Jumbo Aniebiet

ABOUT

Boasting collaborations with the likes of Nathaniel Bassey, Deborah Lukalu, and Jonathan Nelson, and songwriting credits with Maverick City, Nigerian-American music producer, Singer-songwriter and Trumpeter from Washington DC, Jumbo Aniebiet is a purveyor of hope and an embodiment of determination. From his humble beginnings in his home country of Nigeria to his evolution as a prolific songwriter and accomplished musician, Jumbo has become a geyser of Sunday morning worship anthems such as Imela, Incredible God, Most High, Okaka and Running.

Known for his melodiously raspy vocals and angelic trumpet lines, Jumbo started his musical journey at the age of seven years old when his father, a music director at a local church taught him to play the harmonica and flute. As his passion for music grew, he started singing and writing songs. Due to shyness and his discovery of the Trumpet, he would place singing on the back-burner as he delved into the world of Jazz with musical influences such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gileski and Arturo Sandoval. He had dreams of becoming one of the best trumpeters in the world as he became a student at the Muson School of Music Lagos, Nigeria where he studied Jazz and Classical Trumpet.

As a musician who happened to be a Christian, he would instinctively take advantage of his familial roots in the pentecostal church to hone his skills as a trumpeter with the hopes of becoming a performing Jazz artist. In 2009, it seemed that his dream was about to take off as he released his debut album Brand New Day. During this period, his understanding of the Gospel and its message of hope brought a new perspective. Jumbo continued to play his trumpet as an accompanying musician at various events and supporting friends. He began to encounter random people who would walk up to him and say things like “God wants you to do more for him” and “you have a bigger assignment”. It was at this time that he began to consider writing songs for a Gospel album where he would feature various notable and aspiring singers. Tragically, in 2010, while playing recreational soccer, he collapsed. After being rushed to the hospital, it was determined that he experienced a partial stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. While recovering at the hospital, he had a divine encounter where the Lord told him that he had preserved his life so that he could use his voice to glorify him.

In 2014, after his recovery, he had his first live recording which captured the songs on his sophomore and debut Gospel album Worship4ever, released in 2015 which included hit tracks Bigger Than, Hosanna, You Are, and Imela. In addition, the live recording would represent the beginning of an annual worship event known as We Will Worship which is currently in its tenth year. With an attendance of over a thousand each year, the event has contributed to the growth of the worship culture in the Washington DC region which spreads the spirit of hope and love in the community through music and the message of the Gospel. Since then he has released four albums GraceFull (2017); Jesus Now (2020); Pages (2022) and his most recent album We Will Worship [Live] (2023). 

Jumbo has had the privilege of sharing his gift in several countries in the world to include, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Canada and Belize while sharing stages with artists such as Sinach, Kirk Franklin, Hugh Masakela and more. He serves as the minister of Music at the Jesus House DC. He shares two beautiful children (Joy and David) with the love of his life Binta.