Abolore Akande, popularly known as
9ice has come a long way in the Nigerian music industry, having
gained recognition in 2005, after releasing his first single, “Little
Money”. Since then, the ‘Alakpomeji’ crooner’ has not slowed
down in his quest to be on top of his game. Recently, he signed a new
deal with Temple Management Company, TMC, which marked a new
beginning in his musical career. But beyond this, 9ice craves for
happiness in all ramifications. He believes that not having children
from one woman can deprive him of his happiness. In this engaging
interview , 9ice speaks about what gives him happiness, his music,
new management and marriage.
You recently signed a deal with Temple
Management Company, how are you enjoying the new experience?
Like you said, it’s a new experience
for me. So far so good, I’m welcoming all the ideas and
experiences. I’m loving it. You once lamented the difficulties
associated with an artiste managing himself. Now that you have a
management in place, how far do you intend to go in your career
An artiste will go far because he has
all the time to creatively create a new sound. Now, he has people
that monitor your image out there, book shows for you and ensure that
you dress in a particular way. So, the artiste’s sole priority is
to make music unlike before, where you have to be your own manager,
your own booking agent and promoter. My sole priority now is to
create good sounds.
When you were managing yourself,
what was it like?
It was hectic but also, fun. This is
because it was a new industry that was growing up then. So, to find
myself in that situation at that time was new to me even though I was
having fun.
When you were managing yourself,
what was it like?
It was hectic but also, fun. This is
because it was a new industry that was growing up then. So, to find
myself in that situation at that time was new to me even though I was
having fun.
What motivated you to go into
politics?
We tried politicians, they failed us,
the media failed us too. We have not tried pastors and entertainers.
So, if a press man is qualified to be a politician, what stops me
from going into politics. Am I not a Nigerian? I can vote and be
voted for. So, what’s wrong with my going into politics?“
It’s unusual seeing a musician
going into politics?
Well, to see a musician at my level
going into politics is new in Nigeria. But we are being used by
politicians as tools for their campaign. So, I will rather campaign
for myself and do what I need to do because I know how to deliver and
I have my name to protect. So, why do I need to campaign for another
person.
“What was the experience like?
I learnt a lot of lessons and I can
tell you that it will take God Almighty to reposition Nigeria. Yes, I
can say that I would have won my primaries if they had allowed my
Local Government to vote. In spite of that, I defeated about three
sitting commissioners. I came second during the primaries, so, it was
a wonderful experience for me. I don’t have any regrets, but going
into politics taught me a lot of things. That’s why I said earlier
that it would take God Almighty to reposition Nigeria.
Did you go into politics because
music at the time wasn’t as challenging as it used to be?
Yes, it wasn’t and I said it loud and
clear. Music wasn’t challenging any more, in terms of the drive,
the motivation and the passion. Those days, you hear someone’s
songs and you want to become a better singer. It wasn’t like that
any more. People dance to the beats. We listen to music because we
want to learn something, not because one wants to dance to the
rhythm. That’s my school of thought. So, music wasn’t challenging
to me at the time I went into politics. When I was coming up, it was
challenging then.
What’s your greatest hit that each
time you listen to it, you feel like remixing the song?
It’s the song I titled, “Any Time.”
It talks about my life and experiences. While I was growing up, the
things I experienced in my life; how I scaled through the hurdles of
becoming a man. I am planning to do a remix of the song with Youssou
N’Dour. There’s a statement credited to you that you wished all
your children came from the same mother. Are you regretting your
marital life? There are so many things anybody can wish himself in
life. I can wish to be the governor of Lagos State. Need is different
from want.
But does it mean that you have not
been lucky, in terms of marriage?
I am very lucky and I am happy with
what I have. Being married does not mean that you are going to be
happy, unless we want to deceive ourselves. Supposing your ex -wife,
Toni comes back to you, will you give her another chance? She’s
with me and we are both happy. She’s living her life while I’m
living my own life. Happiness is the most important thing. Don’t
let your family push you into doing anything you don’t like. If you
want to stay in marriage, all well and good. But if you think not
getting married gives your happiness, don’t marry. It is not by
force that one must marry. God is not going to punish anybody who
refused to get married.
So, how do you run your home?
How I run my home is different from how
you run your own home. I might not be the one running the home. It
might be the mothers of my kids who are running the home in my
absence and they are doing it perfectly well. And the glory will come
to me. When it comes to marital issues, it is a game of luck. Nobody
can come and tell me that I’m perfect that’s why I’m married.
We all know how it’s being done. People have issues in marriage
everyday. What I want in my life is happiness and I’m having it
now. And I’m loving it. Marriage or no marriage, I am happy and I
have my children. That’s the important thing to me. Another source
of my happiness is my focus on my music. If you are happy, you can
make the next person around you happy. What I want in life is
happiness, whether I get in marriage or out of marriage, is
irrelevant to me.
At what point did you start enjoying
the reward of your sweat?
At the moment, I released “Gongo
Aso”as a single, not as an album. When I released my first album
there were many singles that were making it. But I can’t genuinely
say I have arrived. But when I released “Gongo Aso”, as a single,
it announced me. After which I released album after album.
-Vanguard
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