‘My torch-light is a covenant’

Zaaki Azzay:I took a break. I have been travelling both within Nigeria and abroad performing on stage but I have not released any album in the last three years. Although I have an upcoming album entitled Speed which will be released in December. It basically depicts speed in everything even in the way I release […]

Zaaki Azzay:I took a break. I have been travelling both within Nigeria and abroad performing on stage but I have not released any album in the last three years. Although I have an upcoming album entitled Speed which will be released in December.

It basically depicts speed in everything even in the way I release my album unlike before when I used to release an album every two or three years. Henceforth, it will be every year or every 16 months. That is the meaning of Speed for me. I have 14 tracks in the album and I featured artistes like El Dee, the Don, Peacemaker, Adewale Ayuba, amongst others.

WM: Tell us about yourself. Who is Zaaki Azzay?

Zaaki: I’m an artiste, born and bred in Kaduna. I did my first album in 1993 I’m from Vandekiya Local Government in Benue State. I went to Government Science School, Bama in Borno State.

WM: Are you married?

Zaaki: I’m married to Hadiza and we have three kids – Dido, Zara and Mimi.

WM: Is any of them taking after you?

Zaaki: It is still too early to tell. The oldest is 4.

WM: What made you go into music?

Zaaki: To make people happy. When I was growing up, I wanted to be an artiste, musician and an army officer. But music struck the cord.

WM: Have you enjoyed being in music all the while?

Zaaki: Yes. I have no regrets.

WM: But have you made money in music?

Zaaki: I have been making people happy and earning a living out of it as well. So it shows I’m doing well.

WM: Where do you get inspiration from?

Zaaki:  It just comes. I believe it is by the grace of God. It is only God that can give you a song. And a song is like a wind. When it comes I trap it down with a midget or a recorder.

WM: Did your parents approve of your going into music?

Zaaki: My father was not down with the idea of my going into music. But when my first album came out and he saw the kind of songs I was singing, he then agreed with me because the songs were positive, decent and they had messages in them.

WM: What is the idea behind carrying the torch? Do you still go about with it?

Zaaki: My torch is a covenant between me and God not to go against the will of God, no matter how rich and famous I become. And to the public, to show light. Darkness is evil. Darkness is fake drugs; darkness is drug abuse, poverty and shame. Darkness is embezzlement. Anything that is bad is darkness. My music is to show light.

WM: What other message do you have for your fans?

Zaaki:   They should put God first and work very hard no matter how difficult it seems. God always comes true for all of us. I have been in music for seventeen years and most of the people I started with are no more here. It is the grace. It is an example that when you trust God, he will see you through.  

WM: Do you do anything outside music?

Zaaki:  No. No. I just sing. I have a recording label and studio in Ikeja.

WM: How does your wife feel about your music?

Zaaki: She is married to me and so it means she is okay with it, because I was into music before I met her.