One
of Nigeria’s prolific singers, Omawumi is no doubt doing well in her
chosen career and doing Nigeria proud. Not relenting on her oars after
the great success recorded by her last single, Bottom Belle, the singer
spoke exclusively to Seun Apara few days back concerning
her oncoming new single that will dropping before the end this month,
her performance at the CAF event and meanings of Kokoma & Bottom
Belle that has caused heated arguments in different quarters.
Excerpts
What should be our expectations regarding the new single you are about to drop?
I
have always been very unpredictable. I at all times put out what
marvels the people. The way to do it with our music industry is that
when you release a single, you release another single that sounds like
the first one, so that the leverage that you have from the first one
will carry on, but that's not my style. My style is to make good music
because I am a music lover. Anytime I enter the studio, I deliver
anything that comes to my head as long as it is good music. That's how I
have always being. Now that people have heard 'bottom belle', don't
expect to hear another highlife song because before 'Bottom Belle', you
heard a 70's classic song called 'If You Ask Me'. So if you are
expecting to hear something like Bottom Belle, I'm sorry because it is
something totally different.
What do you intend to achieve with the new single?
Well,
my new track called 'Stay Alive’ (Jeje Laye) is still a build up to my
second album, but what I hope to achieve from it is the gospel of the
music, what I am saying in the song. What I am saying in the song is you
need to just relax and take things easy because some people don't.
Every day, you see people trying to acquire wealth or get to a level
where they can forget their troubles. But the thing about it is that you
just need to slow down a little. As long as you have the basic
requirements of the three square meals, try to stay alive and be
concerned about your well being before you concentrate on acquiring
wealth.
What is the title of your track?
What could you remember from your recent performance in South-Africa?
It
was a fantastic opportunity and I didn't believe that I will get that
kind of leverage that I got. I performed alongside Mafiki Solo, a very
big band in South Africa. I admire their music and for me to have the
opportunity to perform on stage with them, is a big thing for me. I
remember I used to save 1,500naira to buy their CD because they don't
sell their CDs in the normal market. It was a privilege to me and aside
from that, to be able to perform in the presence of the president of
South Africa, CAF president and other big shots.
What do you think makes your music different from other artistes?
Well,
I think it has to do with God. I can't attribute anything to myself.
Sometimes, I might wake up and tell you this is how I'll do my music to
come out good, but I realize it doesn't have anything to do with me. It
is just the hand of God in my life because I am not the best vocalist in
the world nor in my country but when I come out and I sing, there is a
kind of respect and acknowledgement that I get. My music is relatable,
it has nothing to do with me, it’s just the hand of God.
Basically, when are you releasing the album?
I
was tempted too by my manager, Mr. Sundeay Are. He was troubling me
that I must release an album, but the thing about it is that I feel my
fans and listeners deserves a lot more. It is not that he doesn't want
the best for me, he does, but I need to be able to bring out something
fantastic. All I am begging for is a little time, my album is almost
ready. Now it might get to the stage where all the songs in my album are
going to come out free of charge, but I just need time to be able to
pass the message I need to pass across because they are only like a few
channel for people to get my messages or get inspiration. In Nigeria
these days, not many people talk about what really happens in real life,
now I have the opportunity to do that. So, I need a little bit of time
because there is a message I am passing across.
Your videos come with different interpretations, what should we expect from this new one?
I can tell you that it's going to be different. It is just a total interpretation of who I am.
Basically, the word ‘Kokoma’, what does it mean?
I
came back from America with my daughter when she was about two and half
months or three months. My mum was with me for about four months to
take care of the baby. When my mum was with me, I used to sing
'Omawumi's baby, Grandma Warri's baby, Grandma Lekki's baby', and so on.
Kokoma is like a drum beat or dance style of highlife that could be
related to Ghanaian highlife in the 60's or 70's. When my mum cooks,
that's what they sing- 'kokoma, I stand by, Adebisi Konga'. Adebisi
konga is the name of a guy that used to play drums, his name was
Adebisi, but we call him 'Adebisi Konga'. Then before I released the
song, my mum used to sing the song. When the producer of 'Bottom Belle'
called me that he's taking the song to Flavour and that he needs me to
come out with something different because Flavour will surely bring in
his own style. We did it and the song became a hit. Now, a lot of people
enjoy the music, from six months to 10 years old. That's satisfaction
to me.
What is 'Bottom Belle' itself?
Bottom
Belle! I get tired of answering that question because everybody has the
idea that it might be the bottom of the belle. The song was originally
done by Victor Olaiya. I got ideas from him and a couple of other
artistes. Basically, I wrote it in my concept because it was released in
the 60's, 70's and then bell bottoms were in vogue. A woman will tell
me buy me bottom belle, give me bottom belle to cool my heart. Then the
in-thing was bell bottom trouser. So when they tell you give me bottom
belle or buy me bottom belle, it means buy me bell bottom trouser, so
that I will feel among and be happy. Bottom Belle in my own concept
means going the extra mile to make your woman happy.
