Archive for the 'interviews' CategorySunday, October 28th, 2007 Olu Maintain on New Dawn with Funmi IyandaOlu Maintain may be slick and suave in his videos, but sit him down with the sharp women of Funmi Iyanda’s New Dawn, and… well, let’s just say lots of squirming ensues. I don’t get the sense he’s had to support his answers like this before. Check out Olu’s awkward interview where he talks about chasing women, yahoozee the breakup of Maintain and more: You’ll find more videos of the New Dawn program on the official website. Monday, March 13th, 2006 Fela Anikulapo Kuti - 1986
Fela Anikulapo Kuti: “He Who Carries Death in his Pouch.” Black President. Band leader and revolutionary from Lagos, Nigeria. He’s lost count of the times he’s been imprisoned. His most recent bust put him behind bards for 18 months. The charges were blatantly false; eventually the judge who had sentenced him came to beg his forgiveness, after which the magistrate was kicked off the bench and Fela released unconditionally, all the charges dropped. Wednesday, February 15th, 2006 Mode9, Nigeria’s bravest lyricist
bobo (naijajams.com): Mode 9 is a rapper, or better yet, an MC… and the music you produce is pretty distinct from much of the other Hip-hop coming out of Nigeria. How did this come about & how do you see yourself in the Nigerian music scene? Mode9: I’m more of a poet, some sort of a lyricist like William Wordsworth. I read alot and take my music seriously, even though people in the Nigerian Music Industry do not understand what im doing they have no choice but to respect me. Most times they refuse to put me on major shows cos they think I’m not commercial enough, but people in Nigeria are not as dumb as they think. they feel my music… I see myself as the bravest lyricist in Nigeria i am not a gangster Rapper.
Sunday, September 25th, 2005 Weird MC - After Da Storm
Sola Idowu, better known as Weird MC the Raptainer is one of the unique voices in the Naija hiphop/pop scene. Unique not only for her sound and music, but because Naija female MCs are far and few between. One thing that is immediately clear about Weird MC is that this woman doesn’t play around – she takes her music very seriously – recording, producing, touring, promoting, etc… striving to put her stamp and flavor of Naija Hip Hop, on the map. Splitting time between Naija and Jand, Weird MC continues to evolve her sound (which has indeed evolved from the first time I heard her on the 1996 hit – Allen Avenue). Her upcoming album After Da Storm, features original production work on her part as well as collaborations with Skillz of JJC and the 419 squad and Don Jazzy. On the verge of releasing her upcoming album After Da Storm Weird MC sat down with us over here at Naijajams for an interview: Naijajams: How did you get into music? MC’ing & producing? WeirdMC: Just watching other acts such as Brenda Fassie, Janet Jackson, Fela Kuti, Jimi Hendrix… NJ: How did “Weird MC” come about? WMC: I used to be a member of a group called the weirdos we split up n I took on weird mc from there. NJ: What are your main musical influences? WMC: My Main influences musically range from jimi Hendrix to Outkast to Fela Kuti. I listen to a lot of HipHop, Alternative vibes, Neo soul, jazz, Classical and Afrobeat these respective genres helped in shaping my sound. NJ: You’ve been in the music business for some time now – how has the Nigerian music scene changed since you began performing? WMC: It’s evolved into something really exciting it’s unbelievable all eyes are on Nigeria right now we have to let the world know what’s up it’s time to put us on the map. There’s more quality then quantity artistes are putting out great material. NJ: You have performed all over the world – U.K. , Japan, Ukraine,Russia, Bulgaria, Finland to Nigeria, Ghana, Berlin, Belgium, etc – How did those opportunities materialize? WMC: I met with a High profiled African/World DJ known as Rita Ray a while back I started doing club oriented dates with her sound system known as the shrine sound system before I knew what was happening we started going round different parts of the world it was such an experience. Through that an awareness of who the weird mc was got out I also started getting additional solo dates with my band off the back of what I had done with the shrine system i had a rare opportunity of sharing the stage with the grammy award winning sound system known as the Afrocelts. I did high profiled gigs at festivals and proper concerts. NJ: How is your music received abroad? WMC: With open arms but because of the afrocentric slant my kindda sound gets lumped into the so called World Music category I get mad love at my concerts and club dates. It’s all good. NJ: The title track on your upcoming album, “Ijoya” is a departure from your earlier work. How did the concept come about? WMC: The title of the new album is not actually Ijoya. Ijoya is just a title of a track on the album the full album will be called “After Da Storm” I will not really say that the track Ijoya is a departure as such it’s just a coming of Age my sound has evolved u know one thing is constant CHANGE Ijoya was conceptualised via a Bass Line I thought to myself “This is a catchy Bassline” I took it from there my brother jumped on it cuz he was feeling it. We finished writing the lyrics then I did some pre-production myself at home like a demo cut but I felt I needed to take it one step further so I hooked up with Don Jazzy and Skillz we took the song to another level I can’t believe the feedback I’ve been getting from people. I shot 2 videos an animated and life one MTV Base Africa has put the animated version on heavy rotation already. NJ: How was working with Skillz/JJC? WMC: It was kool he alongside Don Jazzy did Ijoya he also did another track called Da Way We blo’ with me it’s amazing he comes into his full element when in the studio he’s such a delight to watch. I hope to do more with him in the future. NJ: What unique challenges does an MC/Musician face in Nigeria? (production, distribution, radio, performance, etc) WMC: Unique ? That’s putting it nicely it is a constant struggle u’ve got to get the right producer who understands your direction and of course he/she must be level headed there are a lot of phony egos in our industry. One has to have the funds to cover promotion and getting an effective distributor is a different thing all together. For me performing comes naturally so I don’t really feel any kindda pressure but of course it’s still a challenge to be able to come up with the baddest things which will drive the crowd wild everytime one takes to that stage. The greatest challenge is money what we do is capital intensive and believe me if you have no money in our industry you are as good as f*cked. NJ: Are there any challenges associated with being a female artist in a male-dominated field? WMC: Yes u have to work twicw as hard to command the same kindda respect accorded a guy. NJ: Who are your favorite Nigerian MCs? WMC: 2Shotz, RuggedMan, Eldee, Ruckus, Blackface, Nas. NJ: Moving forward, what do you want for your music and Weird MC? WMC: My greatest dream is for the weird mc to become a global brand music, movies, fashion and whatever I want it all. I want my music in every home I want my label imprint “0907 Entertainment” to become a powerhouse recording company. NJ: Final Thoughts? WMC:To the people who have been behind me from day one thanks for your love and support. To fellow artistes stay real. ——Big thanks to Weird MC for taking the time to chat with us. Check out the track Ijoya, from the upcoming album After Da Storm as both audio and music video… these leave me thirsty more! Stay tuned and we’ll be sure to let you know when the album drops. Friday, September 16th, 2005 Lijadu Sisters: Horizon Unlimited
Some twelve years ago (approx: 1967) they climbed a very tall tree and saw in the horizon unlimited, the path of their future. The elements were orchestrating sweet musical vibrations that hit the core of the very being of the twins. It was the climax of their long-standing yearning to become professional singers. After all, it was all in the family. Daddy played the piano and Granny (on dad’s side) played the guitar. “So what about that?” They asked themselves. They had enough inspirational heat in their veins to generate and power their interest and enthusiasm. There was Daddy and Granny. There was Aretha Franklin and I.K. Dairo. There was Miriam Makeba and Victor Olaiya. There was Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and a host of other musicians both local and international. All of them together gave them all the heat of their inspiration. At such times when they were inspired it did not matter who conceived the ideas for lyrics or musical compositions. What mattered was that they laboured together to bring forth the best of their brainchild. The happiest moment that ever crowned their first attempt at creativity was when they walked into the chambers of Decca Studios with a handful of competent veteran session (musicians) to vax their first LP, “Iya Mi Jowo.” That was 1969. Since then Kehinde and Taiwo, (christened Louisa and Rosaline) have come a long way. Over the years they have conceived created and recorded four long playing records all on Decca labels. There was “Sunshine” and “Danger,” “Mother Africa” and “Iya mi Jowo” which have all gone down to their credit in the history books of the Nigerian music scene, amongst them a silver disk winner. This album is another step towards the fulfillment of the vision had of their future, many many years ago. That vision they had of the “horizon unlimited.” Ironically with Lijadu Sisters do not always speak about their future. A reporter once asked them: Now that your horizon is opening up, what plans do you have for your future? Lijadu Sisters: We don’t always look beyond our noses, because Man proposes but God disposes, but we are optimists. R: Are you as rich as you are famous? R: Are you religious? R: Do you have lovers? R: Do you take drugs? R: You said you have four children but you are not married. R: Would you have the same lover? R: What do you think of yourselves? R: Do you wear the same clothes? R: What do you do when not singing? R: What kind of men would you like as friends? R: Do you plan to get married? Adapted from Lijadu Sisters – Horizon Unlimited LP Jacket notes by Tunde Harrison – 1979  (media offline) |
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The article, “Free at Last” by Roger Steffens appeared in the Sept/Oct issue of Option magazine 1986. Steffens provides an introduction to Fela and follows it up with an in-depth interview. While the introduction fails to paint a complete or accurate picture of Fela’s life – rather focusing on particular sensational aspects, I left it in to maintain the integrity of the work (and provided clarification where necessary.) The interview portion on the other hand is a real gem that provides a unique look at Fela through his own words – enjoy.
You know that feeling you get when you discover something special, something rare or extraordinary? It’s the feeling of finding a sealed 1985 Dele Abiodun album in a dusty San Francisco record store. And it’s the feeling I got early last year when I first heard the 
Whenever Kehinde and Taiwo Lijadu felt low down in spirit they indulged themselves in a childhood prank. They climbed the tallest nearest tree and watched the unlimited horizon. That was not the only trait they shared in common. They are identical twins who also share identical callings, habits, hobbies, a joint bank account and four children in between them. They never tell which one of them is the mother to which child. “They are four children,” they always said when asked.
