‘Music is being misused in Nigeria’
Weekend Magazine: what is your name and where are you from? Oke Omoife: My name is Oke Omoife Mario, I am from Delta State. Umuoka precisely and my partner’s name is Emmanuel Eyebiaborfar aka Delight and he is from Bayelsa State. What kind of genre of music do you play? My kind of music is […]
Weekend Magazine: what is your name and where are you from?
Oke Omoife: My name is Oke Omoife Mario, I am from Delta State. Umuoka precisely and my partner’s name is Emmanuel Eyebiaborfar aka Delight and he is from Bayelsa State.
What kind of genre of music do you play?
My kind of music is calypso. I started playing music when I was very young. When I was young I listened to music by Michael Jackson and Steven Wonder and I liked the kind of music they played and started to develop my passion for music. Their kind of music talked about what is going on around us and from there on I developed an interest for music.
How long have you guys been in the industry?
I have been in the industry for almost ten years now. I have just been doing collaborations and back-up singing. I felt it was time for me to do my own thing and come out with my own kind of music. I started my music career from Lagos before I relocated to Abuja.
Many would ask why you decided to relocate from Lagos to Abuja when Lagos is seen as the hub of entertainment in the country.
Well it was never intentional but my family was the major reason I relocated especially my mom. I stay with my mom. I am from a polygamous home and I love my mom so much. We are just two from my mother and when she moved we moved along with her to Abuja. I am very close to her and so always with her wherever she goes. I couldn’t afford to leave her alone here in Abuja.
What have been the challenges so far?
The major challenge so far in the entertainment industry in Nigeria is funding and sponsorship. It is very difficult to get people to sponsor an upcoming artiste. Everyone wants to be associated with the big name in the entertainment industry. I once did an album and people loved the album and they encouraged me, but there was no one to sponsor the production of the album or even assist in letting it play on the airwaves. It is discouraging to see that you put a lot of effort to record an album and at the end of it no one is willing to sponsor. Recording is stressful enough not to talk of getting sponsors. And when you get someone that is willing to promote or sponsor they keep telling you that this is not the kind of music that has a growing popularity in Nigeria. If we keep looking at one genre of music how can we progress? We should be willing to diversify and break away from the norm of the day. But I have decided that it is something that I worked hard for and I appreciate it. If you don’t encourage yourself, who will? I will not let the spirit of encouragement die in me. I will continue till we make a break through.
What makes your music different from what others offer?
My kind of music is different because it touches the mind, body and soul. It has content, unlike some music that we have around now that does not have meaning but only have beats for people to dance along with. The music passes message but most people tend to misuse the power of music and use it to take revenge and even insult people. That is not the way it should be. Music should be an instrument for education and entertainment.
Which Nigerian artiste inspires your career?
We would say Tuface. His music inspires me, but I don’t really like him as a person. I like the wordings in his songs. Looking at style in the music industry I think I will pitch tent with Timaya…..
Why don’t you like Tuface as a person, do you have something personal against him?
Not really. You know there are some certain people that you just don’t flow along with and I think he is one of them. But I love his work a lot.
Where do you get inspiration for your music from?
I get inspiration from reggae songs. I listen to the wordings and the rhythm and compare it to what is happening in my locality and then write my song.