special style that became closely associated with his name. His catalogue includes projects such as Next Level, Take Over, Expression, Turn Around, Spontaneous Praise, Vol. 1 and the Praise Addict series.

Early Life and Background

Although Gbenjo was born in Lagos, he spent much of his childhood in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, where he received his primary and secondary education. His upbringing was strongly connected to the Christian faith. His father was a pastor, while his mother was a deaconess, and music was part of the family’s environment. Gbenjo has recalled that most members of his family could sing, although he initially considered himself the exception.

His move to Lagos around the turn of the millennium presented a major cultural adjustment. Having grown up speaking Yoruba extensively, he initially struggled with English and found it difficult to communicate comfortably with people his age. He has spoken openly about being teased because of his strong Ogbomoso Yoruba accent. That experience later became an interesting part of his story because the Yoruba language and culture that once made him feel out of place would become central to his musical identity.

Education and Musical Beginnings

Gbenjo completed part of his education in Ogbomoso before finishing his secondary education in Lagos. He later attended Lagos State University, where he studied Business Administration. While his academic path was outside music, singing had already become part of his life through church and other local performances.

He began singing while still in secondary school, but initially regarded music mainly as a passion and hobby. His professional career began in 2008, when he released his first album, Next Level. The beginning was far from glamorous. After the album launch, he expected invitations to perform, but very few opportunities came. The limited income from performances and poor sales of his recordings eventually caused him to step away from music.

During this period, Gbenjo turned his attention to the sound business and established Pleasant Sound Entertainment. His withdrawal from performing did not last forever. After several years away, he attended a friend’s concert and was invited to lead a worship session. The response to that performance encouraged him to return to music and marked the beginning of another chapter in his career.

Career and Breakthrough

Gbenjo’s return to music led to a more deliberate development of his artistic identity. His second major project, Take Over, became an important stage in his growth, while his later work Expression further established his reputation as a gospel performer with a strong African musical identity. In an interview, he identified Expression and the song “Baba Faye Mi Dabira” as particularly important to his rise in visibility.

His performances became known for their energy and emphasis on live music. Instead of relying primarily on conventional contemporary gospel arrangements, Gbenjo incorporated elements of African highlife, traditional Yoruba praise and the performance culture associated with social celebrations. He has described his approach as contemporary African highlife gospel combined with old CAC traditional music.

This combination gradually gave him a recognisable identity. Songs such as “Baba Faye Mi Dabira,” “So Beautiful,” “Carry Me Dey Go” and “Alujo Meta” became associated with his live performances, while his concerts brought together gospel audiences and listeners attracted by the celebratory character of his music.

The Alujo Special Movement

One of the biggest turning points in Gbenjo’s career came during the COVID-19 lockdown. With concerts and social events suspended, he began creating personalised musical birthday greetings and praise sessions for people who were unable to celebrate normally. What began as a way to keep working during an extremely difficult period gradually developed into what became known as Alujo Special.

The format allowed Gbenjo and his band to combine praise, dance, Yoruba musical traditions and personalised celebration into short performances that could be shared online. Requests increased rapidly, leading him to invest further in his studio and production setup. He has said that he recorded thousands of such performances during the lockdown period, including sessions for people in Nigeria and abroad.

Alujo Special subsequently became more than a lockdown experiment. It developed into a defining part of Gbenjo’s public identity and helped him reach audiences outside the conventional church setting. His interpretation of praise music became particularly suited to weddings, birthdays, concerts and other celebrations where gospel music could coexist with a broader atmosphere of joy.

Musical Style and Influences

Gbenjo’s music is rooted in Yoruba musical culture while drawing from gospel, highlife and traditional praise. His sound is often driven by live drums, percussion, horns and other instruments, with the band playing an important role in the overall performance. The result is music that encourages participation rather than passive listening.

His Yoruba background is central to this approach. Rather than treating traditional musical elements as something separate from modern gospel, Gbenjo brings them together in a contemporary performance format. He has also emphasised the importance of creativity and maintaining an atmosphere in which audiences can dance and celebrate.

This explains why his music can occupy different spaces. While he identifies as a gospel artist, he has argued that not every celebration requires gospel music exclusively. For him, music can serve the occasion while still reflecting Christian joy and celebration.

Notable Releases and Collaborations

Gbenjo’s recorded catalogue has expanded considerably since his first album. His early projects include Next Level, Take Over and Expression, followed by Turn Around in 2019. He later released Spontaneous Praise, Vol. 1 in 2021 and developed the Praise Addict series, which became a major part of his output.

The Praise Addict projects have increasingly emphasised extended live praise sessions. Praise Addict 3, released in 2024, included collaborations with Adeyinka Alaseyori, while Praise Addict 4 featured Deborah Ajayi and Pelumi Deborah. Praise Addict 5 followed later in 2024.

His collaborations extend beyond albums released under his own name. He has appeared on recordings with artists including Adeyinka Alaseyori, Beejay Sax, Chigozie Wisdom, Gbenga Akinfenwa and others. His 2026 Praise Addict 7.0 project features Adeyinka Alaseyori across two extended praise recordings.

Awards, Recognition and Current Career

Gbenjo received the City People Award of Excellence in 2020 in recognition of his contribution to gospel music. The award came during a period when his career was entering another important phase, although the COVID-19 pandemic affected the original presentation. He later collected the award from City People Magazine.

His career has continued to expand through recordings, concerts and international performances. The growth of Alujo Special has helped turn his live band and performance style into an important part of his brand, while his work in sound production through Pleasant Sound Entertainment has remained another part of his professional life.

In 2026, Gbenjo remains active as a recording and performing artist. His recent catalogue includes releases such as “God of Blessing,” “Baba O,” “Holy Vibes,” “Momore,” “Monjola Oluwa” and “Blessed,” with “Blessed” released in August 2026. He has also continued the Praise Addict series, including Praise Addict 7.0 with Adeyinka Alaseyori.

Laolu Gbenjo’s career is ultimately a story of persistence and reinvention. He began as a young church singer from Ogbomoso, struggled to establish himself after his first album, stepped away from music and returned years later with a clearer sense of identity. His ability to combine Yoruba praise traditions, African highlife, gospel themes and energetic live performance has helped him build a distinctive niche in Nigerian gospel music. The emergence of Alujo Special further demonstrated his ability to adapt to changing circumstances while remaining rooted in the musical culture that shaped him.