Marriage or no marriage, I am with my children — 9ice

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

BBNaija: I want Debbie-Rise to win N25 million prize — Gifty Powers

Evicted Big Brother Naija housemate, Gifty Powers has a lot of things that worked against her which spurned her chances of winning the N25 million prize. Apart from the controversy generated by her claim not to know RnB singer, Banky W and Falz as well as her fake accent, the fair-complexioned beauty also believed that over-playing her game was part of the reasons she was kicked out of the competition. She shares her story with Star Tracker.

How was your short stay in the Big Brother Naija house!

It was quite interesting and at the same time, surprising. It was also amazing and funny.

Did you say surprising? In what way?

Seriously, I was expecting some crazy stuff in the house. When it comes to Nigerians, they try to comport themselves. That’s why I said, it was quite surprising. I wasn’t actually expecting such thing.

Were you surprised too that you didn’t go far in the competition?

I wasn’t surprised because I knew that so many surprising things are going to come up in the house. So, I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t go far in the competition.

And you were not surprised either when you were evicted from the competition?

When it happened, the first word I uttered was ‘wow’. I started noticing some actions around me and I said to myself, it’s just a game.

But you were tempted to blame your eviction on your controversial statement that you don’t know Bank W and Falz ?

I think Nigerians voted me out because of my fake accent as well as the Banky W and Falz controversy. That’s the reasons I was kicked out of the competition.

You talk of fake accent, how?

My strategy while in the BBNaija house was to be controversial and hilarious. So, I tried to fake both English, Iranian and Ghanaian accents just to make the house lively. I was being funny. But it didn’t pay off ? I think I over-played my game in the house. It wasn’t what I expected. But we are humans, and we are bound to make mistakes.

So, you are owing up to your mistakes?

Yes, I accept the responsibility for my mistakes. I know that I messed up big time. I’m not perfect and I can’t say that I did perfectly well in the house. Although I tried my best, I think I over-played the game.

What’s the next thing for you after BBN?

Achieving great things in life, setting up a foundation to impact on the lives of the less privileged people. BBN is a very big platform that everybody wishes to have. I’m hoping to set up my own clothing and shoe line. I also want to start my TV talk show.

How would you describe your first two weeks in the BBN house?

It was quite exciting, I had fun. It got to a point that I forgot there was anything like the outside world. I got used to everybody in the house, the cameras, the plasma TV set, to the extent that I had to get naked because I thought I was in my mother’s house. I never for once thought I was in the Big Brother house. I had this mindset that yes, it’s my house; I can do whatever I want to do.

Was falling in love with a housemate part of the game?

To be honest, I don’t think I fell in love with anybody. I was playing my game because everyone in that house actually had their own strategies. And mine was to be controversial and hilarious; To make the guys fall in love with me, to be jovial, playful and smart. I didn’t fall in love at all.

But you were close to a guy in the house?

I would use the word ‘attracted to a guy.’ I was attracted to John, the fake housemate. Viewers had this mindset that I was attracted to Soma, but it wasn’t true. I was playing my game, but one guy I was attracted to, while I was in the house was John.

Why were you attracted to him?

I never knew he was a fake housemate. He has this appearance of calm and reserved young man. He was so quiet, intellectual, smart and cool. I was moving close to him because he had this crazy ways that I was trying to add to my own plan.

While you were in the BBN house, a guy uploaded your wedding pictures on the Internet?

Actually, I wouldn’t want to talk about that now. But very soon, I’m going to tell my story. The world will hear what is behind the story. There is time for everything. Human beings are bound to make mistakes. We are not perfect and who are you to judge. I promise you, very soon, Nigerians will know the truth behind the story.

Were you into acting before you entered the Big Brother Naija house?

Yes, I was into acting before I entered the Big Brother Naija house, and I’m still in Nollywood. My dream is to star in Hollywood. I featured in such movies as “Virgin Princess”, produced by PJ Movies, “ Egg of Vulture” produced by Ikechukwu Elijah, “Girls of Honour” , produced by Uche Nancy among others.

What actually inspired your decision to go into the Big Brother Naija house?

I have always dreamed of going into the Big Brother house before now. So, when I heard about the audition, I said to myself this is a great opportunity to hit the limelight. I went for the audition and that was it.

When you were called out of the house, what was passing through you mind?

The first thought that came into my mind was that I was going to miss everybody. And the second thought was that it’s just a game. I knew right from the outset that BBN was just a game. There is nothing emotional about it even if you are evicted from the house, life goes on. I felt somewhat down for few seconds, and thereafter, I picked up courage.

Who are you tipping to win the star prize of N25 million?

Debbie-Rise, I love her. She’s cool, smart and intelligent. She’s worth more than N25 million prize. Although I see everybody as winners, but Debbie’s rise is exceptional.

Who is Gifty Powers!

I am a mixed race. My dad is half English and half Arabian, while my mum is half-Liberian and half-Nigerian. I lived all my life in Ghana and I had my education there. Ghana is like my third home apart from my dad’s home country. Currently, I’m based in Lagos.

-Vanguard

LASU has produced many stars for the creative industry — Dr. Ademeso

The department of Theatre Arts and Music is always bustling with music and theatrical performances. It’s unfortunate that the media do not give us adequate attention. For instance, throughout last year we had quite a number of performances such as Eniayan, a dance drama for the 2016 convocation, devised and choreographed by Mrs. Yeside Dosumu-Lawal, a dance lecturer. It attracted a large number of audiences who came from outside the university.

We also staged Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stooped to Conquer, directed by Mr. Shina Ayodele, a design lecturer. We also had A Resin in the Sun, a black American play written by Lorrin Hansbery and directed by myself, Bola Ademeso. We also did The Sisters by Hammed Yerima, also directed by me. Besides these plays, we had performance workshops by students.