Those who think that popular dancehall musician, Chinagorom Onuoha, better known as African China, is done with music, should have a rethink after reading this because the reggae artiste is working assiduously in the studio for more hits for his teeming fans. He speaks about his latest effort, the music industry, his rumoured mansion, movie roles, with Asst Saturday Editor, Sam Anokam, among other relevant issues. Excerpt:
What has been happening to African China?
We are working. I got almost four singles now, Roborobo, Gengen I dropped those ones early this year. Then the newest ones that I just dropped is Anu Ngboko that one is about the situation on ground, about the Chibok girls that were abducted. We are talking about what Boko Hram is doing in the country and how government is handling the matter. I have a new one I dropped recently titled, Ima it’s a Calabar word for love. We are planning to shoot the video. Other songs have their videos and they are already on the internet including Ima.
When are we expecting the full album?
I cannot tell. I just have to keep working until that time comes, then, I will do it. These days, it is not all about albums anymore. It is all about singles and whichever one that pays. When that one pays, you still work till you say this is the time for me to drop the album for all the songs that have been coming out. I still have a new song featuring Tuface and Flavour. But we need to drop the video for Ima before pushing that song. When you want to talk about love song, Tuface and Flavour know how to do that. Another person I will be working with soon is Phyno, Ice Prince and M.I.
How do you see music industry now, especially with the emergence of the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Olamide, Phyno et al?
It’s a good thing for the industry. Once upon a time, there was King Sunny Ade, Daddy Showkey and the rest of them. Then there comes the likes of African China, Tuface, Sound Sultan and a host of others, so definitely there has to be another set like Wizkid, Davido and the rest of them. There is always going to be a new born. In life, we keep giving birth to children. It is the same thing. There is no difference between that and music.
What has been the high point of your career?
I cannot really tell. It has always been a thing of smile to the bank and work. But I would say the high point of my career was when I started making children because I actually felt I would end up in my area, Orile, Ajegunle giving birth and living in such areas. But now, I would say the high point was moving out of the area to a very cool and nice environment where music now happens to be the reason for the opportunity. I wouldn’t say this is the end of African China, more things are going to happen. It is a thing of joy. It is a thing of giving thanks and glory to God for making it happen.
Daddy Showkey will always say you can take the man out of the ghetto but you cannot take the ghetto out of the man, is that the case with you?
Yes, that’s the case with me. My kids are the ajebos but I am not. I am a street man. I went through the street and the street also passed through me. I wouldn’t want my kids to go through what I went through because there is opportunity for them but there wasn’t for me. There was nothing my father could do, he tried his best.
What has changed about you since you got married?
My thinking has changed. A little bit of my lifestyle too and that affected my dressing, my whole being. These days, I don’t think for myself or my siblings alone anymore. Sometime ago, it’s just them. If I like, I assist if I don’t like, I don’t. But now, I think for all of them including my wife and children.
Does this change also affect your music?
No. My songs have been my lifestyle. African China is known as a social crusader, the man that speaks for the voiceless, the masses and others. It has not change. Like I said earlier, I just dropped a new single, titled, Anu Ngboko which I talk to the dudes who take human lives as if it’s a piece of rubbish. Of which I know no artiste could say it the way I will say it. The only person I know that could do that if he was alive would be Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Now that he is not alive, I thank God for giving me that opportunity. It won’t change me.
Who has been your biggest influence?
It remains Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I still listen to some of his songs. I listen to songs he did way back even some songs that people are not too familiar with. I go as far as listening to those songs, and it inspires me a whole lot and I see reasons why I should just keep talking.
Has Nigerians changed or Nigerian leaders changed on account of what you have been preaching over the years?
It has not changed these people. They are just too stubborn to change. They have refused against all entreaties to change. It is like a virus inside of them. The corruption inside them has eaten deep in them so that which is supposed to change them from negative to positive is no longer in them. It is only the negative that is in them. But we will not relent. We will continue to talk till they change.
Have you finished your mansion?
We have even moved in. We thank God. It took me six years because at the initial stage, I though it was a flash in the pan. I was very careful not to be lavishing money unnecessarily. I made sure anything I was spending on has to be the right thing. There has to be this continuity value on it. That is one thing that runs in my head whenever I’m doing anything. I always sit down and talk to myself on a regular basis. In life, we know everything has advantage and disadvantage; I try as much as I can to go for the advantage. Although we must definitely make mistakes but I make sure the mistake has to be little.
What else do you do aside music?
I am into real estate business and I act. I have been acting for a long time now. It is not my professional but more like a hobby. Acting is my hobby, music is my profession. I act when I am not singing or bored.
I have done a lot of movies like Tears in the Ghetto with Jim Iyke, Destined to Love with Desmond Elliot, I did Final World Cup with Aki and Pawpaw, Dollars from Germany with Mr. Ibu. The recent one I did with Patience Ozokwo and the Aneke twins, is titled Onochie. It is an epic movie.
How many artistes have you groomed?
I have groomed so many like Jaywon, Terry G, and some up and coming musicians. I come in like a guardian to them. Telling them ‘you don’t make the same mistake we made, once bitten twice shy’. I try to tell them the truth, we know the truth is bitter but when you are able to accept it, you now know how to control stardom. I am so happy they are not doing badly.
What are your thoughts about the issue between Jaywon and Kennis music?
I do not want to go there because I don’t have an idea of what is happening and I don’t expect anybody to judge from one side. Anything that has to do with artiste and the label I don’t like to get involved because when it is rosy, you don’t hear anything from the artiste and the record label. But when things are not going well, that is when you hear artiste calling on people he did not call when things were good. The only thing I want to say is, if it is rosy enjoy it, if it is tough, endure it. That is what comes with life. Life generally is full of ups and downs?
What is one thing that you would like to change about yourself if you have opportunity?
One thing I want to change about myself is my nose. It is flat like carpet.
What else would you like to change in the music industry if given opportunity?
I would want to change the monopoly in the industry. What I mean is that now, album doesn’t really sell. The industry is becoming cliquish. The show that you are supposed to spread across so many artistes that have families is now being hijacked by a group of record label owners. Because they have like three or more artistes that are doing well, they monopolise the whole thing and make it their concert. It becomes their thing. For instance, if a multi-national is to sponsor a show and approach them, they will just call the list of their artistes and when the sponsors hear the names they intend to use, they will agree but what happens to the other people? If they call you, you pick two artistes from your label, another two from another label, it will spread. You can imagine in a show where six artistes are needed and one record label has like eight artistes, they will monopolize the whole thing and make it their show. Then other artiste will put their hands on their jaw and call God.
If you ask me in Nigeria, I want to change corruption. The people ruling us are not children and they are ruling matured men and women. We all know what is good and bad. Why not do what is right? Lets us take a look at Ghana who recently discovered oil. They are doing very well. Some states in Nigeria have more money than Ghana let alone the federal government. Cotonou, Benin Republic has steady power supply. What do they have, seaport? How many do we have in Nigeria? Lagos is bigger than the whole of Cotonou. You can see they are doing very well. Their educational system is working perfectly well. What is wrong with Nigeria? Corruption. It has started since 1960. How many years? If there is anything I want to change, it is corruption once and for all. I don’t want to listen to anybody, I don’t want any adviser. Let the president refuse to listen to anybody, he should do what is right because we need it.
Do you still take your agbo?
I still take my agbo o. I cannot do without it. Sometimes, I force my children to take it instead of this drug, drug stuff.
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