Notwithstanding the competitiveness of the Nigerian music industry today, the name, African China, still resonates with many industry followers. Born Chinagorom Onuoha, the Ajegunle-born singer speaks with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS on a number of issues, from his desire to leave a legacy to creating wealth through music, his marital life and bad governance, among others.
Do you plan to drop new music anytime soon?
I want to release an official Happy New Year single for my fans and Nigerians. The title is ‘Letter to Mr. President;’ the song has already been recorded. After mixing and mastery, I plan to drop it on Easter Monday.
Why do you want to release a Happy New Year song in April?
You know the recording processes have to take its due course. I took time to compose the song, as I am not the type of artiste who does freestyle. When you freestyle, you will end up not saying anything interesting.
If you are doing the kind of music I do, you do not just say anything because you might put your legs inside the net. So, you have to do your research and findings very well before you visit the studio.
I wrote like three songs, but I settled for this one because I felt it would be everyone’s favorite.
Why is the song directed at Mr. President?
I just tried to ask simple questions that have been on the minds of every African, especially Nigerians. African leaders seem to be very greedy and see leadership as their birth right or inheritance. They sit tight and love to handover to their children even if they do not have leadership characteristics.
People want to know what is happening to our money, economy, among others and we need answers.
Does this mean the administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari is also greedy?
They are the reason we are in this mess. We are running a democratic government, but we still have the same old people who were ruling us doing the military era. They are just recycling the position of power among themselves.
I could recall that I was still a kid when these people earlier ruled. Now, I am a father and it is still the same old people. I do not understand what they are still doing in government. I fear for my children.
Given the chance to be the President, what would you differently?
First, I need to kill that spirit of greediness. How can the senators be asking for pension? They should operate from their houses. They should only assemble when they have sittings, instead of wasting resources by making it look like it is a full-time job. A lot of things are wrong that they do not want to put in place.
Have you ever been in trouble for speaking bitterly about the government?
I have not experienced such. I say things that resonate with everyone. For me, music is beyond making money; you have to make sense. You have to speak in a way that they can also learn because they do not know it all.
I can only get into trouble if I am sponsored by a political party or an individual to bring down a government. It becomes so direct if I take to that and my life could be in danger. I do not allow people to use or push me; I say my mind and that of Nigerians.
Why does it appear you’ve been strug- gling for years to make popular music?
I play virtually everything. I talk about life, love and much more. And the last time I checked my mail, everyone commended African China.
There are good artistes around, but not everyone can be a voice or a social crusader. Their songs could come and go, but African China’s songs can never fade away. I do not want to play shallow music, I fight to play music that can stand the test of time.
Today, Fela is gone but he still lives on because of his music. I don’t want to play the kind of music that when I pass on to the next world, the new generation would forget about me. We have musicians who were Fela’s contemporaries but no one talks about them.
Don’t you think you are only living on past glory?
I disagree with that. When you say I am living on past glory, it means I have stopped doinging music. If you visit the Internet, it shows the years I released or recorded certain songs. How would you say a musician like R Kelly is living on past glory?
If you had gone to the streets now and sampled opinions, I would understand. I am sure that the people who think I am living on past glory do not know I have songs like ‘Amen,’ ‘Love Matter,’ which I did videos for in Switzerland, among others. One thing people need to understand is that only God determines who reigns or not. Once upon a time, we had D’banj but later things were not going well for him again. What do you say about him? When you cannot make good music anymore, it is a different case. But I still I make sure I give my fans something to hold on to. I will never go to where my legs are not supposed to go because I want to do hit songs. If God says He wants a song to be a national anthem, so shall it be. All I need to do it to make good music and I am okay with that. I refused to be greedy like our politicians.
Given another chance to start afresh, what would you like to do differently?
I do not think it is possible because there can never be such chance. My past is my past. But I do not regret anything; I am contented with what I have. We’ve all made lots of money in this industry.
At a time, they were paying superstars like Baby Fryo and Showkey N20, 000. And it started rising and now artistes get as much as N8m.
An artiste needs to keep working until the right song comes, but it is not a do-or-die affair like some of our colleagues think. It would be unfair to start having bad blood towards artistes who are collecting big pay now because there was a time I was being paid N800, 000 and some artistes were getting N100, 000.
This is the way things of the world are. Luckily, I did not misuse my money; I bought houses in FESTAC, Lagos, and I am still building houses today. If I had misused my money, I would have regretted my past. I enjoyed my time and I used it well, and I am still relevant as we speak.
Do you think any of your children would follow your footsteps?
My youngest daughter sings and she always asks me if I love her voice. I have two beautiful daughters.
How did you feel when your wife gave birth to another girl?
Yes, I wished my second child was a boy. But when it came out and it was a girl, I was still happy.
I am contented with my girls. If I have a third child and she is a girl, I would still be excited.Female children leave to start a family just like the boys too, but they never leave completely. Female children still come back home more than male children.
Can music alone pay your bill?
I am also into real estate. The worse thing that could happen to anyone is putting all your eggs in one basket. We’ve learnt over the years that some celebrities made such mistake and they paid dearly for it. They could not get it right when things were going wrong.
Has there been a time you wished you had delayed marriage?
Anyone who says getting married slows down one’s growth is saying rubbish. Do you want to start having children when you are old? I took the step when I did because I wanted to grow with my kids and see my grandchildren.
Most artistes are just being selfish because you cannot run away from marriage. I think this is even the right time for them to get married because they are making money. You can keep up with the music business and home front. The only reason they do not want to get married is because they enjoy being wayward.
Anyone who says getting married slows down one’s growth is saying rubbish. Do you want to start having children when you are old? I took the step when I did because I wanted to grow with my kids and see my grandchildren
How have you been able to stay married?
It is not easy, but once you get married, you need to respect it. The ring is the smallest handcuff, so choose your partner carefully
How did you resolve your issues with the police who recently threatened you with a gun?
If you follow me on Instagram, when they were arrested and put in jail, I had to start begging for their release again because to err is human, to forgive is divine. They apologised and after their release, they hosted me at their station alongside Daddy Showkey.
I have proven a point to them that you can’t just molest people and think you are a free man. I also used the opportunity to show that all Nigerian police men are not corrupt.
They knew me, but they never knew it would turn to a big issue. You know my little stature confuses people.
