29 Jul 2008 |
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Celebrated Nigerian actor and musician Professor Bob Ejike came to Uganda two years ago and set up five multifaceted recording studios. Ugandan TV journalist Charles Bromel Lwanga spoke to him on his way to Europe, at Entebbe airport. In this no holds bared interview, Bob Ejike tells all, as never before about his pioneering role in the Nigerian film and music revolution (Nollywood), and his efforts to promote the African artistic renaissance in Europe and East Africa. Ejike charges and recharges about Nigerian music, motion picture, modeling, his acting, teaching, columns, books, TV programme, critics, and his sojourns in Europe and East Africa, the ups and downs of his life as a determined artiste fighting against all the odds, his future in the African music scene, and his headlining new album BOB Ejike RECHARGED. Lwanga: Prof. Bob Ejike, how does it feel being the biggest West African act in East Africa? Ejike: Thanks Charlie, you were the very first presenter that invited me to a TV program in East African, on Record TV and showcased my art. May the good lord protect you and bless you, as you achieve your goals in your chosen profession. I also take this opportunity to thank the other Ugandan TV producers, presenters, radio and club deejays, video jockeys, journalists, and fans who have made an African brother experience magic. I give my respects particularly to the highly gifted Honourable General Elly Tumwine, Bobi Wine, Jose Chameleon, Messach Semakula, Muesi Stracker, Faridah, Cindy of Blu 3, and all the other great artistes, who welcomed me to Uganda and have made my stay and artistic initiative here worthwhile. I thank my producers Shedrach Musoke, Dennis Williams Katongole, David Senyonga, Godfrey Luduulwa, Nelson Brown and Chris Okoro. My co-singers Miss Keyisha Harris Nkalubo, Maggie Nakayima, and Cindy Best, my rapper, Mr. Ivan Styles and all the very beautiful Ugandan men and women who appear in my videos. God bless you all. Now to your question, it feels ecstatic, especially after thirty years of going to hell and back, but I'm trying not to let it go to my head. Lwanga: Who does Bob Ejike think he is? Ejike: An artist, a singer, a songwriter, an actor, a pioneer Nollywood actor, a writer, a novelist, an art critic and promoter, columnist, entertainment writer, and biographer, a model, a TV presenter and personality, a product advertiser and endorser, a voice-over artist and radio dramatist, a teacher, a university lecturer, an associate professor of Letters, a translator, an accomplished language consultant for embassies, an ambassador of the art, Nollywood international promoter, a film producer, director and editor. Lwanga: Some people would find your profile intimidating. Ejike: They shouldn't, all these professions I named come under one umbrella, the art. I never passed mathematics and hardly ever did well in the sciences in school, so I was thought to be a dull student. Even though I was visibly talented in the arts, I grew up as a dunce, because being bright meant being good in mathematics and the sciences. That was a heavy load for a young man who knew he wasn't stupid, to bear. Because art was the only thing I was good at, I put the whole of my life into it, to distinguish in it was the only option. Lwanga: Your critics find you too self confident, and see your knack for replying them as arrogant. Ejike: I welcome criticism because that's the only way an artiste can grow, flattering tongues can only keep an artiste down. In fact, I love constructive critics. Those who point out faults in my work and suggest alternative solutions are my best friends. However, Charlie, you should also know that not all critics are well intentioned and progressive. I am not your everyday artiste. I am an intellectual and a trained art critic, so if you criticize my work unjustly, harshly, rudely, and destructively, with intent of impugning the creator, you have invited me to a discussion, therefore you can't expect me to be silent and not defend my output. You must be ready for my response and shouldn't take offense at my defense even if it is vociferous. Some abusive and destructive critics whose perhaps wives have refused to yield in the matrimonial bed, take up their frustrations with artistes, trying to run them down, refusing to see anything good in their works. Oscar Wilde said that an artiste is a maker of beautiful things and that it is the corrupt mind that sees ugliness in beautiful things. If you are, as Wole Soyinka would put it, a Bolekaja critic, who would rather throw insults at an artiste than appraise his work, I won't hesitate to show you where to go, because I know abusers are not worthy critics and don't contribute to growth. Now that's not arrogance. Lwanga: What have your Probe Studios done since setting up in Kampala? Ejike: We've worked in international film, with the Taviani Brothers of Italy, we did local casting and logistics for two of their latest films. We've part-sponsored and recorded dozens of Ugandan artistes, and been involved in talent hunt, my six producers have kept busy recording and refining the music and videos of Bob Ejike, and finally we've got materials that are going international. Lwanga: In your two years of living here you have given only two press interviews, isn't that unusual for an artist who has been criticized for talking too much, too often? Ejike: I was hired and paid by two newspapers, The Sun and The Post Express to critically analyze the Nigerian artistic development, with special emphasis on Nollywood, so I wrote sincere weekly critiques, that is what the so-called critics refer to as talking too much, too often. I was a lecturer in Rome and as you know teachers have much time and often zeal, I could intervene in public lectures and Internet debates and contribute to newspapers and magazines around the world. Here in Uganda, I am running Prof. Bob Ejike Foundation For Performing Arts, (Probe), an NGO, which involves administering five audio-visual studios and still having time to run Bob Ejike the artiste. On the other hand I have been a guest on several radio and TV programmes here, and as you know Kampala alone has over 60 fm stations, there are also hundreds of night clubs and discothèques in the city that one is obliged to visit regularly as is the tradition with recording artistes here. Lwanga: Several songs from your album Bob Ejike Recharged have hit the top ten here in East Africa, notably Higher, Nambi, Iyawo Mi, Gimmi Gimmi more recently Armed Robbers and Mama. This is phenomenal, especially since they all come from one album, so that's a record. What's the secret? Ejike: I gave time, spent two years in my studios, instead of two weeks in someone else's studio, I compose music for 50 live instruments instead of one computer and a drum machine, and I use six producers instead of one, and the best instrumentalists in East Africa, including some of the finest guitarists from Congo, collabs were done with carefully chosen singers, not just based on fame. Lwanga : That reminds me, your video Mama has become a favorite on TV. You featured little known Ugandan artiste Keisha Harris Nkalubo. Why the choice? Ejike: Kiesha Harris Nkalubo was one of the winners of the Record TV Super Girl singing contest which was part-sponsored by Probe Foundation. The young woman has a voice of gold crying to be discovered. It is only fair to give her a break. Presently, I have worked with over 50 Ugandan artistes. Lwanga: Have you quit acting, seeing the state of the movie industry here? Ejike: There's a lot to be done and learnt from the Ugandan theatre. In Nigeria we hardly have a theatre tradition. To answer your question, some time ago when I visited Lagbaja, (the masked Nigerian musician) in his Motherland club, to interview him for The Sun newspaper, he told me that I was a highly talented personage, but that I would never grip a turf in any of the genres of the art if I did not leave the others and concentrate on one. I decided to take his advice, I decided to concentrate on music. Lwanga: I observed that your website www.nigerianartes.com is back in the Internet, why? Ejike: There are so many things happening in my career presently, so there suddenly became a need for meeting point between me and the fans and promoters wishing to engage my services, a forum for publishing my articles, views, and artistic programs, the performance program of my band, The Probe Foundation, the lyrics of my songs, new album releases, new videos, photos, info. Downloads from www.nigerianartes.com are entirely free. Lwanga: Why did you choose the caption nigerianartes instead of bobEjike.com? Ejike: The idea behind nigerianartes.com was not to promote Bob Ejike alone, but to promote all Nigerian, and indeed African artistes who may not be able to afford their own websites, so articles and profiles are invited from all Nigerian and African artistes, or any artiste from anywhere for that matter, who needs exposure. Lwanga: How does it feel to be on Channel O and the prestigious East African TV? Ejike: It feels whao!! But I had it coming, I sat down in Probe Studios for two years and recorded 40 songs and videos and I am still recording. It is by no means easy or cheap. Lwanga: What did you do for Nigerian artistes? Ejike: I made initial contracts for P Square. I recommended them to Elvis Wavamuno, who then linked them up to Celtel for sponsorship. One month of massive promotion made them a household name here, before then only a few DSTV watchers knew them here. P Square has performed here twice since then. I met their manager, not a single word of thanks, he imagines that its their fame that brought them to Uganda (laughs). No hard feelings though. The floodgate is open, and we are having 2Face Idibia, Idris Abdulkareem, Aki and Pawpaw, Danfo Drivers, and many more, and we also have fake Danfo Drivers who came in rabble-roused and made a little money and ran off as soon as the cat was out of the bag (laughs) Lwanga: So where are you really based now, Prof? Ejikew: I share my time equally between Italy, Nigeria and Uganda. I have homes in the three countries. Lwanga: And jeeps, dogs and bodyguards, like you have here? Ejike: It isn't easy to triplicate comfort levels, but I am trying. Lwanga. Your recent video Higher is enjoying unprecedented airplay here and has become quite popular in the continent, is it because of the presence of Aki and Pawpaw, (the Nigerian petit comedians) in the video? Ejike: I supposed that must have helped viewers to see that Higher is a very beautiful and contemporary song, advertising Nigerian actors and the achievements of Nollywood. Lwanga: Your song Nambi narrated your love and desire for a Ugandan girl, is it real? Ejike: Sure, all my songs are based on real life, Uganda has some of the most beautiful women on the planet. Lwanga: And the press-speculated affair between you and dancer Phina Mugerwa? Ejike: Phina Mugerwa is probably the best dancer in the world, she is more diverse and flexible than Shakira. I shot 3 videos with her, Nambi, Egwu Africa, and Gimmi Gimmi. She is a professional and was always with her manager, so I have not seen her pants, but the last time I saw her I told her. what the press put together, let no one put asunder.(laughs). Lwanga: The Red Pepper, (Ugandan gossip tabloid), wrote that you were severely sighted in Kampala shopping for fast food with a 'sexy babe'. Ejike: I've never been lucky with any Ugandan girl. They must have sighted me with my secretary or my co-singer after a hard day's work.(Laughs). Lwanga: How did you feel when they described you as 'aging Nigerian singer' Ejike: I'm above 40, looking 10 years younger, feeling 20 years younger, and very proud of my age and the experience it has brought. The intense life I've led in the art, I didn't know I would get past 30, so I am thankful to God. I lost many of my friends and colleagues along the way. You must remember that I used to act with poisonous cobras in small rooms, ride in the boots of automobiles, jump into the Lagos Lagoon and do other dangerous stunts. The best thing that can happen to an artiste is to age gracefully, which of us is getting any younger? Lwanga: How do you feel performing live with Aki and Pawpaw? Ejike: In Kampala and Jinja, we pulled more crowd than Akon and UB40 did here, and that is something to be extremely proud of. Lwanga: There were several complaints about the treatment of journalists during the shows, your bodyguards reportedly broke a photographer's camera because he tried to take a photograph of you. Ejike: The shows were particularly rowdy, with over 100,000 people in attendance. No one expected that kind of turnout so no security preparation could have been adequate. In Kampala stadium there was a near stampede with thousands of fans surging forward excitedly, almost uprooting the stage. Security had to act to save dozens of children from being crushed to death. These children were brought on stage, that was the only safe place in the stadium. In this confusion no one can explain what happened to who, but I render my apologies, as it was not the intention of my bodyguards to hurt anybody. Lwanga: Tonight you are billed to perform with Danfo drivers and you are at Entebbe Airport heading to Europe. Ejike: Unfortunately, the Danfo Drivers' concert coincided with my European tour. I'm billed to be in Europe, performing, recording, and shooting videos in Amsterdam and Switzerland. I will also take a long deserved holiday in the Swiss Alps. I can't change it because I had been circumvented with a strict contract. I apologize to my fans, I'll make it up to them when I return. Lwanga: It seems you have abandoned the Nollywood film industry that you helped to found. Ejike: My current role in Nollywood has largely been that of roving ambassador, so while I'm in Europe or East Africa I am promoting the Nigerian artistic revolution. My mission in East Africa is to start an indigenous film renaissance and build a bridge between East and West Africa. Lwanga: Why did you choose Uganda? Ejike: Uganda has the natural scenery, the beauty, the talent, security and peace required to achieve such a feat. Kampala alone has over 500 night clubs and artistes work every night because people can move freely 24 hours a day. Lwanga: Which Ugandan artistes have you worked with? Ejike: The Honourable General Elly Tumwine, I produced the audio and shot the video of his album, Ainunu, Cindy of Blu 3 featured in my song Egwu Africa and Mama. I have worked on concerts with the biggest and the best: Chameolone, Bobi Wine, Juliana, Messach Semakula, Ragga Dee, Ronald Mayinga, Farida, Phina Mugerwa, I am looking forward to working with several others. Lwanga: Is this why you chose to stay in Uganda? Ejike: I wanted a quiet place where there are no racial pressures, where light and water run and there is no noise of generators, no long queues for fuel and time-wasting traffic jams, where there are friendly people, a society that is peaceful and quiet, where I'm anonymous, so I can be creative. Lwanga: But now virtually everyone in Uganda and much of East Africa knows you. Ejike: That's the cross I have to carry, as an artiste you are a gold fish, no hiding place. When I arrived in Uganda people were calling me by name as though I had always lived here with them. Then I realized that they had been watching my movies in Africa Magic and Top TV every too often, and that Nigerian film is the main form of entertainment here. Lwanga: What's the future of your acting career now that you aren't in Nigeria? Ejike: I've been studying cinematography since I came here and I've finally got a grip of the technical aspects of production. You may have noticed that in my new album Recharched, I personally edited most of the videos. Lwanga: Congratulations Prof. Ejike: Thanks, so within the year I will be shooting films off my books. Lwanga: How many books have you written? Ejike: Excluding academic research works, there's The Ambassador, Echoes of Wrath, The Gold Digger, Weapons of Biafra, Nollywood: The Secrets of Nigerian Stars. Lwanga: Do you still write newspaper columns? Ejike: I've been too busy with Probe Foundation, no time to write or surf. I only read in the toilet(laughs). Lwanga: How about your NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) entertainment program Tropical Rhythms, what became of it? Ejike: In Nigeria, the current trend in musical programs is not to use presenters, so they just play videos and when an artiste is being interviewed questions are written on the screen and the artist provides the answers, so Tropical Rhythms has followed suite. Lwanga: You have been severely referred to by the media as an Italian artiste, yet we know you as a Nigerian performer. Ejike. I went to Italy 21 years ago, and was honoured with Italian citizenship. Of course I am of Nigerian origin and therefore a Nigerian. The advantage of dual citizenship is that you can belong to two nations, contribute in both and enjoy all the prospects from the two. Some of the best things that happened to me happened in Italy, in fact, I can't imagine life without Italy. It is safe to call me afro-Italian, but at heart I am Naija flesh and blood. Lwanga: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Ejike: Kick-starting Nollywood, the greatest artistic revolution ever to be initiated and carried out by black people, therefore helping to give the black man and indeed the African a voice and visibility in world media. Lwanga: How did you do that? Ejike: Okpuru Anyanwu, the very first commercial home video film in Nigeria was conceptualized in my sitting room and shot in my village Oba, in Anambara State of Nigeria. Lwanga: Congratulations Prof, but how do you reconcile the fact that many people think that Living in Bondage was the first Nigerian home video? Ejike: Luckily we are still alive, Okpuru Anyanwu had been on sale for three years before Living in Bondage was shot, and Nek Videos which produced Bondage only borrowed from the success of Okpuru Anyawu, you can safely say that Bondage was the first Nigerian English home video, but we made the first film. Today under your watchful eyes, I am taking all the risks and investing all my time and resources in the hope of starting a viable film industry in East Africa. I have opened 5 studios here and some people are sneering at me because of the distance and risk factor, if with God's help we eventually succeed, others coming after us will not only benefit from our sacrifices, which is quite legitimate, but some will also claim the credit, denying us even the moral benefit of recognition. Lwanga: What do you intend to gain from these pioneering efforts? Ejike: Nothing really except to give people a chance, but I'd be gladder if my credit isn't taken by others. Lwanga: What's your second greatest achievement? Ejike: Launching Richard Mofe Damijo and Lillian Bach, two of the greatest Nigerian actors. Lwanga: Your former voice teacher Pastor Chris Okotie is now a presidential candidate in Nigeria and I understand you have written campaign songs and the biography of a presidential hopeful in Nigeria. Lwanga: I wrote a campaign song for former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, because he was doing a fine job and needed to be encouraged, his nephew Rotimi Tinubu was my choreographer, you understand, and I co-authored Dr Orji Uzor Kalu's biography A PRESIDENT IN THE MAKING, because he's a dear friend of mine. Lwanga: Prof Bob Ejike, what's your strongest point as an artist? Ejiek: Song writing, I am one of the finest song writers I know. Lwanga: Which other song writers do you know? Ejike: Fela Kuti, Chris Okotie, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, R Kelly, Bob Marley, Quincy Jones, Norman Whitfield, Jimmy Cliff, Mozart, Beethoven, Michael Jackson, Prince, Seal, Kashif, Akon, Sade, Masekela, Harcourt White, I, Myself and Me (laughs). Lwanga: What's the musical future for Bob Ejike? Ejike: I am already thankfully famous in West Africa and East Africa, now I am advancing towards the rest of the continent and the world scene. Lwanga: Not an easy assignment, would you admit? Ejike: Yeah, but I have the strength, determination, tenacity, discipline and the love of God. Lwanga: Five years ago you shocked the world with your prediction that Nigeria would rule the music world within 10 years. Are you still of the same view? Ejike: Yes. 15 years ago when after careful analysis I declared in my Klieglights column in The Sun newspaper, that Nigerian films will supersede South African movies to rule the continent, some people said I was a joker, that it was because I was acting in Candlelight, the Nigerian soap opera, whose director Zeb Ejiro, had tagged it the biggest soap in Africa. Now you can see what is happening everywhere in the continent, it's Nollywood! Nigeria can still rule the music world within the next 10 years if they listen. First of all, it has to be African music and not the present copy and transmogrification of American rap, which has no root whatsoever within our culture. History shows that music that is not rooted in our culture cannot be sustained here as a durable art form. Of course for instant commercial gains, the present status quo is acceptable, the quality of videos has improved astonishingly, though it promotes American values, not African. For any serious critical consideration, adding a few pidgin English phrases to American music neither makes it African nor original, and no serious mind wants a fake American. It is not yet uhuru for the Nigerian music industry as there are only about six serious marketers handling hundreds of desperate artistes, so that is not yet a revolution. The film marketers need to get into music. The current success enjoyed by Nigerian artistes on the continent is largely due to the success of Nollywood films, so any art that is Nigerian has easy acceptance. Much work still needs to be done in distribution.
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