In the vibrant landscape of Afro-fusion music, Uniekgrace’s journey is one illuminated by faith and fueled by resilience. Born Funkè Ojo-Emessiri on June 2, 1982, in Ondo State, Nigeria, she has crafted a career that weaves together her multicultural roots and demonstrates her commitment to ministry. Her stage name, Uniekgrace, draws from the Dutch word for “unique,” reflecting her distinctive blend of influences and her journey as a third-culture artist who has lived in Nigeria, Italy, Switzerland, the USA, Angola, and North America before settling in Antwerp, Belgium, with her husband and four children. These diverse backgrounds have profoundly shaped her sound, allowing her to infuse her music with a unique fusion of cultural elements that bridge continents and traditions.
Life Beyond Music
Beyond music, Uniekgrace balances multiple roles: a registered nurse, entrepreneur as director of Eko Glass Ventures Ltd. in Nigeria, executive director and board member of the Ajijola Iya Foundation — a Lagos-based nonprofit aiding underprivileged students with scholarships, stipends, and school supplies — and author of the poetry collection Face2Face. Her poetic side traces back to childhood, when her father encouraged her and her siblings to write about their days as a way to connect with them. This practice honed her ability to express herself through writing, making the process of penning song lyrics feel natural whenever inspiration strikes.
A Divine Wake-Up Call
Her professional path in music began around 8 years ago, initially as a passion alongside nursing, but it deepened significantly following a pivotal near-death experience. While driving home from work one evening, she narrowly avoided a collision with an oncoming bus she hadn’t seen; by what she attributes to God’s grace, the bus veered away in time, leaving her unscathed. Upon arriving home, she experienced a profound sense that God was urging her to fully embrace and utilize the musical gift she had been given, during the time she has on earth. This served as a decisive wake-up call, compelling her to commit to her music ministry without further delay.
Faith as the Heartbeat of Artistry
Grace’s creative process is deeply intertwined with her spirituality. The Holy Spirit often communicates to her through dreams and revelations, leading to song ideas that arrive in her sleep. Upon waking, she immediately opens the voice recorder app on her phone to capture them, resulting in what she humorously describes as a jumbled collection of hummings and melodies — a habit that marks her as one of those artists who thrives on spontaneous inspiration. At the core of her work, however, is her walk with God; her music serves as a profound form of service to Him, channeling personal experiences and the ways God has guided her through challenges into lyrics that uplift and testify. This faith-driven foundation is the heartbeat of her artistry, transforming her songs into vessels of worship, resilience, and divine testimony that resonate with listeners seeking spiritual connection.
Musical Evolution and Influences
Influenced by a range of artists including Lauryn Hill and Fela Kuti, Uniekgrace explored Christian Hip Hop (CHH) in her earlier years, even mentoring under The Ambassador (William Duce, a pastor). She once wrote rap songs for a group but ultimately recognized that rap wasn’t her strength, choosing instead to focus on her unique vocal and stylistic gifts. Today, her sound is a dynamic fusion of Afro-gospel, urban-soul, R&B, contemporary, Afropop, and Afro-fusion, characterized by energetic rhythms and themes of faith, purpose, resilience, and divine presence. Her lyrics often stem from personal stories and her global upbringing, creating music that resonates as both worshipful and empowering.
Building a Discography
Her discography kicked off in 2012 with the double-single “Survivor” and “Jesus is Real,” followed by her first music video for “Let Your Will” in 2014. The 2016 remix of “I’m a Survivor,” merging European and African elements, marked a breakthrough, gaining traction in Nigeria and West Africa.
Recent years have seen a surge in her output. In 2024, singles like the energetic Afro-gospel track “Higher” — which received airplay on Nigerian stations — along with “My Delight” and “Involved” (featuring Ko’rale) showcased her evolving style. With over 25,000 monthly Spotify listeners, she has released one EP and at least seven singles, including the Billboard-mentioned “No Dulling” produced by Belgian award-winner Berry Prod. The reach of her work is further evidenced by features on billboards across the United States and beyond, a visible testament to divine favor and the growing impact of her message.
Music That Transcends Boundaries
The impact of Uniekgrace’s music extends far beyond the charts. At her workplace, surgeons and colleagues have called her in during breaks or after grueling operations to sing for them, finding solace in her voice amid the demands of medical life. Even when she’s not necessarily singing for them, her songs have opened doors that might otherwise remain closed — invitations, opportunities, and connections born from the quiet power of her ministry. Listeners frequently reach out to share how they return to her tracks during their darkest moments, drawing strength to persevere. Remarkably, this resonance transcends language barriers; people across Europe — particularly white audiences in countries she has lived in or visited — who do not speak the Nigerian dialects or Dutch-infused phrases in her music still testify to being deeply blessed and moved by the spirit within the melodies.
YATO: A Triumph Born of Trial
A defining milestone arrives with her debut full-length album YATO, released on November 14, 2025. As a mother of four, Grace speaks of each release as one of her “little babies.” Just as she prays over her children when they enter the world, believing they will touch lives far beyond her reach, she covers every song and every album in fervent prayer before sending it out.
Furthermore, YATO represents far more than a new release; it is a triumph she once believed impossible. Spanning three years in the making, the album was pieced together amid significant health struggles and an accident that left her unable to fully support her family. Yet, in that season, producers from around the world reached out with beats, and God orchestrated every step. The album’s completion has left her with an overflow of material already earmarked for her next body of work.
Independence as Intentional Ministry
As an independent artist, Uniekgrace has navigated the industry’s challenges with deliberate care, choosing collaborators who align with her values and vision. She knows the music world is rife with questionable players, and experience has taught her that the right partnerships can determine how far one goes. Unlike signed artists bound by contractual obligations to work with mismatched brands or individuals, her independence grants her the freedom to build with those she trusts — ensuring every step honors her calling.
Vision
Looking ahead, she is already planning global tours, more live shows in Belgium, and a steady stream of new music. She refuses to release a project and wait passively for success — she believes in taking the music to the people, meeting audiences where they are, and letting the message travel through presence as much as through playlists.
Grace in Action
Through it all, Grace’s story is testimony to God’s favour and grace — transforming personal trials into melodies that echo resilience and divine calling, bridging cultures, languages, and hearts worldwide.
