Artist: Evang. Jerry Omamesiri Ekpekuro
Song: Emu Rode
Genre: Urhobo Gospel
Language: Urhobo
Released: 2019
If you grew up listening to Urhobo gospel music, there is a good chance you have come across the name Evang. Jerry Omamesiri Ekpekuro. And “Emu Rode” is one of those songs that shows why his music has remained important to lovers of indigenous gospel in the Niger Delta.
The song has been around for some years, and it is still being shared online today. There is even an older video of “Evang. Jerry Ekpekuro – Emu Rode” published on Vimeo, showing that the song has been circulating for quite a while.
Jerry Ekpekuro is not a new name in Urhobo gospel. In fact, he has been described as one of the notable Urhobo gospel musicians who helped carry the music beyond the immediate community. A publication looking at Isoko and Urhobo gospel music listed him among the prominent artists in the genre and described his creative style and performances as part of what helped him build his following.
What makes “Emu Rode” interesting is that it belongs to that older style of Niger Delta gospel where the music does more than simply entertain you. There is usually a message behind the singing, and the indigenous language makes the message feel much closer to home.
That is one reason songs from artists like Jerry Ekpekuro are worth keeping. Today’s gospel music is becoming more modern, with Afrobeats and other sounds taking over, but songs like “Emu Rode” preserve a part of the Urhobo musical tradition that younger listeners may not otherwise get to experience.
Jerry Ekpekuro has also continued to release music in recent years. His official Audiomack profile lists Jerry Records as his label and shows newer releases including Live Ebio, Urire Old Skool and Congratulation 2. His “Live Ebio” recording, for example, was released in February 2025 and has attracted thousands of plays on Audiomack.
So if you’re discovering “Emu Rode” for the first time, don’t just listen to it as an old gospel song. It’s also a little piece of Urhobo music history.
Listen to Evang. Jerry Omamesiri Ekpekuro – Emu Rode using the audio player below and enjoy this classic Niger Delta gospel sound.
