Summary

Ojatula Opeyemi Celestina known as Celeste Ojatula (Born 20, July 1994) in Lagos Nigeria, is an Independent Nigerian singer, song-writer, guitarist, short-story writer and content writer. Celeste grew up in a family where the taste in music genre was diverse. She listened from high life sounds to jazz, rock and soul. As well, there was the constant "tales by moonlight" and the traditional/folk-like call and response music that happened consistently throughout her childhood. This subsequently, influenced her perspective towards musical sounds and genres. Celeste is an independent artist whose genre of music can be regarded as alternative/ indie-folk. Her sound, accompanied with her guitar can be described as surreal and transcendental. She plays the acoustic and lead guitars as well as percussion instruments. The inspiration for her sound is drawn from human life, literature and spirituality.

Celeste has performed at events such as The Annual Rock Festival (ROCKTOBERFEST), Make Music Lagos, Jazz Festival, Felabration but to mention a few.

Asides music, Celeste is a short-story writer, content developer and poet; her website, myidlepen.com and celesteojatula.com. She is also currently an ambassador for Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), an NGO working towards the awareness of mental health in Nigeria. Celeste is currently working on her debut EP. Her handle is @celestearth on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.  

Early Life

Celeste Ojatula was born to Gregory Soye and Abiodun Taibat Ojatula. When she was four, her family relocated to another suburb in Lagos where she spent most of her childhood and teenage years. During these years, she was exposed to tales by moonlight which influenced her perspective towards stories and storytelling. She enjoyed in particular, the musical monologues of the stories. Also, she had siblings and parents who listened to so many genres ranging from Gospel music, to Jazz to Metal Rock. In particular, her musical life was shaped by the inspirations she got from listening to music from her siblings. When she was seven, her mother died from cardiac arrest and she spent the remaining period of mourning her by listening to music.

During her secondary school days, she participated in social events in school as an actress as well as in the church as a chorister. Celeste began writing her songs at 14 and had influences from The Corrs, Don Moen, King Sunny Ade, Lagbaja, Avril Lavigne, Three Doors Down, Michael Bublè, Frank Sinatra, etc. Celeste started to play the guitar at 18 when she met a voice instructor who encouraged her to learn an instrument. She began on impulse and learned, constantly creating friendship among people with similar interests.

Career

Celeste began her music career professionally in 2015 where she also performed at Rocktoberfest, an annual rock festival and has since been growing with public interviews and events. Celeste has also performed at notable places like the African Philanthropy Forum, Ake Book and Arts Festival, Makemusic Lagos amongst others.

In July 2017, Celeste had her first show orchestrated by C.O.R.E which was titled Hangout With Celeste^[1]. This event was strictly to open the ears of people to her sound as well as gain the attention of new fans. The event turned out to be a success. Celeste also became an ambassador for MANI, a mentally aware initiative for mental awareness In Nigeria.

She recently released her single Black which exposes the societal decadence in today’s youth.

References

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-started-playing-guitar-by-accident-celeste-ojatula.html

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/08/20/a-celestial-evening-of-good-vibes/

http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/5-alternative-musicians-who-improved-their-craft-in-year-2017-id7555671.html

http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/events/celeste-to-host-music-heads-in-an-acoustic-hangout-session-id6986341.html

https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/11/bnatakefestival-open-music-concert/

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/celeste-singer-the-chibok-girls-by-helon-habila.html

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ake-where-artists-authors-spoke-the-female-language.html

http://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel-arts-culture/salawa-abeni-steals-the-show-at-ake-festival-2017-id7607725.html

https://guardian.ng/features/rocknation-nigeria-stages-rock-festival/

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1. ↑ admin (2017-08-20). A Celestial Evening of Good Vibes (in en-US). THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved on 2019-08-19.