May 10, 2010
Tiger Woods is no longer in denial about his
divorce. He has hired a big shot lawyer to
help him with the custody arrangement.
Thomas Sasser, who is a high-profile expert
in international child custody arrangements
will take care of Woods' custody
arrangement with his wife Elin and their
kids.
Tiger and Elin to Share Kids
According to TMZ, Woods has more than one
lawyer. He actually has a lawyer specializing
in each issue that might come up, such as
custody, property settlement, etc.
As we reported earlier today, the two are
working out an arrangement where the they
will share custody and Elin will be able to
take the kids to Sweden.
Sasser's main job is to work out a custody
arrangement before the divorce papers are
even filed.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
JWOWW Get Engaged
May 10, 2010
We almost forgot
Jwoww was dating
someone. But apparently
the relationship was
super serious because
she's officially engaged!
She was spotted over the
weekend in Miami sporting a serious
engagement ring.
So who's the lucky guy? Her manager Tom
Leppolis, who looks like he should be apart
of Jersey Shore.
Nude Photos of Snooki to be Released
According to Hollywood Life, "the two may
have broken up when she cheated on him
with Pauly D on the show, but it looks like all
has been forgiven!"
There's no word on where and when the
wedding will be, but we have a feeling the
cameras will be rolling. Congrats to the
happy couple!
We almost forgot
Jwoww was dating
someone. But apparently
the relationship was
super serious because
she's officially engaged!
She was spotted over the
weekend in Miami sporting a serious
engagement ring.
So who's the lucky guy? Her manager Tom
Leppolis, who looks like he should be apart
of Jersey Shore.
Nude Photos of Snooki to be Released
According to Hollywood Life, "the two may
have broken up when she cheated on him
with Pauly D on the show, but it looks like all
has been forgiven!"
There's no word on where and when the
wedding will be, but we have a feeling the
cameras will be rolling. Congrats to the
happy couple!
Mariah Carey to be a judge on X-factor
May 10, 2010
Simon Cowell is bringing
the X-Factor to the U.S.
and everyone has been
wondering who the
judges on the new show
will be.
Many names have been
thrown around but we haven't gotten as
excited as we were after we heard that
Mariah Carey is in talks to be a judge on the
new show.
Simon Cowell Wants Cheryl Cole on New
Show
Cowell's really close friend and X Factor
mentor Sinitta revealed that Mariah Carey is
in the running to be a judge.
Sinitta spilled the beans at a BritWeek party
in Hollywood telling the Daily Mail, "It's
amazing that so many people want to do [it],
it's huge ... everybody is up for it -- Mariah --
ok I'm not saying any more!"
Can you just imagine Mariah Carey and
Simon Cowell on the judges seat? That would
be television gold!
Simon Cowell is bringing
the X-Factor to the U.S.
and everyone has been
wondering who the
judges on the new show
will be.
Many names have been
thrown around but we haven't gotten as
excited as we were after we heard that
Mariah Carey is in talks to be a judge on the
new show.
Simon Cowell Wants Cheryl Cole on New
Show
Cowell's really close friend and X Factor
mentor Sinitta revealed that Mariah Carey is
in the running to be a judge.
Sinitta spilled the beans at a BritWeek party
in Hollywood telling the Daily Mail, "It's
amazing that so many people want to do [it],
it's huge ... everybody is up for it -- Mariah --
ok I'm not saying any more!"
Can you just imagine Mariah Carey and
Simon Cowell on the judges seat? That would
be television gold!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Roadside Cobbler turn Africa best Reggae Artist
Saturday, May 8, 2010
• Story of how King Wadada toiled and
picked KORA award
In Nigeria many talented artistes have been
forced to bury their idea for want of
sponsor, but Austin Peter popularly known
as King Wadada refused to kill his.
He became a musician from birth as the
mother confessed that the only way to calm
King Wadada down was to play reggae
tunes to him as a baby. Unfortunately when
he came to the world, he was welcomed by
very harsh conditions as his parents
struggled to provide for him.
When the parents died, Austin resorted to
farming but later found his way to Lagos in
the late 80s where he became a cobbler to
raise money to produce his first album.
King Wadada did not only produce the
album, he was rewarded as he won an
award every musician would always dream
of. Recently, he clinched the Kora 2010 Best
Reggae artiste award in Africa.
He told Saturday Sun the story of his life as
a cobbler under the prominent motor
bridge at the Ikeja downtown in Lagos from
where he raised money come rain or shine
to bring his dream album to fruition. Today,
that album has given him the leverage of
his life and is his turning point.
Never in their wildest dreams did the Peters
bargain that they would have a son who
would finally grow to carry dreadlocks. King
Wadada’s father travelled to Ethiopia to do
farming where she met a beautiful lady,
Mercy. What attracted him was the fact that
she was hardworking and was always seen
with her parents on their way to farm.
He approached the family and Mercy got
attracted and they married. That union gave
birth to a boy who never allowed her
mother to sleep except when music was
playing. “I got my inspiration right from the
womb as my mother told me that when I
was in the womb that whenever I got
restless, if she played music I would
immediately calm down. Years later we had
to relocate to Nigeria, where my father
continued with farming. Then I had started
grooming my hair into dreadlocks to
portray the vision God gave me. Life was a
lot easy with my mum till she died. Being
her only child I had to survive knowing full
well that life can never be the same with
another woman.”
Years later, King Wadada’s father died and
King Wadada who was in his final year in
secondary school decided to tow his
father’s line. “After the death of my father, I
discovered that if I could survive, I had to
fend for myself. The only alternative was
farming, so I engaged in full-scale farming.
Meanwhile I knew that if I were to make
anything from my calling to preach the
gospel through singing, I needed to travel
to Lagos. In my days in farming, I cultivated
cassava, maize and yam and when
harvested I would take the produce to our
local market for sale.
I did that for years till I was able to save
some cash that enabled me to travel to
Lagos. I was told that the dream of any
artiste would be fulfilled as the street was
filled with gold.”
Chance cobbler
With the money he saved, Austin boarded a
bus to Lagos with the hope that the little
money he made through farming was
enough to actualize his dream of producing
his first album.
“When I got to Lagos, I discovered that life
was very difficult. Nobody, even one’s
village people were ready to assist much.
With the little money I had, I lodged in a
hotel where the money quickly burnt out.
That was when reality dawned on me that I
had to do something to survive. It was
obvious that I can no longer go into
farming and I wasn’t ready to work in an
office as it was against my belief. I can’t
work in the office as a dreadlock man. A
dreadlock man does not work with
Babylonians (hypocrites in the name of
Christians). They don’t reason the same way
a dreadlock man does, Babylonians reason
in an artificial way but we reason normal.
I had to carve my own work as I would not
do artificial job. I noticed that most of the
people in Lagos are too busy that they wear
dirty shoes. I decided to help them to clean
their shoes. That was how I happened on
cobbling as last resort.”
Now homeless, King Wadada joined other
homeless boys to sleep under the bridge. “I
slept under the bridge at night, worked as a
cobbler in the day. I opened a mini shop
right under the bridge. I was the first
person that started cobbling under the Ikeja
Bridge around 1990 and sustained it till
1992. When I got some money, I rented a
house.”
Fela’s tutelage
Excited that he had got enough money, King
Wadada got himself an accommodation and
moved to Fela’s shrine. “I was determined
not to lose the reason I came to Lagos, that
encouraged me to save as much as I can, so
in less than a year I was able to secure a
room. When I got the room, I went to late
Fela’s shrine and begged to be allowed to
serve him so that I can acquire experience
in music. I started working with him as one
who helps to pack the equipment after
every show.
While I did that, I also tried my hands on the
instruments, when he discovered my talents
he demanded that I should sing. I used the
process to preach to him but I didn’t have
the guts to preach the word of God to him. I
always sang ‘Praise God hallelujah to him”.
Initially he wanted me to play for him but
he discovered that I was not that kind of
person. His line of music was not my vision
as a spiritual man. When I gathered enough
musical experience and discovered that life
was not okay for me at the shrine, I left. Fela
played afrobeat and he was the king. He
was a goodman but my vision was not the
same as his.”
Back to cobbling
Despite the wealth of experience he got at
Fela’s shrine, King Wadada discovered that
he was penniless and had no money to foot
the bill needed to produce his album. “I
immediately went back to the cobbling
business, but this time I relocated to the
local airport. For some years, I did cobbling
and was able to raise money to put my
album Holy! Holy! Holy! together. It was in
the year 2000 that I finally released the
music. The day I touched the CD, I was
crazy. I couldn’t believe that my dream has
finally come to pass. I wondered whether it
was Austin who played locally at the streets,
in Edo State that had come that far. My
happiest day was the day I realized my
dream album. God improved my lyrics as he
gave me more directly from Him.”
Alaba market impetus
Although King Wadada does not believe in
challenges as he takes life the way he sees
it, he blamed the woes of some artistes on
the fact that there seem to be no good label.
“The one that seems to be doing well would
demand outrageous amount to sign an
artiste. The last time I met one of the top
shots in music industry, he asked me to
bring N10m to listen to me. He can never
sign any artist without a sponsor. That is
why young artistes prefer to patronize
those at Alaba. If you go to Alaba, you will
pay them to copy your music, that is the
way you can be heard as nobody knows
you and if you don’t take that option, you
will die with your dreams. It is a fact that
Nigerian music does not have a good label,
which is why Alaba marketers get the
chance to pirate music. We don’t have good
label except now that Miracle Day Music
Label arrived. I would not fail to appreciate
Uzoma Omenka, the CEO, Miracle Day Music
who took it up to ensure that I remain on
top without demanding a dime from me.”
Ordained mystic
Dedicating his recent Kora Award to all
believers of the gospel all over the world,
King Wadada told Saturday Sun that he was
ordained right from his mother’s womb to
live righteous life. “I started singing from
creation. My parents were not Christians but
idol worshippers. I was ordained from birth.
I am a mystic from creation. I don’t do
drugs as I am a natural mystic, and the Holy
Spirit charges me. That is why I dedicated
the award to all the believers of the gospel
all over the world. For them it is their duty
to obey God. The greatest award is to have
Jesus.”
With the strong hope that he would clinch a
Grammy some day, King Wadada called on
young ones who have the dream of being
great artistes to realize that they do not
have to wait for a great sponsor to hit the
market. “I made it through cobbling and
staying focused. Today I am building a
place where my fans will be coming to visit
and listen to good music. I also hope to
groom young artistes in future. I never
indulged in drugs as the Holy Spirit charges
me whenever I want to mount the stage.
For those who do drug, I believe that it is
vain and they just want to enjoy
themselves. They did not choose to do it
that right way. Some of them cultivate the
bad habit. They should simply stay away
from drugs. They should be natural.”
My wife, my eve
Among all the good things in King Wadada’s
life, his wife, Evelyn is prime.
“I was a vegetarian, I never mingled with
women. I didn’t eat food cooked by women
for years. My wife was the first woman I
was tempted to fall for. I have the most
beautiful wife in the world whose name is
Evelyn. She was a back up singer for late
Sunny Okosun. I met her in a show in Ghana
before I released my album.
There were well- celebrated artistes in the
show. I was just invited because of my
relationship with some of the reggae
artistes. While they were arguing about
who is to feature first, the organizers asked
me to take the stage. I stole the show that
day as the audience kept asking for more. It
was then that I sang my maiden album hit
track, Holy Holy Holy. I believe that was
when she fell in love with me. I didn’t know
because I do not toast women nor do I eat
food prepared by a woman.
There were many women rushing into my
room for my autograph but in the lot I
chose to fall for her. I decided to test the
other side of life. She came with the excuse
that she wanted to be my back up singer
but then I knew what she was looking for.
“Surprisingly, that decision got her into
trouble as she got pregnant. Initially, I was
confused, contemplating whether I should
abort the child or not. It was then that I
realized that the Lord wanted to test me. She
is a good woman, now we have three kids.”
Dreadlocks are spiritual
“If you want to know if I am into drugs, I’m
not. Nigerians have this mentality; once
they see someone with dreadlocks, they
just conclude that such must be on drugs or
smoke ganja. Dreadlocks are spiritual and
Reggae music is a spiritual thing too.
Although some musicians get involved in
the use of drugs, and those are the ones
that are not destined to reach out to the
world.
I was not born with dreadlocks but I’m
under a vow. Until the whole world repent
from their sins and accept Jesus Christ as
their personal Lord and saviour, I will not
cut the locks. So, I’m out to preach God’s
consciousness. When people se--e me the
way I am, they may think I smoke ganja but
I don’t. I was nominated for the category of
the Best Reggae Artiste in Africa alongside
other artistes from Uganda, Burkina Faso,
and one other African countries. I was the
only one nominated from Nigeria. To the
glory of God I won the award.”
Reggae not Rastafarianism
“I’m not a Rastafarian. I’m a Christian. You
are not necessarily a Rastafarian because
you play Reggae music. You can dreadlocks
and be a journalist, or in any other
profession. That you are wearing
dreadlocks doesn’t make you a Rastafarian.
Rastafarianism is a doctrine just like
Christianity and Islam. Rastafarians worship
God through Haile Sellassie just like Muslims
worship God through Prophet Mohammed
while the Christians do that through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
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• Story of how King Wadada toiled and
picked KORA award
In Nigeria many talented artistes have been
forced to bury their idea for want of
sponsor, but Austin Peter popularly known
as King Wadada refused to kill his.
He became a musician from birth as the
mother confessed that the only way to calm
King Wadada down was to play reggae
tunes to him as a baby. Unfortunately when
he came to the world, he was welcomed by
very harsh conditions as his parents
struggled to provide for him.
When the parents died, Austin resorted to
farming but later found his way to Lagos in
the late 80s where he became a cobbler to
raise money to produce his first album.
King Wadada did not only produce the
album, he was rewarded as he won an
award every musician would always dream
of. Recently, he clinched the Kora 2010 Best
Reggae artiste award in Africa.
He told Saturday Sun the story of his life as
a cobbler under the prominent motor
bridge at the Ikeja downtown in Lagos from
where he raised money come rain or shine
to bring his dream album to fruition. Today,
that album has given him the leverage of
his life and is his turning point.
Never in their wildest dreams did the Peters
bargain that they would have a son who
would finally grow to carry dreadlocks. King
Wadada’s father travelled to Ethiopia to do
farming where she met a beautiful lady,
Mercy. What attracted him was the fact that
she was hardworking and was always seen
with her parents on their way to farm.
He approached the family and Mercy got
attracted and they married. That union gave
birth to a boy who never allowed her
mother to sleep except when music was
playing. “I got my inspiration right from the
womb as my mother told me that when I
was in the womb that whenever I got
restless, if she played music I would
immediately calm down. Years later we had
to relocate to Nigeria, where my father
continued with farming. Then I had started
grooming my hair into dreadlocks to
portray the vision God gave me. Life was a
lot easy with my mum till she died. Being
her only child I had to survive knowing full
well that life can never be the same with
another woman.”
Years later, King Wadada’s father died and
King Wadada who was in his final year in
secondary school decided to tow his
father’s line. “After the death of my father, I
discovered that if I could survive, I had to
fend for myself. The only alternative was
farming, so I engaged in full-scale farming.
Meanwhile I knew that if I were to make
anything from my calling to preach the
gospel through singing, I needed to travel
to Lagos. In my days in farming, I cultivated
cassava, maize and yam and when
harvested I would take the produce to our
local market for sale.
I did that for years till I was able to save
some cash that enabled me to travel to
Lagos. I was told that the dream of any
artiste would be fulfilled as the street was
filled with gold.”
Chance cobbler
With the money he saved, Austin boarded a
bus to Lagos with the hope that the little
money he made through farming was
enough to actualize his dream of producing
his first album.
“When I got to Lagos, I discovered that life
was very difficult. Nobody, even one’s
village people were ready to assist much.
With the little money I had, I lodged in a
hotel where the money quickly burnt out.
That was when reality dawned on me that I
had to do something to survive. It was
obvious that I can no longer go into
farming and I wasn’t ready to work in an
office as it was against my belief. I can’t
work in the office as a dreadlock man. A
dreadlock man does not work with
Babylonians (hypocrites in the name of
Christians). They don’t reason the same way
a dreadlock man does, Babylonians reason
in an artificial way but we reason normal.
I had to carve my own work as I would not
do artificial job. I noticed that most of the
people in Lagos are too busy that they wear
dirty shoes. I decided to help them to clean
their shoes. That was how I happened on
cobbling as last resort.”
Now homeless, King Wadada joined other
homeless boys to sleep under the bridge. “I
slept under the bridge at night, worked as a
cobbler in the day. I opened a mini shop
right under the bridge. I was the first
person that started cobbling under the Ikeja
Bridge around 1990 and sustained it till
1992. When I got some money, I rented a
house.”
Fela’s tutelage
Excited that he had got enough money, King
Wadada got himself an accommodation and
moved to Fela’s shrine. “I was determined
not to lose the reason I came to Lagos, that
encouraged me to save as much as I can, so
in less than a year I was able to secure a
room. When I got the room, I went to late
Fela’s shrine and begged to be allowed to
serve him so that I can acquire experience
in music. I started working with him as one
who helps to pack the equipment after
every show.
While I did that, I also tried my hands on the
instruments, when he discovered my talents
he demanded that I should sing. I used the
process to preach to him but I didn’t have
the guts to preach the word of God to him. I
always sang ‘Praise God hallelujah to him”.
Initially he wanted me to play for him but
he discovered that I was not that kind of
person. His line of music was not my vision
as a spiritual man. When I gathered enough
musical experience and discovered that life
was not okay for me at the shrine, I left. Fela
played afrobeat and he was the king. He
was a goodman but my vision was not the
same as his.”
Back to cobbling
Despite the wealth of experience he got at
Fela’s shrine, King Wadada discovered that
he was penniless and had no money to foot
the bill needed to produce his album. “I
immediately went back to the cobbling
business, but this time I relocated to the
local airport. For some years, I did cobbling
and was able to raise money to put my
album Holy! Holy! Holy! together. It was in
the year 2000 that I finally released the
music. The day I touched the CD, I was
crazy. I couldn’t believe that my dream has
finally come to pass. I wondered whether it
was Austin who played locally at the streets,
in Edo State that had come that far. My
happiest day was the day I realized my
dream album. God improved my lyrics as he
gave me more directly from Him.”
Alaba market impetus
Although King Wadada does not believe in
challenges as he takes life the way he sees
it, he blamed the woes of some artistes on
the fact that there seem to be no good label.
“The one that seems to be doing well would
demand outrageous amount to sign an
artiste. The last time I met one of the top
shots in music industry, he asked me to
bring N10m to listen to me. He can never
sign any artist without a sponsor. That is
why young artistes prefer to patronize
those at Alaba. If you go to Alaba, you will
pay them to copy your music, that is the
way you can be heard as nobody knows
you and if you don’t take that option, you
will die with your dreams. It is a fact that
Nigerian music does not have a good label,
which is why Alaba marketers get the
chance to pirate music. We don’t have good
label except now that Miracle Day Music
Label arrived. I would not fail to appreciate
Uzoma Omenka, the CEO, Miracle Day Music
who took it up to ensure that I remain on
top without demanding a dime from me.”
Ordained mystic
Dedicating his recent Kora Award to all
believers of the gospel all over the world,
King Wadada told Saturday Sun that he was
ordained right from his mother’s womb to
live righteous life. “I started singing from
creation. My parents were not Christians but
idol worshippers. I was ordained from birth.
I am a mystic from creation. I don’t do
drugs as I am a natural mystic, and the Holy
Spirit charges me. That is why I dedicated
the award to all the believers of the gospel
all over the world. For them it is their duty
to obey God. The greatest award is to have
Jesus.”
With the strong hope that he would clinch a
Grammy some day, King Wadada called on
young ones who have the dream of being
great artistes to realize that they do not
have to wait for a great sponsor to hit the
market. “I made it through cobbling and
staying focused. Today I am building a
place where my fans will be coming to visit
and listen to good music. I also hope to
groom young artistes in future. I never
indulged in drugs as the Holy Spirit charges
me whenever I want to mount the stage.
For those who do drug, I believe that it is
vain and they just want to enjoy
themselves. They did not choose to do it
that right way. Some of them cultivate the
bad habit. They should simply stay away
from drugs. They should be natural.”
My wife, my eve
Among all the good things in King Wadada’s
life, his wife, Evelyn is prime.
“I was a vegetarian, I never mingled with
women. I didn’t eat food cooked by women
for years. My wife was the first woman I
was tempted to fall for. I have the most
beautiful wife in the world whose name is
Evelyn. She was a back up singer for late
Sunny Okosun. I met her in a show in Ghana
before I released my album.
There were well- celebrated artistes in the
show. I was just invited because of my
relationship with some of the reggae
artistes. While they were arguing about
who is to feature first, the organizers asked
me to take the stage. I stole the show that
day as the audience kept asking for more. It
was then that I sang my maiden album hit
track, Holy Holy Holy. I believe that was
when she fell in love with me. I didn’t know
because I do not toast women nor do I eat
food prepared by a woman.
There were many women rushing into my
room for my autograph but in the lot I
chose to fall for her. I decided to test the
other side of life. She came with the excuse
that she wanted to be my back up singer
but then I knew what she was looking for.
“Surprisingly, that decision got her into
trouble as she got pregnant. Initially, I was
confused, contemplating whether I should
abort the child or not. It was then that I
realized that the Lord wanted to test me. She
is a good woman, now we have three kids.”
Dreadlocks are spiritual
“If you want to know if I am into drugs, I’m
not. Nigerians have this mentality; once
they see someone with dreadlocks, they
just conclude that such must be on drugs or
smoke ganja. Dreadlocks are spiritual and
Reggae music is a spiritual thing too.
Although some musicians get involved in
the use of drugs, and those are the ones
that are not destined to reach out to the
world.
I was not born with dreadlocks but I’m
under a vow. Until the whole world repent
from their sins and accept Jesus Christ as
their personal Lord and saviour, I will not
cut the locks. So, I’m out to preach God’s
consciousness. When people se--e me the
way I am, they may think I smoke ganja but
I don’t. I was nominated for the category of
the Best Reggae Artiste in Africa alongside
other artistes from Uganda, Burkina Faso,
and one other African countries. I was the
only one nominated from Nigeria. To the
glory of God I won the award.”
Reggae not Rastafarianism
“I’m not a Rastafarian. I’m a Christian. You
are not necessarily a Rastafarian because
you play Reggae music. You can dreadlocks
and be a journalist, or in any other
profession. That you are wearing
dreadlocks doesn’t make you a Rastafarian.
Rastafarianism is a doctrine just like
Christianity and Islam. Rastafarians worship
God through Haile Sellassie just like Muslims
worship God through Prophet Mohammed
while the Christians do that through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
advertisement
Services
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Subscription
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Roadside Cobbler turns Africa best Reggae artist
Saturday, May 8, 2010
• Story of how King Wadada toiled and
picked KORA award
In Nigeria many talented artistes have been
forced to bury their idea for want of
sponsor, but Austin Peter popularly known
as King Wadada refused to kill his.
He became a musician from birth as the
mother confessed that the only way to calm
King Wadada down was to play reggae
tunes to him as a baby. Unfortunately when
he came to the world, he was welcomed by
very harsh conditions as his parents
struggled to provide for him.
When the parents died, Austin resorted to
farming but later found his way to Lagos in
the late 80s where he became a cobbler to
raise money to produce his first album.
King Wadada did not only produce the
album, he was rewarded as he won an
award every musician would always dream
of. Recently, he clinched the Kora 2010 Best
Reggae artiste award in Africa.
He told Saturday Sun the story of his life as
a cobbler under the prominent motor
bridge at the Ikeja downtown in Lagos from
where he raised money come rain or shine
to bring his dream album to fruition. Today,
that album has given him the leverage of
his life and is his turning point.
Never in their wildest dreams did the Peters
bargain that they would have a son who
would finally grow to carry dreadlocks. King
Wadada’s father travelled to Ethiopia to do
farming where she met a beautiful lady,
Mercy. What attracted him was the fact that
she was hardworking and was always seen
with her parents on their way to farm.
He approached the family and Mercy got
attracted and they married. That union gave
birth to a boy who never allowed her
mother to sleep except when music was
playing. “I got my inspiration right from the
womb as my mother told me that when I
was in the womb that whenever I got
restless, if she played music I would
immediately calm down. Years later we had
to relocate to Nigeria, where my father
continued with farming. Then I had started
grooming my hair into dreadlocks to
portray the vision God gave me. Life was a
lot easy with my mum till she died. Being
her only child I had to survive knowing full
well that life can never be the same with
another woman.”
Years later, King Wadada’s father died and
King Wadada who was in his final year in
secondary school decided to tow his
father’s line. “After the death of my father, I
discovered that if I could survive, I had to
fend for myself. The only alternative was
farming, so I engaged in full-scale farming.
Meanwhile I knew that if I were to make
anything from my calling to preach the
gospel through singing, I needed to travel
to Lagos. In my days in farming, I cultivated
cassava, maize and yam and when
harvested I would take the produce to our
local market for sale.
I did that for years till I was able to save
some cash that enabled me to travel to
Lagos. I was told that the dream of any
artiste would be fulfilled as the street was
filled with gold.”
Chance cobbler
With the money he saved, Austin boarded a
bus to Lagos with the hope that the little
money he made through farming was
enough to actualize his dream of producing
his first album.
“When I got to Lagos, I discovered that life
was very difficult. Nobody, even one’s
village people were ready to assist much.
With the little money I had, I lodged in a
hotel where the money quickly burnt out.
That was when reality dawned on me that I
had to do something to survive. It was
obvious that I can no longer go into
farming and I wasn’t ready to work in an
office as it was against my belief. I can’t
work in the office as a dreadlock man. A
dreadlock man does not work with
Babylonians (hypocrites in the name of
Christians). They don’t reason the same way
a dreadlock man does, Babylonians reason
in an artificial way but we reason normal.
I had to carve my own work as I would not
do artificial job. I noticed that most of the
people in Lagos are too busy that they wear
dirty shoes. I decided to help them to clean
their shoes. That was how I happened on
cobbling as last resort.”
Now homeless, King Wadada joined other
homeless boys to sleep under the bridge. “I
slept under the bridge at night, worked as a
cobbler in the day. I opened a mini shop
right under the bridge. I was the first
person that started cobbling under the Ikeja
Bridge around 1990 and sustained it till
1992. When I got some money, I rented a
house.”
Fela’s tutelage
Excited that he had got enough money, King
Wadada got himself an accommodation and
moved to Fela’s shrine. “I was determined
not to lose the reason I came to Lagos, that
encouraged me to save as much as I can, so
in less than a year I was able to secure a
room. When I got the room, I went to late
Fela’s shrine and begged to be allowed to
serve him so that I can acquire experience
in music. I started working with him as one
who helps to pack the equipment after
every show.
While I did that, I also tried my hands on the
instruments, when he discovered my talents
he demanded that I should sing. I used the
process to preach to him but I didn’t have
the guts to preach the word of God to him. I
always sang ‘Praise God hallelujah to him”.
Initially he wanted me to play for him but
he discovered that I was not that kind of
person. His line of music was not my vision
as a spiritual man. When I gathered enough
musical experience and discovered that life
was not okay for me at the shrine, I left. Fela
played afrobeat and he was the king. He
was a goodman but my vision was not the
same as his.”
Back to cobbling
Despite the wealth of experience he got at
Fela’s shrine, King Wadada discovered that
he was penniless and had no money to foot
the bill needed to produce his album. “I
immediately went back to the cobbling
business, but this time I relocated to the
local airport. For some years, I did cobbling
and was able to raise money to put my
album Holy! Holy! Holy! together. It was in
the year 2000 that I finally released the
music. The day I touched the CD, I was
crazy. I couldn’t believe that my dream has
finally come to pass. I wondered whether it
was Austin who played locally at the streets,
in Edo State that had come that far. My
happiest day was the day I realized my
dream album. God improved my lyrics as he
gave me more directly from Him.”
Alaba market impetus
Although King Wadada does not believe in
challenges as he takes life the way he sees
it, he blamed the woes of some artistes on
the fact that there seem to be no good label.
“The one that seems to be doing well would
demand outrageous amount to sign an
artiste. The last time I met one of the top
shots in music industry, he asked me to
bring N10m to listen to me. He can never
sign any artist without a sponsor. That is
why young artistes prefer to patronize
those at Alaba. If you go to Alaba, you will
pay them to copy your music, that is the
way you can be heard as nobody knows
you and if you don’t take that option, you
will die with your dreams. It is a fact that
Nigerian music does not have a good label,
which is why Alaba marketers get the
chance to pirate music. We don’t have good
label except now that Miracle Day Music
Label arrived. I would not fail to appreciate
Uzoma Omenka, the CEO, Miracle Day Music
who took it up to ensure that I remain on
top without demanding a dime from me.”
Ordained mystic
Dedicating his recent Kora Award to all
believers of the gospel all over the world,
King Wadada told Saturday Sun that he was
ordained right from his mother’s womb to
live righteous life. “I started singing from
creation. My parents were not Christians but
idol worshippers. I was ordained from birth.
I am a mystic from creation. I don’t do
drugs as I am a natural mystic, and the Holy
Spirit charges me. That is why I dedicated
the award to all the believers of the gospel
all over the world. For them it is their duty
to obey God. The greatest award is to have
Jesus.”
With the strong hope that he would clinch a
Grammy some day, King Wadada called on
young ones who have the dream of being
great artistes to realize that they do not
have to wait for a great sponsor to hit the
market. “I made it through cobbling and
staying focused. Today I am building a
place where my fans will be coming to visit
and listen to good music. I also hope to
groom young artistes in future. I never
indulged in drugs as the Holy Spirit charges
me whenever I want to mount the stage.
For those who do drug, I believe that it is
vain and they just want to enjoy
themselves. They did not choose to do it
that right way. Some of them cultivate the
bad habit. They should simply stay away
from drugs. They should be natural.”
My wife, my eve
Among all the good things in King Wadada’s
life, his wife, Evelyn is prime.
“I was a vegetarian, I never mingled with
women. I didn’t eat food cooked by women
for years. My wife was the first woman I
was tempted to fall for. I have the most
beautiful wife in the world whose name is
Evelyn. She was a back up singer for late
Sunny Okosun. I met her in a show in Ghana
before I released my album.
There were well- celebrated artistes in the
show. I was just invited because of my
relationship with some of the reggae
artistes. While they were arguing about
who is to feature first, the organizers asked
me to take the stage. I stole the show that
day as the audience kept asking for more. It
was then that I sang my maiden album hit
track, Holy Holy Holy. I believe that was
when she fell in love with me. I didn’t know
because I do not toast women nor do I eat
food prepared by a woman.
There were many women rushing into my
room for my autograph but in the lot I
chose to fall for her. I decided to test the
other side of life. She came with the excuse
that she wanted to be my back up singer
but then I knew what she was looking for.
“Surprisingly, that decision got her into
trouble as she got pregnant. Initially, I was
confused, contemplating whether I should
abort the child or not. It was then that I
realized that the Lord wanted to test me. She
is a good woman, now we have three kids.”
Dreadlocks are spiritual
“If you want to know if I am into drugs, I’m
not. Nigerians have this mentality; once
they see someone with dreadlocks, they
just conclude that such must be on drugs or
smoke ganja. Dreadlocks are spiritual and
Reggae music is a spiritual thing too.
Although some musicians get involved in
the use of drugs, and those are the ones
that are not destined to reach out to the
world.
I was not born with dreadlocks but I’m
under a vow. Until the whole world repent
from their sins and accept Jesus Christ as
their personal Lord and saviour, I will not
cut the locks. So, I’m out to preach God’s
consciousness. When people se--e me the
way I am, they may think I smoke ganja but
I don’t. I was nominated for the category of
the Best Reggae Artiste in Africa alongside
other artistes from Uganda, Burkina Faso,
and one other African countries. I was the
only one nominated from Nigeria. To the
glory of God I won the award.”
Reggae not Rastafarianism
“I’m not a Rastafarian. I’m a Christian. You
are not necessarily a Rastafarian because
you play Reggae music. You can dreadlocks
and be a journalist, or in any other
profession. That you are wearing
dreadlocks doesn’t make you a Rastafarian.
Rastafarianism is a doctrine just like
Christianity and Islam. Rastafarians worship
God through Haile Sellassie just like Muslims
worship God through Prophet Mohammed
while the Christians do that through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
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Contact Us
• Story of how King Wadada toiled and
picked KORA award
In Nigeria many talented artistes have been
forced to bury their idea for want of
sponsor, but Austin Peter popularly known
as King Wadada refused to kill his.
He became a musician from birth as the
mother confessed that the only way to calm
King Wadada down was to play reggae
tunes to him as a baby. Unfortunately when
he came to the world, he was welcomed by
very harsh conditions as his parents
struggled to provide for him.
When the parents died, Austin resorted to
farming but later found his way to Lagos in
the late 80s where he became a cobbler to
raise money to produce his first album.
King Wadada did not only produce the
album, he was rewarded as he won an
award every musician would always dream
of. Recently, he clinched the Kora 2010 Best
Reggae artiste award in Africa.
He told Saturday Sun the story of his life as
a cobbler under the prominent motor
bridge at the Ikeja downtown in Lagos from
where he raised money come rain or shine
to bring his dream album to fruition. Today,
that album has given him the leverage of
his life and is his turning point.
Never in their wildest dreams did the Peters
bargain that they would have a son who
would finally grow to carry dreadlocks. King
Wadada’s father travelled to Ethiopia to do
farming where she met a beautiful lady,
Mercy. What attracted him was the fact that
she was hardworking and was always seen
with her parents on their way to farm.
He approached the family and Mercy got
attracted and they married. That union gave
birth to a boy who never allowed her
mother to sleep except when music was
playing. “I got my inspiration right from the
womb as my mother told me that when I
was in the womb that whenever I got
restless, if she played music I would
immediately calm down. Years later we had
to relocate to Nigeria, where my father
continued with farming. Then I had started
grooming my hair into dreadlocks to
portray the vision God gave me. Life was a
lot easy with my mum till she died. Being
her only child I had to survive knowing full
well that life can never be the same with
another woman.”
Years later, King Wadada’s father died and
King Wadada who was in his final year in
secondary school decided to tow his
father’s line. “After the death of my father, I
discovered that if I could survive, I had to
fend for myself. The only alternative was
farming, so I engaged in full-scale farming.
Meanwhile I knew that if I were to make
anything from my calling to preach the
gospel through singing, I needed to travel
to Lagos. In my days in farming, I cultivated
cassava, maize and yam and when
harvested I would take the produce to our
local market for sale.
I did that for years till I was able to save
some cash that enabled me to travel to
Lagos. I was told that the dream of any
artiste would be fulfilled as the street was
filled with gold.”
Chance cobbler
With the money he saved, Austin boarded a
bus to Lagos with the hope that the little
money he made through farming was
enough to actualize his dream of producing
his first album.
“When I got to Lagos, I discovered that life
was very difficult. Nobody, even one’s
village people were ready to assist much.
With the little money I had, I lodged in a
hotel where the money quickly burnt out.
That was when reality dawned on me that I
had to do something to survive. It was
obvious that I can no longer go into
farming and I wasn’t ready to work in an
office as it was against my belief. I can’t
work in the office as a dreadlock man. A
dreadlock man does not work with
Babylonians (hypocrites in the name of
Christians). They don’t reason the same way
a dreadlock man does, Babylonians reason
in an artificial way but we reason normal.
I had to carve my own work as I would not
do artificial job. I noticed that most of the
people in Lagos are too busy that they wear
dirty shoes. I decided to help them to clean
their shoes. That was how I happened on
cobbling as last resort.”
Now homeless, King Wadada joined other
homeless boys to sleep under the bridge. “I
slept under the bridge at night, worked as a
cobbler in the day. I opened a mini shop
right under the bridge. I was the first
person that started cobbling under the Ikeja
Bridge around 1990 and sustained it till
1992. When I got some money, I rented a
house.”
Fela’s tutelage
Excited that he had got enough money, King
Wadada got himself an accommodation and
moved to Fela’s shrine. “I was determined
not to lose the reason I came to Lagos, that
encouraged me to save as much as I can, so
in less than a year I was able to secure a
room. When I got the room, I went to late
Fela’s shrine and begged to be allowed to
serve him so that I can acquire experience
in music. I started working with him as one
who helps to pack the equipment after
every show.
While I did that, I also tried my hands on the
instruments, when he discovered my talents
he demanded that I should sing. I used the
process to preach to him but I didn’t have
the guts to preach the word of God to him. I
always sang ‘Praise God hallelujah to him”.
Initially he wanted me to play for him but
he discovered that I was not that kind of
person. His line of music was not my vision
as a spiritual man. When I gathered enough
musical experience and discovered that life
was not okay for me at the shrine, I left. Fela
played afrobeat and he was the king. He
was a goodman but my vision was not the
same as his.”
Back to cobbling
Despite the wealth of experience he got at
Fela’s shrine, King Wadada discovered that
he was penniless and had no money to foot
the bill needed to produce his album. “I
immediately went back to the cobbling
business, but this time I relocated to the
local airport. For some years, I did cobbling
and was able to raise money to put my
album Holy! Holy! Holy! together. It was in
the year 2000 that I finally released the
music. The day I touched the CD, I was
crazy. I couldn’t believe that my dream has
finally come to pass. I wondered whether it
was Austin who played locally at the streets,
in Edo State that had come that far. My
happiest day was the day I realized my
dream album. God improved my lyrics as he
gave me more directly from Him.”
Alaba market impetus
Although King Wadada does not believe in
challenges as he takes life the way he sees
it, he blamed the woes of some artistes on
the fact that there seem to be no good label.
“The one that seems to be doing well would
demand outrageous amount to sign an
artiste. The last time I met one of the top
shots in music industry, he asked me to
bring N10m to listen to me. He can never
sign any artist without a sponsor. That is
why young artistes prefer to patronize
those at Alaba. If you go to Alaba, you will
pay them to copy your music, that is the
way you can be heard as nobody knows
you and if you don’t take that option, you
will die with your dreams. It is a fact that
Nigerian music does not have a good label,
which is why Alaba marketers get the
chance to pirate music. We don’t have good
label except now that Miracle Day Music
Label arrived. I would not fail to appreciate
Uzoma Omenka, the CEO, Miracle Day Music
who took it up to ensure that I remain on
top without demanding a dime from me.”
Ordained mystic
Dedicating his recent Kora Award to all
believers of the gospel all over the world,
King Wadada told Saturday Sun that he was
ordained right from his mother’s womb to
live righteous life. “I started singing from
creation. My parents were not Christians but
idol worshippers. I was ordained from birth.
I am a mystic from creation. I don’t do
drugs as I am a natural mystic, and the Holy
Spirit charges me. That is why I dedicated
the award to all the believers of the gospel
all over the world. For them it is their duty
to obey God. The greatest award is to have
Jesus.”
With the strong hope that he would clinch a
Grammy some day, King Wadada called on
young ones who have the dream of being
great artistes to realize that they do not
have to wait for a great sponsor to hit the
market. “I made it through cobbling and
staying focused. Today I am building a
place where my fans will be coming to visit
and listen to good music. I also hope to
groom young artistes in future. I never
indulged in drugs as the Holy Spirit charges
me whenever I want to mount the stage.
For those who do drug, I believe that it is
vain and they just want to enjoy
themselves. They did not choose to do it
that right way. Some of them cultivate the
bad habit. They should simply stay away
from drugs. They should be natural.”
My wife, my eve
Among all the good things in King Wadada’s
life, his wife, Evelyn is prime.
“I was a vegetarian, I never mingled with
women. I didn’t eat food cooked by women
for years. My wife was the first woman I
was tempted to fall for. I have the most
beautiful wife in the world whose name is
Evelyn. She was a back up singer for late
Sunny Okosun. I met her in a show in Ghana
before I released my album.
There were well- celebrated artistes in the
show. I was just invited because of my
relationship with some of the reggae
artistes. While they were arguing about
who is to feature first, the organizers asked
me to take the stage. I stole the show that
day as the audience kept asking for more. It
was then that I sang my maiden album hit
track, Holy Holy Holy. I believe that was
when she fell in love with me. I didn’t know
because I do not toast women nor do I eat
food prepared by a woman.
There were many women rushing into my
room for my autograph but in the lot I
chose to fall for her. I decided to test the
other side of life. She came with the excuse
that she wanted to be my back up singer
but then I knew what she was looking for.
“Surprisingly, that decision got her into
trouble as she got pregnant. Initially, I was
confused, contemplating whether I should
abort the child or not. It was then that I
realized that the Lord wanted to test me. She
is a good woman, now we have three kids.”
Dreadlocks are spiritual
“If you want to know if I am into drugs, I’m
not. Nigerians have this mentality; once
they see someone with dreadlocks, they
just conclude that such must be on drugs or
smoke ganja. Dreadlocks are spiritual and
Reggae music is a spiritual thing too.
Although some musicians get involved in
the use of drugs, and those are the ones
that are not destined to reach out to the
world.
I was not born with dreadlocks but I’m
under a vow. Until the whole world repent
from their sins and accept Jesus Christ as
their personal Lord and saviour, I will not
cut the locks. So, I’m out to preach God’s
consciousness. When people se--e me the
way I am, they may think I smoke ganja but
I don’t. I was nominated for the category of
the Best Reggae Artiste in Africa alongside
other artistes from Uganda, Burkina Faso,
and one other African countries. I was the
only one nominated from Nigeria. To the
glory of God I won the award.”
Reggae not Rastafarianism
“I’m not a Rastafarian. I’m a Christian. You
are not necessarily a Rastafarian because
you play Reggae music. You can dreadlocks
and be a journalist, or in any other
profession. That you are wearing
dreadlocks doesn’t make you a Rastafarian.
Rastafarianism is a doctrine just like
Christianity and Islam. Rastafarians worship
God through Haile Sellassie just like Muslims
worship God through Prophet Mohammed
while the Christians do that through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
advertisement
Services
Front Page
Back Page
Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
International
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Health Magazine
How I write
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Window of the world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Weekend Sports
Weekend Cartoons
Company Profile
About Us
Management
Contact Us
My life with Kirk Franklin-Mike Manna
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Anaemene Igwedumma Michael aka Mike
Manna is a gospel artiste whose ambition is
to bring about positive changes in the
society through music. Mike who hails from
Awka in Anambra State is also an inspiration
to many people.
He attended Igwebuike Grammar School,
Awka and from there moved to Nana
College, Warri, Delta State where he sat for
his SSCE and passed with flying colours.
Mike later proceeded to the Delta State
University where he obtained a degree in
Geology.
The gospel artiste, who when not singing
works for a protocol company, traced his
musical origin to his family of: singers. He
says: “Everybody in my family sings, not
professionally though. My father was a
chorister in his church during his youthful
days and some of my siblings are song
writers. Really, I would say that I was born
into music and that music was infused into
me. I am a walking music because I live and
eat music. I often sing while walking on the
street. My neighbours and everybody
around me knows that I cannot do without
singing.
Apart from singing in the choir during my
secondary school days, I was an assistant
choir director in my university and then
during my NYSC, I also joined the choir.
Right now, I am a member of the choir in
my church. However, I started music
professionally about four years ago when I
went to the studio for the first time to
record my songs.”
Mike Manna opens up to Blockbuster
recently. Excerpts:
Why I shunned secular music
I believe that my gift is a calling of God as I
love to sing songs that lift the spirit and
impact lives. I sing about God, His salvation
and His kingdom. I also sing inspirational
songs but my greatest motivation is God,
that’s why I sing gospel songs. Since gospel
means good news, the message that God
wants to send to His people is good news.
On inspiration
The Holy Spirit inspires me. I also get my
inspiration from the scriptures, preachers,
life experiences, and the environment. In
fact, I get inspiration from everywhere.
Music sometimes comes to me as a message
or from words that I hear. It also comes as a
tune that I hear in my spirit. I may just be
somewhere and I hear someone say
something and it strikes a chord in me. I will
just write it down and later develop it.
Sometimes, the full song comes and I
quickly record it in my phone so I don’t
forget it. That’s why I am always with a
notebook and a phone that records.
D’emergence of Mike Manna
My new album is entitled, D’emergence. The
letter “D” instead of “the” is to give the title
a unique style. It is so titled because I have
nursed a dream of releasing an album for
years and finally it has come true. The
album is the fulfillment of a dream, the
materialization of a passion. Though, I
wouldn’t say that I have arrived, it is a good
start for me. The album is a showcase of
who I am really, that’s why it’s called,
D’emergence. I don’t really have any
favourite among the songs because to me
they are all good. But then I sing and listen
to some more. Basically, the songs will
appeal to people differently. However, for
the sake of marketing, Higher Higher is my
favourite.
Cost implication
Actually, the production of an album is
highly capital intensive, depending on the
quality of work you want to produce which
determines who and where you produce
your work. Because I wanted a quality job, I
have spent hundreds of thousands of naira
to put the album together.
There are 12 tracks in the album of which
two are re-mixes.
Challenges
It was not easy at the beginning because I
was inexperienced. I was looking for a
producer and a studio where I could
produce my work within a limited budget,
and before I could find the right people and
place, I had wasted a lot of money. I could
not even use most of the materials they did
for me, I had to rework them and remix
some others. There is the case of a video
that I shot and after spending over
N200,000, it turned out a poor job that I
could not even get myself to watch it. There
were so many challenges, mostly financial.
Marketing strategies
I have a company who handles the
marketing and distribution of the album
nationwide. The marketer uses his
distribution network to ensure wide
distribution of the album. I am also
promoting it through the media both
electronic and print. I also have a lot of
churches that have requested for my CD
because I have ministered there and they
were blessed. I am also doing direct
marketing.
On piracy
Piracy! It is my prayer that piracy is
stamped out of our system because it’s a
cankerworm that rips you off the reward of
your labour. It is disheartening for an
artiste to go through the tough times of
producing his work only for someone else
to rip him off his reward. It is not fair. My
promo single is already being pirated in CD
selections so you can imagine how painful
it is. That’s why I am happy with what PMAN
is doing to fight piracy. But PMAN cannot
fight it all alone, that’s why the government
must join us in fighting this cankerworm.
Role models
Fred Harmond is one of my role models. I
love his vocal prowess. I love Kirk Franklin
for his charisma and his strong lyrical
composition. Locally, I respect Samsong, he
has a mastery of his songs. I also have
great respect for Sammy Okposo, he is
something else. Whenever he mounts the
stage, he delivers.
My wife, source of encouragement
My woman has been a source of
encouragement to me. I am wedding next
Saturday, May 15 here in Lagos. Rice and
stew very plenty, just come with your big
gifts (laughs). Sometimes when I am invited
to perform, my wife goes with me. She
prays on my career regularly.
Wonderful experience
My experience as a gospel singer has been
pleasant and wonderful. It gives me great
pleasure when people call me or stop me on
the way and say that they were blessed by
my song, or that they were going through
some problems but that after listening to
my song, they were encouraged and lifted
in their spirit. It gives me great joy. I have
even received some wonderful gifts from
people after ministration. There was a case
of a man who after ministration said
because I have blessed him so much he
would want to sow something into my life.
He later brought me a TV set. It’s amazing
how people can love you.
I have had cases where I am walking on the
street and somebody I don’t know walks up
to me, gives me money and says “thank
you” for my music. It makes me fulfilled
when I see these things happening and I
get encouraged that I am doing something
good. So, I am using this opportunity to
thank my numerous fans all over the
country for supporting me, without them
there won’t be Mike Manna.
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
advertisement
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About Us
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Contact Us
Anaemene Igwedumma Michael aka Mike
Manna is a gospel artiste whose ambition is
to bring about positive changes in the
society through music. Mike who hails from
Awka in Anambra State is also an inspiration
to many people.
He attended Igwebuike Grammar School,
Awka and from there moved to Nana
College, Warri, Delta State where he sat for
his SSCE and passed with flying colours.
Mike later proceeded to the Delta State
University where he obtained a degree in
Geology.
The gospel artiste, who when not singing
works for a protocol company, traced his
musical origin to his family of: singers. He
says: “Everybody in my family sings, not
professionally though. My father was a
chorister in his church during his youthful
days and some of my siblings are song
writers. Really, I would say that I was born
into music and that music was infused into
me. I am a walking music because I live and
eat music. I often sing while walking on the
street. My neighbours and everybody
around me knows that I cannot do without
singing.
Apart from singing in the choir during my
secondary school days, I was an assistant
choir director in my university and then
during my NYSC, I also joined the choir.
Right now, I am a member of the choir in
my church. However, I started music
professionally about four years ago when I
went to the studio for the first time to
record my songs.”
Mike Manna opens up to Blockbuster
recently. Excerpts:
Why I shunned secular music
I believe that my gift is a calling of God as I
love to sing songs that lift the spirit and
impact lives. I sing about God, His salvation
and His kingdom. I also sing inspirational
songs but my greatest motivation is God,
that’s why I sing gospel songs. Since gospel
means good news, the message that God
wants to send to His people is good news.
On inspiration
The Holy Spirit inspires me. I also get my
inspiration from the scriptures, preachers,
life experiences, and the environment. In
fact, I get inspiration from everywhere.
Music sometimes comes to me as a message
or from words that I hear. It also comes as a
tune that I hear in my spirit. I may just be
somewhere and I hear someone say
something and it strikes a chord in me. I will
just write it down and later develop it.
Sometimes, the full song comes and I
quickly record it in my phone so I don’t
forget it. That’s why I am always with a
notebook and a phone that records.
D’emergence of Mike Manna
My new album is entitled, D’emergence. The
letter “D” instead of “the” is to give the title
a unique style. It is so titled because I have
nursed a dream of releasing an album for
years and finally it has come true. The
album is the fulfillment of a dream, the
materialization of a passion. Though, I
wouldn’t say that I have arrived, it is a good
start for me. The album is a showcase of
who I am really, that’s why it’s called,
D’emergence. I don’t really have any
favourite among the songs because to me
they are all good. But then I sing and listen
to some more. Basically, the songs will
appeal to people differently. However, for
the sake of marketing, Higher Higher is my
favourite.
Cost implication
Actually, the production of an album is
highly capital intensive, depending on the
quality of work you want to produce which
determines who and where you produce
your work. Because I wanted a quality job, I
have spent hundreds of thousands of naira
to put the album together.
There are 12 tracks in the album of which
two are re-mixes.
Challenges
It was not easy at the beginning because I
was inexperienced. I was looking for a
producer and a studio where I could
produce my work within a limited budget,
and before I could find the right people and
place, I had wasted a lot of money. I could
not even use most of the materials they did
for me, I had to rework them and remix
some others. There is the case of a video
that I shot and after spending over
N200,000, it turned out a poor job that I
could not even get myself to watch it. There
were so many challenges, mostly financial.
Marketing strategies
I have a company who handles the
marketing and distribution of the album
nationwide. The marketer uses his
distribution network to ensure wide
distribution of the album. I am also
promoting it through the media both
electronic and print. I also have a lot of
churches that have requested for my CD
because I have ministered there and they
were blessed. I am also doing direct
marketing.
On piracy
Piracy! It is my prayer that piracy is
stamped out of our system because it’s a
cankerworm that rips you off the reward of
your labour. It is disheartening for an
artiste to go through the tough times of
producing his work only for someone else
to rip him off his reward. It is not fair. My
promo single is already being pirated in CD
selections so you can imagine how painful
it is. That’s why I am happy with what PMAN
is doing to fight piracy. But PMAN cannot
fight it all alone, that’s why the government
must join us in fighting this cankerworm.
Role models
Fred Harmond is one of my role models. I
love his vocal prowess. I love Kirk Franklin
for his charisma and his strong lyrical
composition. Locally, I respect Samsong, he
has a mastery of his songs. I also have
great respect for Sammy Okposo, he is
something else. Whenever he mounts the
stage, he delivers.
My wife, source of encouragement
My woman has been a source of
encouragement to me. I am wedding next
Saturday, May 15 here in Lagos. Rice and
stew very plenty, just come with your big
gifts (laughs). Sometimes when I am invited
to perform, my wife goes with me. She
prays on my career regularly.
Wonderful experience
My experience as a gospel singer has been
pleasant and wonderful. It gives me great
pleasure when people call me or stop me on
the way and say that they were blessed by
my song, or that they were going through
some problems but that after listening to
my song, they were encouraged and lifted
in their spirit. It gives me great joy. I have
even received some wonderful gifts from
people after ministration. There was a case
of a man who after ministration said
because I have blessed him so much he
would want to sow something into my life.
He later brought me a TV set. It’s amazing
how people can love you.
I have had cases where I am walking on the
street and somebody I don’t know walks up
to me, gives me money and says “thank
you” for my music. It makes me fulfilled
when I see these things happening and I
get encouraged that I am doing something
good. So, I am using this opportunity to
thank my numerous fans all over the
country for supporting me, without them
there won’t be Mike Manna.
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Evening! Monday May 10, 2010
advertisement
Services
Front Page
Back Page
Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
International
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Health Magazine
How I write
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Window of the world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Weekend Sports
Weekend Cartoons
Company Profile
About Us
Management
Contact Us
I touch women,I don't bless them:Original Stereoman-Ekwe
Saturday, May 8, 2010
CALL him Osakuni Sunday and you will be
surprised that not many Nigerians will be
acquainted with the name. But call him
Original Stereoman – Ekwe, he does not
need any further introduction. That was the
tight spot the talented ragamuffin musician,
found himself recently in Holland.
He was in Hague as one of the participants
at the just-ended Niger-Delta Peace
Consolidation Conference organized by the
Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign (HNDC),
where he entertained the mixed audience
to his kind of music. Saturday Celebrity
engaged him after the three -star
performance concerning and the origin of
the ekwe – sample, his love for women,
dread locks and more.
Excerpt:
It’s a surprise meeting you in the
Netherlands. What brought you here?
I ‘m in Hague for a programme organized
by the Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign
(HNDC) on consolidation of peace in the
Niger-Delta. I thank God for the way the
programme went.
I thought you were a musician, and not a
Niger-Delta activist.
Yes, I am a performing artiste as well as an
activist championing the cause of the Niger-
Delta people – if you want to put it that
way. I’m here because of the campaign by
the HNDC for a better life for the people of
the Niger-Delta. I’m in total support of the
cause the group is championing. I preach
about peace and things that will help Niger-
Delta region grow.
What are you taking back home after the
conference?
I think I’m going home with a positive result
because I believe we have achieved
everything that we came here to do. I will
go home to tell the people what happened
here.
What do you think the government of
Nigeria should borrow from the
Netherlands knowing that the country
shares the same topography that dot the
Niger-Delta region?
Niger-Delta is my mother land and the
international headquarters of Shell is
situated in Netherlands. What I think the
Government of Nigeria should do is to
translate the good things they have seen
here into reality in our country. If you
remember, during the conference, the
whole arguments centered around the lack
of development in the Niger-Delta.
Government officials have been visiting
Netherlands time without number, so they
cannot claim ignorance of the fact that
Netherlands was reclaimed from the water;
so was the Niger-Delta region. We just claim
to be the giant of Africa but yet we don’t
learn anything.
How can we say we are learning or that we
are the giant of Africa when we don’t bring
good things back home for our people.
Comparing Nigeria ’s problem with Europe’s
amounts to making a mistake, because our
leaders travel outside the country on
regular basis and see these things for
themselves. They return home without
doing anything to improve the quality of
lives in this country.
You can see that the Niger-Delta is one of
the poorest regions in the world, people
who manage to own cars among them
cannot even drive their vehicles to their
villages because there is no access road. We
need a quick change of things.
You were half nude when you were
performing on stage. Why did you appear
like that?
It’s how I dress. In the area where I come
from, we believe in our tradition. We tie
wrappers, wear beads around our necks
and sometimes, we put on singlets. That is
how we do it.
I try to bring an African lifestyle into it. My
kind of music is ragamuffin , but I present it
in African style: something close to the
culture of the place I come from. That is the
reason I dress that way, and people
appreciate my style.
Must ragamuffin musicians always wear
dread locks?
It’s not a must for every musician to wear
dread locks. But it’s just that dread locks
bring out the African-ness in a person. You
know we didn’t have combs in those days
to comb our hair. And when you don’t have
a comb, how does anyone expect your hair
to be, punk or layers? It’s my style. I chose
to go this way.
You go by the nickname
Sample-Ekwe. Ekwe is an Igbo name for the
gong. Are you an Igbo man?
Ekwe is a Nigerian word that is most
popular in the Igbo area. I am from Delta
State. We also call it (gong) ekwe. When you
beat the gong, people must hear the sound.
That is how sample came into it.
If you have a product, you sample it for
people to know it first and foremost before
they can patronize you. When I sample my
ekwe, people hear the sound. That is why it
is ekwe in the first instance.
Your dance steps appear to be original to
you, how did you come about it?
Yes, I started with cultural dance, egwu-igba
cultural group. I tried to merge them with
the current dancing steps of ragamuffin
with break-dance, which is why it’s on its
own. I included cultural dance and all that
together, that is what makes it Angle 90
dance step and with my lyrics, what is you
see is original stereo-man -style.
Women always flock around musicians.
What is your experience with women?
I will say women and children are my major
fans. Any musician that doesn’t have
women or children by his side is not a good
musician – His music is not accepted.
Children come around me a lot. I like women
very well because my mother is a woman.
But in terms of sleeping with women, I
don’t indulge that much. I’m married and I
have a kid. So I want the best for my family.
Sometimes, I try to touch them but I don’t
bless them because eh… body no be
firewood sometimes. But man need to hold
himself. Not all that come are good for you.
Some have come to destroy your star. Some
are coming to make you what you are
supposed to be. But, generally women and
children are important in the entertainment
industry.
So when is your next album hitting the
market?
Right now, I’m working on my reloaded
album that is going to come out soon but
apart from that, I am working on my new
album that is due to hit the airwave before
October. Okpemu, agwo turu mbe turu
okpokoro, is going to be the hit track and it
means the snake that wants to swallow a
tortoise is only swallowing an ordinary can,
meaning that, you are swallowing
something that has no meaning.
Am trying to do a gospel song in the album
something like someone that is trying to
destroy what God has created is destroying
an ordinary thing because it will not work.
Those are the kind of tracks in my new
album. It is going to come out before the
end of the year.
CALL him Osakuni Sunday and you will be
surprised that not many Nigerians will be
acquainted with the name. But call him
Original Stereoman – Ekwe, he does not
need any further introduction. That was the
tight spot the talented ragamuffin musician,
found himself recently in Holland.
He was in Hague as one of the participants
at the just-ended Niger-Delta Peace
Consolidation Conference organized by the
Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign (HNDC),
where he entertained the mixed audience
to his kind of music. Saturday Celebrity
engaged him after the three -star
performance concerning and the origin of
the ekwe – sample, his love for women,
dread locks and more.
Excerpt:
It’s a surprise meeting you in the
Netherlands. What brought you here?
I ‘m in Hague for a programme organized
by the Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign
(HNDC) on consolidation of peace in the
Niger-Delta. I thank God for the way the
programme went.
I thought you were a musician, and not a
Niger-Delta activist.
Yes, I am a performing artiste as well as an
activist championing the cause of the Niger-
Delta people – if you want to put it that
way. I’m here because of the campaign by
the HNDC for a better life for the people of
the Niger-Delta. I’m in total support of the
cause the group is championing. I preach
about peace and things that will help Niger-
Delta region grow.
What are you taking back home after the
conference?
I think I’m going home with a positive result
because I believe we have achieved
everything that we came here to do. I will
go home to tell the people what happened
here.
What do you think the government of
Nigeria should borrow from the
Netherlands knowing that the country
shares the same topography that dot the
Niger-Delta region?
Niger-Delta is my mother land and the
international headquarters of Shell is
situated in Netherlands. What I think the
Government of Nigeria should do is to
translate the good things they have seen
here into reality in our country. If you
remember, during the conference, the
whole arguments centered around the lack
of development in the Niger-Delta.
Government officials have been visiting
Netherlands time without number, so they
cannot claim ignorance of the fact that
Netherlands was reclaimed from the water;
so was the Niger-Delta region. We just claim
to be the giant of Africa but yet we don’t
learn anything.
How can we say we are learning or that we
are the giant of Africa when we don’t bring
good things back home for our people.
Comparing Nigeria ’s problem with Europe’s
amounts to making a mistake, because our
leaders travel outside the country on
regular basis and see these things for
themselves. They return home without
doing anything to improve the quality of
lives in this country.
You can see that the Niger-Delta is one of
the poorest regions in the world, people
who manage to own cars among them
cannot even drive their vehicles to their
villages because there is no access road. We
need a quick change of things.
You were half nude when you were
performing on stage. Why did you appear
like that?
It’s how I dress. In the area where I come
from, we believe in our tradition. We tie
wrappers, wear beads around our necks
and sometimes, we put on singlets. That is
how we do it.
I try to bring an African lifestyle into it. My
kind of music is ragamuffin , but I present it
in African style: something close to the
culture of the place I come from. That is the
reason I dress that way, and people
appreciate my style.
Must ragamuffin musicians always wear
dread locks?
It’s not a must for every musician to wear
dread locks. But it’s just that dread locks
bring out the African-ness in a person. You
know we didn’t have combs in those days
to comb our hair. And when you don’t have
a comb, how does anyone expect your hair
to be, punk or layers? It’s my style. I chose
to go this way.
You go by the nickname
Sample-Ekwe. Ekwe is an Igbo name for the
gong. Are you an Igbo man?
Ekwe is a Nigerian word that is most
popular in the Igbo area. I am from Delta
State. We also call it (gong) ekwe. When you
beat the gong, people must hear the sound.
That is how sample came into it.
If you have a product, you sample it for
people to know it first and foremost before
they can patronize you. When I sample my
ekwe, people hear the sound. That is why it
is ekwe in the first instance.
Your dance steps appear to be original to
you, how did you come about it?
Yes, I started with cultural dance, egwu-igba
cultural group. I tried to merge them with
the current dancing steps of ragamuffin
with break-dance, which is why it’s on its
own. I included cultural dance and all that
together, that is what makes it Angle 90
dance step and with my lyrics, what is you
see is original stereo-man -style.
Women always flock around musicians.
What is your experience with women?
I will say women and children are my major
fans. Any musician that doesn’t have
women or children by his side is not a good
musician – His music is not accepted.
Children come around me a lot. I like women
very well because my mother is a woman.
But in terms of sleeping with women, I
don’t indulge that much. I’m married and I
have a kid. So I want the best for my family.
Sometimes, I try to touch them but I don’t
bless them because eh… body no be
firewood sometimes. But man need to hold
himself. Not all that come are good for you.
Some have come to destroy your star. Some
are coming to make you what you are
supposed to be. But, generally women and
children are important in the entertainment
industry.
So when is your next album hitting the
market?
Right now, I’m working on my reloaded
album that is going to come out soon but
apart from that, I am working on my new
album that is due to hit the airwave before
October. Okpemu, agwo turu mbe turu
okpokoro, is going to be the hit track and it
means the snake that wants to swallow a
tortoise is only swallowing an ordinary can,
meaning that, you are swallowing
something that has no meaning.
Am trying to do a gospel song in the album
something like someone that is trying to
destroy what God has created is destroying
an ordinary thing because it will not work.
Those are the kind of tracks in my new
album. It is going to come out before the
end of the year.
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