We meet at Bogobiri House. Seated with another artiste, Dapo, Babafemi Samuel Akinkugbe (BabaFemi) walks in, clad in a simple attire, wearing his shade. He’s a bit sweaty, as he is just walking in from the Lagos sun, which permeates all his body. He sits there, after exchanging greetings with us.
His EP, The Silicon Ballad has just been released globally. He’s still struggling to get people to buy it, to listen to his music and appreciate his hardwork. It’s not that easy; but he’s very hopeful something unimaginable might just happen to his blistering career which is yet to bloom.
He hails from Ondo town in Ondo State. He is from a family of 4. His father is late. He studied Economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University and swears that music, is his life.
In this interview, we talk about his music and everything else that matters.
When did you start doing music?
I started music back in 2004 with a group of friends creating a group called AFC. It was a Christian group at that time. We performed live but never made it into the studio as we dispersed to get university education. Then in 2008 I met a friend at a freestyle gathering on campus and forged a musical friendship that led to the birth of Dorble F in 2009. Together we recorded over 6 songs. The song Street A’int Smiling produced by Sossick in 2011. We went on to become the best artistes in the whole school by popular demand. This culminated to our winning of the Artiste of the Year in 2012. Due to creative differences we had to split and I pursued my career as a solo artiste for the first time with Dee-pitch records and most recently with La Cave Musik in France.
What motivates you?
Motivation for me mainly comes from my everyday life, my dreams, the things I see that I feel should be in words. I get driven by success or failures of people around me. Success is far more endearing and can never be enough while failure isn’t. I just use these two elements as factors that drive me in any field I find myself.
Can you tell us what kind of things you did before venturing into music?
Most of what I was doing before music I still do, one of which is my writing. This is one habit or hobby as you may choose I have endeared myself to. So yes I used to write and I still do.
What kind of historical context of your country influenced what you are doing today?
Music in Nigeria has been a major force in Africa as well as the world from way back. I mean the likes of King Sunny Ade and Fela Anikulapo Kuti cannot be exempted when the talk of history of music comes about. My late father played all the major hits of his days and they were music I identified with growing up so it became unavoidable when I started to develop my various talents and music stood out.
Who do you admire? Is there someone who influences you so much?
I try not to get influenced by people but by the works of their hand, so I actually find myself falling in love with a lot of music sounds and artistes irrespective of genre. I really love Usher’s sense of style as well and his music too, undoubtedly amongst the greats. Orlando Owoh from Nigeria is a really different kind of musician, in those days growing up, his songs were used as talking points in discussions. I think he was one of those musicians that inspired wisdom, King Sunny Ade as well held ladies spell bound by his sensually inspired lyrics as his performances were captivating, Fela kuti was one man I feared and respected from a distance, there was something about him that exuded confidence and his direct, daring style of music is definitely one to admire. Other artistes I do admire are Tuface Idibia, Movado, Etta james, Ub40, Nas, James Brown, Nickelback and so many others.
Did you receive some kind of economic support for your music?
Yes I do, though it’s been a dog and cat mission in terms of economic support. It’s only normal that when you sow you reap and there’s a time in-between those so I still see myself as in my sowing period but definitely going to reap very very soon.
What lessons have you acquired to help grow your art?
One major lesson I have learned is to believe in one’s self and never believe another man can do something for you as well as you would do it yourself. I have faced a lot of challenges that should have thrown me off the wagon, but I remained steadfast and kept it moving. Through it all these challenges has added to my major source of inspiration.
What kind of support have you gotten so far from young people in Nigeria towards your music?
I am still a young man so I would say my peers have been really receptive of me and my music. I interact a lot with my fans on Facebook and Twitter, we talk a lot so I tend to gather experiences from their own tales and use as motivation for my music. Directly or indirectly they have been great towards support and love for my music.
In your own assessment, would you say the music industry in Nigeria is booming?
The Nigerian music industry is where it should be, we are still growing so many of the negatives will be turned to positives I hope. With all the new ideas coming in from different knowledgeable people and the rate of endorsements and shows every other season, yes it is booming o, it gives up and coming artistes motivation to want to be better than their peers.
In layman’s language, what exactly does music mean to you?
Music to me is pure joy, it is just spiritual.
What are your plans in the foreseeable future?
Well, my 8 tracker EP The Silicon Ballad is on iTunes and Amazon which came out on the 15th of Dec 2013, so am still setting up to promote some songs from the EP as well as recording new materials. I see myself releasing a couple of albums and having major and massive collaborations soon, maybe even get nominated and win major awards. I also would like to be a published author even if it’s just one book. All these are what I see myself doing in the foreseeable future.
Let’s talk about you as a person. What kind of person are you?
I am an extrovert, so am usually a live wire when I am around people since I am not a shy person. I love being around kids, it’s pure joy for me, I am a sensitive person and I hold people to their words which is surprisingly a bad habit to some people. I try to multitask which doesn’t really work for me. Above all I am a spiritual person and my love for music is one thing I just cannot explain.
What kind of legacy would you like to leave in Nigeria?
A legacy of someone who did all he could to succeed and did not compromise, someone who made his art as his life.
So far, what is your biggest success or goal you have reached in your career?
I haven’t achieved anything I would say as a biggest success or goal in my career yet but I have achieved a major goal of having my songs on iTunes and Amazon. The day my EP The Silicon Ballad was confirmed on iTunes and Amazon I jumped for joy because this was me BabaFemi just trying to break into the industry and I already have my music on iTunes and Amazon even before many of the Nigerian artistes around now. It has been a goal set and achieved so far and am really grateful to La Cave Musik and Jungle Global for making that a reality.
