Interview: FUJI Music in focus

Sule Alao Malaika pour out his mind on the Fuji Scene in an unconventional interview with Ayanda Abeke. This interview was conducted sometime in December last year(2008).

THE INTERVIEW


AYANDA ABEKE: What is it about king or no king issue. I mean in the FUJI circle.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: There is nothing there my brother.

AYANDA ABEKE: Please let me know your opinion about this issue.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: Which issue?

AYANDA ABEKE: Working on the aesthetics of FUJI Music, I recently listened to one of your live-shows and I heard you talking about the Osupa as new King of Fuji. Really, it’s not that I am against your view as you disproved him, is just that I'm much concerned about the essence of FUJI Music and what it has turned to. If for anything, you are one of those few FUJI musicians I respect a lot. The New Oba of FUJI and the recent issue between you and OSUPA could you please throw more light on these two.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: There is nothing between Osupa and me. If you read my note on FaceBook, you’ll see that I was not involved in the issue at all. Concerning the issue of Oba, I was chosen by a group of people as the KING OF NEW GENERATION since 2004 and was coronated in front of people by government officials and not by any musician. Neither was there any controversy since then. So I cannot really say much about those who begged to be made kings.

AYANDA ABEKE: Begged? You know that it was Mr. FUJI himself who made OSUPA the king of FUJI and I don't think his reign has generational barrier.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: He made him KING OF MUSIC NOT KING OF FUJI and the same Barrister came back again to say he has withdrawn from his earlier pronouncement. It was not even up to six months.

AYANDA ABEKE: WOW! This is funny really. But I watched the video of that event.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: So you can see that it is really funny. Is Barrister saying that Osupa is king over Lagbaja, KSA, Oliver de Coque and even Barrister himself?

AYANDA ABEKE: That can't be. I think he meant KING OF FUJI and not KING OF MUSIC.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: So is it justified and does it make sense? Even Osupa himself said KING OF MUSIC.

AYANDA ABEKE: Well, I can't really judge that because, the fuji fans don't really know the cabalism going on in the industry. Well, That's rather a mistake on Mr. FUJI's part.

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: Nothing like cabalism.

AYANDA ABEKE: Are you sure?

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: I mean no cabal in the industry, just some people who wanted undue and unnecessary noise for themselves.

AYANDA ABEKE: Now, when you say you're the king of New Generation Fuji Musicians, you mean OSUPA, PASUMA, Muri Tunder and some others that I can't remember their names now, are members of that generation? I need to know your view about this...

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: I did not say, people choose me as king and they considered various things before making me King. Osupa says he can sing very well, Pasuma says he can entertain. I am not boasting but I can SING VERY WELL, ENTERTAIN, DANCE, PLAY THE DRUMS etc. In a class, is it possible for the overall best student to be the one that only knows ENGLISH or MATHS? But he would be good, if not the best in almost all subjects.

AYANDA ABEKE: That's a good respond

SULE ALAO MALAIKA: Thanks

AYANDA ABEKE: I must confess you're very intelligent But I will be asking you more questions when next we get locked on the net, particularly on FACEBOOK. Cheers.

Anticipating Onyeka Nwelue’s The Abyssinian Boy...

DADA Books, an imprint of Dream Arts and Design Agency, have signed a book deal with 20 year-old University of Nigeria sophomore, Onyeka Nwelue, to publish his novel, The Abyssinian Boy by December 2008.

Onyeka Nwelue was born in Nigeria in 1988. After graduating from High School at 17, he travelled to South Asia, particularly to India, where he wrote the first draft of his novel in three months. He has been published in the Guardian, The Sun, Eclectica, Nigeria Village Square, Kafla InterContinental and Wild Goose Poetry Review. He has received a grant from the Institute for Research on African Women, Children and Culture (IRAWCC) and is currently working on his second novel.

Set in India and Nigeria (and scattered locations of the world), The Abyssinian Boy is about a family whose nine year-old child gets haunted by an albino dwarf ghost.

Ayodele Arigbabu, publisher of DADA Books, refusing to comment on the terms of the deal, rather said: ‘The Abyssinian Boy lays bare the many paradoxes of culture clash with thought provoking and often amusing ironies’. Chika Unigwe, Nigerian-Belgian author of The Phoenix describes it as ‘an ambitious novel’.



DADA Books was established earlier this year and has already published performance poet- Jumoke Verissimo’s first poetry collection: I am Memory which is currently being promoted through a series of readings and performances around Nigeria.

If the progress made by I am Memory is any indicator of what to expect from the publishers of The Abyssinian Boy (which is fast becoming the most anticipated novel in India and Nigeria), then Onyeka Nwelue is off to a good start. Sources close to the author have suggested that he may have been paid a hefty advance by the publishers.

For enquiries, contact: DADA Books, 1st Floor, 95 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos; Tel: +234-01-7451990. E.mail: dreamarts.designage ncy@gmail. com

LIVE in ABUJA: Toni Kan Reads at SALAMADER CAFE

Salamander Café, Abuja

Tuesday 9th December, 5pm for 5.30pm start

Nights of the Creaking Bed is a collection of tales that speak to the heart of our existence as human beings navigating the profoundly difficult terrain that we call life in Nigeria. This collection, which has been described by writer and literary critic, Molara Wood, as “a cohesive and stylish collection, with atmospheric scenes and noir elements,” explores themes as quotidian and disturbing as corruption, religious intolerance, gratuitous violence, ritual killing, gnawing poverty, unrequited love and even incest.

The characters that inhabit Nights of The Creaking Bed are colourful, real and conflicted, while the stories read like they have been torn off the pages of our lives as well as those of our friends, family and neighbours. Of Kan’s female characters, Molara Wood notes: ‘His women characters dare to be different. Without apologies, they rebel against the constricting box of conformity. They are familiar women, unclothed.’

This is a hauntingly beautiful collection and the images are so evocative that they will stick in the mind long after you have closed the book.

Meet the author, buy your signed copies, listen to fresh musical talent from Jos...


About the Author
Toni Kan is an award winning poet, essayist and prose stylist. Toni has previously published two critically acclaimed books: When a Dream Lingers Too Long, a collection of poems which received Honourable Mention at the ANA-Cadbury Poetry Prize in 2003 and a novella, Ballad of Rage, which was shortlisted for the maiden NLNG award in 2004 and also received honourable mention at the ANA/Spectrum Prose Prize of the same year. His works have appeared in Salthill, Drum Voices, Revue, Farafina, Sentinel Poetry Quarterly and ANA Review.

Salamander Café,
Nr Mama Cass
Wuse 2
Abuja

RSVP (only 50 seats available):
Folake: 0805 631 4593,0702 785 0936 or email: folake@cassavarepublic.biz

Farafina Magazine's Event

Farafina Magazine invites you to join us for our premiere Visual Arts & Literature event holding at Bambuddha Restaurant on the 13th of December, 2008 at 2 pm.

There will be a photography exhibition by Adolphus Opara, a film screening (selected clips from Molara Wood's interview with acclaimed writer, Ben Okri), spoken word performances, and readings by Nnedi Okorafor and Eghosa Imasuen.

Some new information... Timi Dakolo, winner of the inaugural Idols West Africa, will also be at the event.He will be performing.

Time and Place

Date: 13 December 2008
Time: 14:00 - 18:00
Location: Bambudhha Restaurant Street:
1310, Karimu Ikotun, Victoria Island

Contact Info

Phone: 017406741
Email: imfo@farafinamagazine.com

For more information, visit: http://thefarafinist.blogspot.com

WRITERS ANONYMOUS

The African Artist's Foundation will host its second rendezvous for writers from all backgrounds and all persuasions called: Writers Anonymous- a workshop (more of a salon for writers really) that offers mutual support to writers to help them come to terms with the pains and gains of their literary vocation.

Writers Anonymous is a forum designed to foster an anonymous ambiance where mutual sharing and learning constitute the main drivers of creative exchange, with (a) guest writer(s) (who remain anonymous -beyond a couple of hints- till the set date) in attendance to share experiences with others on the path travelled while building their craft and careers as writers.

Writers Anonymous will create an environment for the sharing of creative writing tips and of course, of great poetry and prose excerpts between writers of different levels of competence and lovers of literature in general.

The SECOND EDITION of WRITERS ANONYMOUS will hold on Saturday the 6th of December 2008 from 3pm-7pm at the African Artists' Foundation terrace, 54 Raymond Njoku Street S/W Ikoyi, Lagos. Drinks and small chops will be in decent supply so bring a friend along.


RSVP: ayo.a@africanartists.org, +234 803 300 0499