Legendary Juju artist, Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has urged Nigerian musicians to see themselves as contributors to the growth of the music industry rather than competitors.
Obey said this during a press conference held on Tuesday at National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, organized by Evergreen musical company ahead of its ‘Ariya Eko’ musical festival, slated for 15 December at Lagos City Hall, Lagos Island.
Obey who is going to be the star performer at the concert, spoke about past challenges, saying that musicians who related as competitors created an unhealthy rivalry, which was not good for their career.
“I have said and I’m saying it again, musicians must not see themselves as competitors,” he said.
“Musicians must appreciate one another because God has given us a gift and the talent He has given us can never be the same no matter what. Even if we play the same kind of music and the same name of music, it can never be the same.”
”For instance, my son Tolu Obey, is playing Juju music, my grandson today is playing Juju music, yet they play like me but they do not play exactly like me. So, we must not see ourselves as competitors but as contributors. We are using our gifts and our talents to make people happy,” he added.
Narrating his experience with his music counterpart, King Sunny Ade, Obey said the competition which was projected by fans and media almost turned music into politics.
He said, “Obey this Sunny that”, but we always made sure we neutralized all that. So, in one word, musicians should not see themselves as competitors but as contributors.”
Obey also commended the organisers — the Evergreen musical company and the Lagos State government for promoting indigenous music, like Juju, Fuji, Afro-beat, Apala and all to the nation, Africa and to the world.
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“Ariya Eko is to bring back the memories. To remember what Lagos stands for. Lagos is the home for everybody because of the hospitality. I was listening to a program as we were coming here about the late former Governor Mobolaji Johnson, a lot was said about him and it made me remember that we are coming for Ariya Eko.”
“Every good thing started in Lagos and Ariya Eko started a long time from those we called the Fathers of music, the likes of Tunde King, Ayinde Bakare, and others before we came to contribute our quota to the development of Juju music. We had the likes of Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Arinze, Babyface and all of them, it’s this Lagos. Yes, we have other places that have contributed to the development of the indigenous music, in the south, west, east and the north but Lagos is where everything started.”
“So this Ariya Eko is a good thing to take us down memory lane, that’s why I thank the Evergreen musical company for choosing this year as the beginning, it has brought the musicians together as one family, this year is for all of us, anyone that has anything to do with music.”
” I really appreciate Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for believing in artists and upholding the annual festival,” he said.
Earlier, former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN and ace flutist, Tee Mac Omatsola Iseli, who would also be performing, promised to entertain revellers with some of his compositions.
He advised upcoming musicians to acquire more education to be successful in their profession. According to him, music is a skill that must be learned.
Iseli advised renowned musicians to constantly work on improving the quality of their music and guide against imitating others.
“We must all work to be professionals; the young generation of musicians should take time to learn from us. There is no short cut to doing good music,” he said.
The musical concert will feature renowned and upcoming musicians, like Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Tee Mac, Jimi Solanke, Ara, Oseni Ejire, Obesere among others. The organiser will also induct Ebenezer Obey into the Evergreen Musical Hall of Fame at the event. This is for his contributions to the music industry for decades.
