‘I was a bus driver before I took to music’
Weekend Magazine: Can you tell us where you are from and what you studied in school? Delight: My name is Emmanuel Eyebiaborfar and “Delight” is my stage name. I am an upcoming artiste from Delta state. I was a student of Benue State University (BENSU) but due to some financial constraints, I had to drop […]
Weekend Magazine: Can you tell us where you are from and what you studied in school?
Delight: My name is Emmanuel Eyebiaborfar and “Delight” is my stage name. I am an upcoming artiste from Delta state. I was a student of Benue State University (BENSU) but due to some financial constraints, I had to drop out of school to do other things to make ends meet. And music being my major talent, I decided to pick it up. This is my first album which I did all by myself. I took up the challenge by making myself relevant to myself and the society. That is why I am struggling very hard to make sure that I promote my album very well.
WM: How has it been doing it all alone in this industry that is not encouraging stakeholders?
Delight: Speaking of challenges, yes, there were lot of it. Like the issue of finance can never be overruled for a first timer like myself. I had to do a lot of things to be able to meet my target.
WM: What kind of things did you have to do?
Delight: I was a bus driver that is the kind of job I am talking about. I was driving a bus to make ends meet and make headway in my music career. My route was Gwagwa, Idu and Karimo (in Abuja) and I always try to meet up my target. That was the only decent thing I could do as a step to achieving my dreams.
WM: Are you still an ‘Araba’ (bus) driver?
Delight: No, not anymore. Once I was able to raise the money I needed to produce my first album, I quit the job. At least my mission was to raise money for the album, which I did. Though, I would not say that I have gotten my target finically to excel in the entertainment industry.
WM: So we might be right to say that going into music paid you more than being a driver?
Delight: I would not say so but music is a part of me and my talent and that is why I decided to focus more on what I felt I was better at.
WM: What genre of music are you into?
Delight: It is reggae- calypso.
WM: Why did you decide to go into that kind of music being that most of the audience we have in Nigeria are mostly into R&B, blues hip-hop and gospel?
Delight: Reggae-calypso has been my kind of music since I was 12, so it has been a part of me. It is also wrong to say that reggae does not have followers in Nigeria. There are lots of people who listen to reggae and love it. Moreover, reggae passes on the real message; it makes more meaningful sense than most of these other genre of music except gospel.
WM: How has the promotion been like and is it on the airwaves in the country?
Delight: The promotion has been well accepted by many and for it being on the airwaves, yes it has been aired some times by some radio stations but due to the fact that I do not bring returns, it has been downplayed on radio stations…
WM: Bringing returns, could you shed more light on that.
Delight: These stations need me to pay some money to them before they can promote my music. And, for now, finance is my major constraint and has hampered the music being played on airwaves.
WM: As you are aware the music market is concentrated in Lagos and you are based in Abuja. How do you intend to break into the Lagos market?
Delight: If my promotion is well received as signals show, then breaking into Lagos market will not be very difficult as by then I would have a marketer, producer and all of that. But right now I am concentrating on the promotion of the album of which I am the marketer, producer and all!
WM: What kind of message do you hope to pass through your kind of music?
Delight: My music passes the message of love, peace and that we should not forget where we come from, that is our creator. My messages are generally applicable to all but is directed at the youths.