“When the news of the death of the young gospel minister, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji (aka Toluwanisings), was announced, I was quick to recall his rendition of the hymn, À Ò Pàdé Lẹ́sẹ̀ Jésù.”
The À Ò Pàdé Lẹ́sẹ̀ Jésù Hymn (watch video)
There are moments when an ordinary song suddenly becomes extraordinary. There are hymns we sing in church for years without fully appreciating the depth of their message, until life presents us with circumstances that compel us to listen again.
À Ó Pàdé Lẹ́sẹ̀ Jésù — “We Shall Meet at the Feet of Jesus” — is one such hymn. It has been sung in churches for generations, although the original composer of the Yoruba version remains uncertain.
When the news of the death of this young gospel minister, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, was announced, I was quick to recall his rendition of the hymn.
I could not help wondering when he had sung it and whether there was any connection between the song and his untimely departure. Could it have been some kind of premonition of death?
Curiosity led me to Google, where I found an earlier post, dated 28 April, 2023, in which Toluwanisings shared his rendition of the hymn.
He explained that he had first heard the song at a praise night more than 11 years earlier and that it always touched him deeply whenever it came to his heart.
He also revealed that he had recorded his version with the intention of winning souls for Christ.
That discovery gave me pause. This was not merely a song he happened to sing shortly before his death; it was a hymn that had evidently held a special place in his heart for years.
Yet, while it is tempting to interpret such a coincidence as a premonition, there is no evidence to establish that he foresaw his death.
Perhaps, the more meaningful reflection lies not in what he might have known about his future, but in what the hymn meant to him and the message he hoped to communicate through it.
The message of the song is simple, yet profound: earthly separation need not be the end of the story. For Christians, it expresses the hope of meeting again in the presence of Jesus, where sorrow will give way to eternal joy and parting will be no more.
There is something particularly poignant about hearing a young gospel minister sing about this heavenly reunion and subsequently learning of his death.
The words seem to acquire a new significance, drawing our attention to the mystery of life and the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Today, we see young gospel musicians full of dreams, energy and promise. We watch them sing, laugh, worship and make plans for a future filled with possibilities.
Naturally, we assume there will be more time: more conversations, more encounters, more opportunities and more songs to sing together.
Then, sometimes without warning, the story changes.
A life that seemed to have so much ahead of it becomes a memory.
A familiar voice becomes something we return to through recordings.
The songs remain, even when the person who sang them is no longer physically present.
And so, Toluwanisings’ rendition of this age-old hymn has become a moment for reflection. In the light of his death, its message is difficult to ignore.
What may once have been received as an expression of worship now resonates with a deeper poignancy, reminding us of how fragile life can be.
Indeed, many of Toluwanisings’ songs point us towards reflection on our relationship with God and our fellow human beings.
His music reminds us that life is not measured solely by the number of years we spend on earth, but also by the faith we profess, the lives we touch and the messages we leave behind.
Adieu, Toluwanisings. May your music continue to speak, may your labour in the Gospel be remembered, and may God comfort your family, friends and all who mourn your departure.
Your voice may have fallen silent, but the hymn remains — a timeless reminder of faith, hope, the mystery of life and the eternal longing to meet again at the feet of Jesus.
•Esho is the Managing Director of Evergreen Musical Company, Lagos.
