My Bantu music is inspired by Umoja – Vancouver
Daily Trust: How do you describe your music and releases so far? Vancouver: I call my brand of gospel music Bantu, which is music about percussion instruments. I want my audience to discover these roots. I say that I’m taking gospel music where it belongs – the church. My songs were released under iRecord, a […]
Daily Trust: How do you describe your music and releases so far?
Vancouver: I call my brand of gospel music Bantu, which is music about percussion instruments. I want my audience to discover these roots. I say that I’m taking gospel music where it belongs – the church. My songs were released under iRecord, a new label promising new kinds of music and poetry performances. I have two Bantu gospel albums which also have social purpose. Most significant for me, is the refreshing sound that comes with very minimal use of auto-tune yet gives a confident natural effect. I am an artistic director, singer, song writer and producer. I studied Performing Arts at the Benue State University and University of Abuja.
DT: When did you start playing music?
Vancouver: I started singing in church right from when I started talking, according to my late mother. She said I would imitate her singing. She was in the choir and wife to a clergy. Being the last child, automatically I was attached to her and learned the techniques of voice modulation from her. My father also loved music a lot and had a turntable machine in the house. My elder brothers would return during holidays with a lot of dub plates. My favourites then were Eric Donaldson, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Michael Jackson and some others. As a child, I mimed Eric Donaldson’s ‘Land of my birth,’ not even knowing the lyrics of the song and my brothers would laugh so hard at me. Although I didn’t know the difference between gospel and secular music, I was just singing and drumming back at every sound around me.
DT: Of music and theatre, which came first?
Vancouver: They came at the same time. We have these gifts in my family. My grandmother was a singer and a dancer and had a dance troupe. My mother and her younger brother E.E. Zuzu, grew up doing same and continued with it throughout their lives, though in church. In my own family, there was a clash of interest in music. My brothers loved and listened to reggae a lot and my parents loved gospel music more. So I grew up listening to all types of vibes and that has made me who I am today.
DT: What are the titles of your albums?
Vancouver: ‘Tar Usha’ and ‘Yesu Hemba,’ which I call Bantu Gospel Music. ‘Bantu’ describes the roughly over a 100 million Africans who speak languages in Bantu, although some people feel the term may not be appropriate to be used, since it compasses such a huge group of Africans. Bantu music is inspired by my struggle and search for my history, salvation, redemption of the Bantu people, black music and the position of a ‘black man’ on earth. I believe that God through His son Jesus Christ in His abundant mercies; wants to use me and my music to champion the cause to free these millions of people from slavery.
DT: Why Bantu music?
Vancouver: Because I am from a Bantu tribe. Like I said, it is my belief that God wants to use me and my music to champion the cause to free these millions of people from slavery. That is the mission given to me by the Holy Spirit.
DT: What is the central message of the albums?
Vancouver: Leadership through history and love. In ‘Tar Usha’ it is difficult to point to a central message because each song in the album has its message. But what is eminent with each song is ‘gratitude’ and learning to reciprocate. This is what I am doing, by showing gratitude to God Almighty for His mercies and what he has done for me through my struggles over the years. ‘Yesu Hemba’ was initiated by my mother who wrote the title song. The central message is staying committed to your belief regardless the situation and I believe in Jesus, the bishop of my soul, he is greatest.
DT: How have they been received?
Vancouver: It’s been well received. I think it’s also basically because of the genre of the music, which is new. There is this feeling of fulfillment, when someone calls, tweets back at you or sends a message on your Facebook page to say that he/she is blessed by your songs; nothing feels better than that. The albums created a new platform for discussion in the industry. What we are doing now is to continue what we have been doing since its inception. We’ve got a number of bookings and are working on the video shoot too.
DT: Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years, musically?
Vancouver: I see myself everywhere around the globe. (Laughter) But seriously, my concern is not really to compete with time. I am more focused on getting my Bantu brothers and sisters freed from their captivity of sins, so that they may have a chance to make heaven.
DT: What is your take on Nigeria’s music industry and gospel music?
Vancouver: The Nigerian music industry is doing very well, except that we need to do more, especially the gospel musicians. We’ve got a few of them who are doing well, really.
DT: What would you be doing if you were not doing music?
Vancouver: I would have been sending criminals to jail houses by prosecuting them, because I hate injustice. That’s not to say I want to be a lawyer. But seriously I would have taken after my late father, to become a clergy.