The Ajegunle music star, who will be having
his recent first major performance in Abuja
at the Tyme Out with Tee-A Live Edition
Concert, in an interview with MERCY
MICHAEL, opened up on sundry issues: His
disappearance from the music scene, career
and his son's, Ramond, music dream. The
Delta State-born act also speaks on the
Delta flood of October 2012.
You've been scarce on the music
scene lately. What brings you here
today?
As you can see, we artistes are gathered
together to deliberate on how we can help the
flood victims in Delta State. Like my place
Isoko in general is affected. I'm from Delta
State. And you see, sometimes we ignore things.
If when things become a problem that's when
we start coming together.
But why I'm happy that we are even coming
together is the fact that beyond talking we are
actually working out modalities on how we can
help these displaced people. We as artistes, we
need to learn how to use our star power to help
the society and that's what we are doing.
What has been happening to you?
I've been going through some things in recent
time but I thank God I've overcome them. Some
people were after my life to kill me. I could not
go on stage to perform because of the fear of
being shot. But I thank God that God has taken
control of that. Who are they and why are they
after your life? It's a long story.
Besides, I'm not a policeman. I can't pinpoint
that this is where it is coming from but
investigation is still ongoing. It all started in
2011 when two persons suspected to be hired
assassins shot at me twice at close range
before escaping on a motorcycle. I was on a
queue to buy fuel at the Mobil petrol station
along Agindigbi Road, Ikeja, when the incident
happened. A guy tapped on the window of my
Range Rover SUV. Thinking he was one of my
fans, I wound down the glass to attend to him.
He told me that I had a flat tyre.
And as soon as I alighted from the car, the
young' man pulled a gun and shot at me twice.
He muttered: "No be you be this Daddy
Showkey? Immediately his first shot missed
me, I quickly grabbed him. As I wrestled him to
the ground with the hope of retrieving the gun,
a second person who was already poised to
escape on his motorcycle released another
bullet, this time he aimed at my head.
Fortunately, he missed the mark; it was
Providence that saved me from the assassins'
bullets.
Sensing that the crowd that had dispersed at
the blast of the first gunshot would rally
support for me, the two guys quickly scampered
away on their motorcycle. Also twice last year,
suspected assassins stormed my Ojodu
residence. The first time they came, they
succeeded in killing a close associate of mine,
but their second attempt was repelled by the
combined efforts of the local vigilante and men
of the Nigeria Police. The matter has since been
reported to the police. So, really for a long
time now, you can see I've not been in
circulation but I had to come out for this
purpose because it touches me a lot to see
people being displaced, stranded and nowhere
to lay their heads.
They are poor people and now they are
homeless. Some of them that have farms, their
farms are gone. Their livelihood is gone. So
that's why we are coming together to see what
we can do and that's why I came out of my
shell.
So, all the while that you were missing on
the music scene, what were you doing?
Business, but it's not something I want to talk
about.
So, musically, what is the next thing for
you?
Just watch and see because right now I cannot
tell you that this is what is coming, but just
watch and see.
Are you working on any album at the
moment?
Yes, right now I'm working on a single, and
immediately I'm done with that an album will
follow.
Your son, Raymond, 15 years, I learnt, is
showing interest in music but that he does
not have your support. Why?
You see, first of all, he should concentrate on
his education because let me tell you even
though you want to became a musician,
education is the first thing.
When I was little, I knew what my mother went
through to get me to concentrate on my
education but I was stubborn; I allowed music
to take me away from education. Although I
succeeded, but education-wise I know how it
has affected me. That is why I made it as a
mandate, if you want to do music, first of all
concentrate on education because music is a
powerful spirit, it might take him away from his
education. Entertainment in general is a
powerful spirit. Like me, I started
entertainment when I was small but I will get
my son not to make my mistake.
That is the reason. Do you think your level
of education is affecting your career?
I can read and write but sometimes I feel that
I should have been in this position or that
position. But one thing that people don't know
also about education is that education is life;
what you experience every day. I'm more
educated than so many people that are
graduates. But what I want for my son to
understand is that there is time for everything.
When I was small, I used to play truancy. I
would run out of school and go and do music.
My mother would come there to beat me.
I don't want my son to go through all those
things. You see music is a gift. I put it to you
that I can decide not to release an album in 10
years, the day I will release one, dem no go tell
una now because it is a gift. I did not learn it.
Entertainment generally is not what you learn
per se; it is a gift. But education is what you
learn. So there is time for everything and
that's what I want my son to know. There is
time to be a child and there is time to grow up
and be a man. And there is time of music and
there's time for education. If I allow him right
now he will lose focus. Right now, he sings in
church; that, I am okay with but I make sure
education is his priority for now and I will
guide him to the maximum.
But your wife has been a great support to
him. Does she see it differently?
Ehnnnn, my wife has been a great support to me
too musically (laughs). She's the mother of the
house; she knows what's good for everyone but
I've told her too that she should give her
support with wisdom because I know what I
want for my son. When the time comes he will
do music. I'm not against his dream of
becoming a musician but for now education
comes first and so he should concentrate
hundred percent on education.
Your genre of music has not been growing.
What are you doing to sustain the brand?
You see music is about style. Sometimes style
changes, so you have to learn to adapt to the
way it's changing. I started music from
comedy, entertaining people in my
neighbourhood. And my song, when I started, I
was trying to differentiate the mainstream
reggae music from what I do. I can sing, I can
rap but I decided to build something my people
can identify with. So I came up with singing in
broken English. But to your question, there are
people that emulate you; if they cannot meet up
with what you are doing they are bound to
leave. But Ajegunle music cannot fade away
because it's music from the street.
As a pioneer of Ajegunle music, do you think
you have been encouraging artistes who do
that style of music enough?
Yes, people look up to me. But truth is I have
had my issues too for sometime but I thank
God those issues are being taken care of. A lot
will be coming out from Ajegunle soon. Don't
worry, just watch out. Are you going to ever cut
your dreadlock? Don't ask me that one. I no fit
tire for dis dreadlocks. The dreadlocks is my
image and I don't want to cut it.
You are so big now. What have you been
doing to yourself? Na so you be before?
First of all I used to be muscle, but now I have
a lot on my head. But before I drop my next
album I will work it out. Are you having any
collaboration on your forth-coming album?
Everything about my forth-coming album I have
decided to keep close to my heart. You were
among the artistes that campaigned for
President Jonathan.
At the last rally in Ojota you said you
regretted campaigning for him; how would
you balance that?
First of all a president is elected by the people.
Sometimes, your decisions might not favour the
people but I stand on the side of the people
when it comes to that subsidy removal.
Sometimes, the problem we have in our country
is that when we want to take decision we don't
consider people's plight. We go ahead and take
decision without debating it.
That time they did what was wrong. I have no
regret campaigning for Jonathan. I would be
honest with you but I have a right to my feeling.
If I feel the decision that they are taking is
wrong I have the right to come and say it. And
that is why I made that statement because if
people that elected you into office say they
don't want something, first of all, you consider
their feelings then come back and now let them
know the reason why it has to be the way you
have suggested it.
Trust me, Nigerians will tell you to go ahead,
then you will do it. So why would I not say I
regretted campaigning for him when the people
that elected you have pains in them and you
damned them.

I love Ūя̲̅ write up! But next time I want 2 see some pix.

Daddy showkey wants to release another album? Lol
make e go rest abeg. Im time dom pass

Yeah Daddy showkey,you did the right thing by enforcing that your son focuses on education.

Being educated doesn't guarantee success,but it helps to pave way to achieve success,and it also helps to polish a man's skill,or talent.

Good move bro.

tellwisdom:
How em time pass??..he get differnt time with other people??

all these daddy showkey fans sef......

Good tin is dat he is alive to tell d story. I like d stand he took for his son! Weldon sir

Where him picture dey!

I dey suspect this story,oya where is the source of this interview

tellwisdom:

Before nko..u think sey na all dis mumu wizkid songs wey una dey listen too??

That guy was a good musician sha, I used to like some of his songs that year. Songs like 'daina' and 'the name, showkey'.

SlyIg: Where him picture dey!

Here you go:

You are right about your son bro! If you want to know how dangerous/ suicidal it is to be illiterate, visit this forum and check out posts.

#singing in Daddy Showkey's voice# Sumbody call my name, KEVOH
People dey call my name, KEVOH
...