Nigerian singer-turned-cleric Banky W has returned to music after a long hiatus, teaming up with Victor Thompson on a new gospel song titled Super Power, set for release on November 6.
The singer’s last full project was the 2017 playlist Songs About U, meaning his return comes roughly nine years after he stepped away from actively releasing music . He did release some singles and the The Bank Statements project in 2021, but had largely shifted focus to politics, ministry and other pursuits in recent years .
Speaking about the comeback on his social media page, Banky W said he thought his music season was over, but God had other plans.
“I wasn’t planning to record music again anytime soon. That ship had sailed. Or so I thought,” he wrote. “But then the ideas started coming. Lyrics. Melodies. A persistent nudge I couldn’t shake.”
He said he resisted for a while, questioning whether anyone would still care and where he would even start. Eventually, he got on his knees and prayed a simple prayer.
“Lord, I feel like I have unfinished business with music. You gave me this gift, and I want to give back to You. I don’t know how, and I don’t know where to start. But if You give me the songs to sing, I’ll sing them.”
Three weeks later, he got a direct message from Victor Thompson, the singer behind the hit “This Year,” saying he felt strongly that they were supposed to do a song together.
“That song became his brand new single, Super Power,” Banky W said. “For me, this is so much more than a collaboration. It’s an act of obedience. A reminder that God’s timing doesn’t have to make sense to us, and that a chapter we think is closed might just be getting rewritten.”
He admitted he still doesn’t know how to promote music in this new era, but said his job is to trust and obey. “And this one is for You,” he added.
Just a few weeks ago, Banky W celebrated one year of being a pastor. He recounted the conversation he had with God after he lost the 2023 election, which left him broken and surrendered to God.
He is now a pastor and professor, serving as an associate pastor and global ambassador at We Are Union Church.
He had also announced that he and his family relocated overseas as he returned to school for a Master’s in Policy Management at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.