Since 2000, Benedict Afagwu, popularly known as DJ Humility, has been a regular fixture on the Nigerian entertainment scene. In a chat with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, the plus-size entertainer speaks on being a DJ, growing up as a troublesome kid, unending pains of his father’s alleged death in the hands of men of the Nigerian army, among other issues.
How did you get into Disc Jockeying?
I started as a rapper, though I later realised that it wasn’t my calling. While I was a rapper, I met an amateur DJ in my area, Surulere, Lagos. I told him that we could be doing things together since he was a DJ and I was a rapper.
When we wanted to have a party in my secondary school, I was given some money to hire a DJ. I gave my DJ friend N2, 000, but three days to the event, he was arrested by the police. We thought they would release him before the event and we did our best. On the day of the show, people started shouting at me, saying I squandered their money. It was a big trouble for me and I went straight to the father of the boy. I told him I had paid his son some money to play in my school and students needed him. He could not do anything and suggested I go with his playing tools. I took the equipment even though I couldn’t play it.
I later called another DJ to help me out. The guy set up the equipment and I collected the headphone as if I knew what to do. That was how I developed the interest.
I ventured into this because of the passion, unlike most young people now, who want to become DJs because of fame and women. This is why most of them don’t know the basics of DJing. I did lots of DJ courses and travelled around the world.
What has kept you relevant till now?
I do my thing my own way; I don’t look at what others are doing. I try to follow trends too because if you don’t follow trends, there is no way you can grow. There is need to do research, open your eyes to see what is happening and keep yourself updated. I am always on the internet and I have been to other developed countries too to see how things are done too.
Is it true you once worked as a commercial bus conductor and load carrier (Alabaru)?
That story of a conductor was when I was a very stubborn child. I did something at home and my late father, who was a police officer, wanted to discipline me with “Koboko.” So, I became afraid and I left home. I went to Ojuelegba’s under bridge in Lagos while they were looking for me. I met some boys there who asked me to join them to do conductor for me to survive. Not long afterwards, some people went to tell my father that they saw me working as a bus conductor. I did it for just two days and that was it.
The case of the “Alabaru” happened in secondary school. We were planning our end of the year party and we agreed to contribute a certain amount of money. People defaulted and we had already distributed invitation cards to girls. I and some of my friends had to think of a way out because we didn’t want to embarrass ourselves. We went to Daleko Market in Mushin, Lagos, to help people to carry their bags of rice.
I did not come from a poor background. My dad was a police officer and he was doing well while my mother was a trader. We did that because we wanted to make little money for the party and to impress the girls.
When did you hit the limelight?
It was when I started doing DJ championship; my first was in 1995 while I was 17-year-old. I did well, though I didn’t win. In 1998, I participated in another championship and I finished in the second position. In 2000, I did Benson and Hedges DJ Championship and I won at the western region, but I was first runner-up at the national level. So, I would say I started getting recognition during the DJ championships.
How much was your first pay as a DJ?
I cannot remember because since I became a DJ, they’ve been paying me. I remember playing for a classmate’s birthday in 1994 and I was paid N500. Now, I get more than N2 million for a show. I still play for free based on relationships, though. There are certain people I cannot say no to because they have been helpful in my career.
Are you still a staff of Silverbird Group?
I am their in-house DJ and producer. I have been with them for 15 years now and the relationship has been cordial. Though we have our ups and downs, the truth still remains that everyone respects each other. Definitely, there will be a time I would have to leave because it is not my company. But while I am still there, I would continue to give my best.
Was being a musician what you wanted as a kid?
I was clueless a kid. In my primary school days, I was a very stubborn boy. It was when I got to SS2 that I started looking at the direction of music.
What then influenced your decision to do music?
I was inspired by my cousin, who is now late. They said there would be war in Lagos during the June 12 crisis of 1993, so we went to the village. I was always singing and my cousin loved it. It was a new thing to them in the village and this cousin of mine was a good singer too. He could rap ‘Mr. Loverman’ by Shabba Ranks from beginning to the end. I asked him to teach me and I taught him the song I knew too.
When I got back to Lagos, I started singing the new song I learnt. Before the break, I was known to be a fighter and a bully. The whole girls loved me and anytime I sang ‘Mr. Loverman,’ the whole class sang along. That was how I became popular and became a ladies’ man. I had to change my ways too. I became a good boy and was conscious of my appearance in school. From there, I started representing the school in literary and debating activities.
Music brought out the good boy in me and from singing I went into DJing. While I was in school, I was featured in the Fame Magazine, one of the biggest magazines at that time.
Did your late farther support your decision to become a DJ?
At the beginning, my father never supported me. It was a serious war between me and my dad. Things changed for the better the day he saw my publication in the Fame. He was so happy about it and encouraged me to continue. We lost him in 2005.
MY FATHER WAS KILLED BY THE NIGERIAN ARMY WHEN A FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND ARMY AT OJUELEGBA, LAGOS. THEY BURNT DOWN THE POLICE BARRACKS IN SURULERE; IT WAS A NATIONAL ISSUE AND TRAGEDY THEN
Was he sick?
My father was killed by the Nigerian Army when a fight broke out between the Nigerian Police and Army at Ojuelegba, Lagos. They burnt down the police barracks in Surulere; it was a national issue and tragedy then. My father was one of the two policemen who were killed by soldiers. We’ve gone to court and taken some steps, but you know you can never fight the government. When it happened, Olusegun Obasanjo was the president and as a former military man he killed the case. My father, Samuel Afagwu, was an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Surulere Police Station Area C.
What other things do you do?
I do events and I am also thinking of starting my DJ academy very soon. I don’t really want to talk about that, but I am trying to set up the biggest DJ academy in Africa.
What gives you fulfilment?
I like the fact that I have been able to make millions of Nigerians happy on radio, at nightclubs and events. I am happy today when I see young DJs doing well because we started the revolution. When I started, DJs were not respected. There was a time we would go for an event and we would be asked to put out instruments under the staircase or in an enclosed place. But today, no matter how small the venue or house is, everybody wants to see the DJ. So, I feel happy that I am among the people who made DJing a respectable profession in Nigeria. I also give kudus to DJ Jimmy Jatt.
