Benjaah craves true worship

Born to a Muslim mother, Eddy Atum, aka, Benjaah Edwards practiced Islam whenever he visited his maternal grandmother and soon become the perfect Anglican once with his father.

After his father passed on in 1998, he took on Benjamin as a third name because of the similarities between him and the Benjamin in the Bible. Benjamin lost his mum at birth, Benjah too was orphaned at an early age.

He moved to Kampala from Lira around December the same year and would later enrol for Bachelors of Science in Horticulture at Makerere University, only to pursue music and blogging. He is now a writer/blogger and a budding musician and produced an album between 2010-2012 with songs such as Amari Yesu and Aneno Rwot.

“I started singing in upper Primary, mostly as a hobby and as medicine for many unanswered worries about life and the past. I used to collect song lyrics from the Sunday newspapers with my cousin. I did not consider myself a good musician. No one told me I was good until my days at Busoga College Mwiri (2002-2007). I would join a choir, sing to the multitudes, and then I started songwriting,” he said.

For a graduate who never practiced Horticulture, why music?
Because of music, I was not bullied at Mwiri. I think I would have broken down if it were not for music. It helped me when I missed my mum in my earlier years of life, and it still did the same when I blamed God for taking away my father and leaving us a scattered/disjointed family.

Benjaah was raised by two aunts whom he each calls mum. He is the third and last born of his parents, James Haggard and Maliam Olwa. While many would call their father’s other wife a stepmother, he chooses to call her his, ‘second mum’. “Mine is a special lady. She is very kind.” It is a family of five boys and one girl.

I wrote a lot of music when I got saved in Senior One to express my gratitude to God. He is the other reason why I sing. I wrote Awero (Luo for I sing) to describe the feeling of ‘This is something that I must always do’. The weight of a tough course did not stop me from singing and now, the journey to where I see myself won’t stop me from singing. It is not so much a career but a passion.

Why are you passionate about worship?
I’m the least qualified to talk about deep subjects such as worship but as a young man, I feel many people in my circles are at a place where they are so attracted to the noise and the events and the pomp that comes with the lights. A number of us never get that chance to reflect on where we are at as individuals. Or on the purpose of the gifts God gave us.

However, aspects of worship such as surrender, sincerity, humility encourage me and so many others as we ascribe greatness to God.

Recently, I organised “Worship Not A Show”; it was a call to return to the place of honesty with God. I felt, at the time that - like many- I was worshiping God out of duty and not focusing on the relationship with him. There were many hindrances to total devotion in worship.

I used to focus for less than 30 minutes during a typical Sunday service. And that was my ‘place of worship.’ So ‘Worship Not A Show’ was for many, a reminder that it is more than just saying “I worship you Lord only on Sunday.” Ultimately, my purpose in life is to glorify God. I have equally failed and succeeded many times at this.

Where does the blogger, artiste and worshipper fit into this?
My role in the music industry is to use the gift of music. I have an album to my name, and my song Free Indeed received best RnB/Soul nomination at the VIGA Awards. In 2015, Amari Yesu received massive air play on Christian radio stations. Remember I only decided to hit the studios at university to see if my voice sounded as nice when recorded, and I thought it did.

I have always wondered whether to introduce myself as the blogger or artiste. The two are not mutually exclusive. I feel like we are created to be so many things. My aim with the Social Media Awards where I was nominated for Ug Gospel Life blog and Benjaah Edwards (Son Of Olwa) the Christian singer; is to influence media, arts and entertainment.

Sometimes I feel like the blogger in me hinders the progress of the artiste and vice versa. However, I know that because I’m a great content creator (so I have been told), I can do so many things while releasing my music. And because I’m a singer -(a not so popular one)- I have an ear for great art and easily create nice songs.

His Music includes Aneno Rwot; Awero (I sing); Pe Itye Keni (You Are Not Alone);Papa, The Lights are On Me; Lalar Dong Obino; The Talk; Never Give Up ft Joune Sky; Lalar Dong Obino [Remix] ft Ojara and Ojay;I am Here; and So in Love.

Any major achievements?
Yes, my Aneno Rwot album and the VIGA Award. I consider my involvement and contribution to Uganda’s urban gospel a big achievement.I treasure being an inspiration to my siblings, encouraging them to continue studying despite life’s challenges. God has enabled me to be the brother whom they can talk to when they are at crossroads. I have also registered Amaro, a House Of Concepts and Creatives which I will unveil when we are ready to bombard the world with great work and digital marketing.

Where is the future for you?
I have just completed a Diploma in Digital Marketing so I’m currently offering leadership in blogging. I am doing a lot more than traditional blogging platforms. In the next five years, I will have established a successful company (Amaro) and will probably be married to a loving wife. I want to have about 5- 10 children. They must all be stubborn;I cannot stand docile children. I think this is because I am stubborn in a good way.

About Worship Not A Show
Have you ever been to church and left feeling like you weren’t moved by the worship that day? Or felt that the worship leader was more about testing their vocal abilities in self-exaltation than in worshipping God? Well, while holding a personal prayer to usher in the year 2016, Benjaah says God impressed upon him, the need to revive a God-centred worship experience.

Thus reflecting on Matt Redman’s song “The Heart Of Worship”, on Friday, May 20, youths gathered at St Francis Chapel, Makerere, with worshippers from different churches. All were united by Christ and the goal to convey that Worship is not a show, nor a program or slow music. Rev. Canon Amos Turyahabwe advised a collaboration between church’s AWAY Worship event and the #WorshipNotAShow campaign and many were blessed.