A lot of people have begun to refer you as the uncrowned king of collaborations, how does that make you feel?
I think I’m on the verge of earning that glory due to the unique style of my music. The fact that most of my collaborations turn out good and are being appreciated by fans makes me feel great. In every song I’m collaborating with anybody, I always try to bring in something new. I bring in my ingenuities into every song I’m being featured. The truth is that I must always try to bring in something commercial, something I know the fans and lovers of music would embrace and hold unto. I spend quality time thinking about the listeners and I keep trying to put myself in their shoes. I always ask myself, what are the fans going to hold unto in this song, even if it’s just a word or phrase? So I keep looking out for such word or phrase. I have to create that unique word or phrase.
There is no way you will sing and be appreciated if you don’t appreciate the fans and put them into consideration while composing the song. If you don’t consider them you would end up singing and satisfying yourself instead of your fans. So what I bring to the table is the key factor in the success of most of my collaborations. But the core essence of collaboration is to see two different artistes combining their styles. You tap into my fan base while I also tap into yours. For instance, Omawumi is good; she was the first runner’s up in West African Idols 2007. She is doing well in the scenery and has done good songs. So in the song, Bottom Belle, she brought in something while I also did. The same thing applies to other collaborations I have done with others.
Do you have price tag for collaborations like some big artistes?
It depends on the relationship I have with the person. The only artiste I ask to pay me for collaboration is the one I have nothing else to gain from apart from his or her money. But if you have a fan base, you don’t have to pay me; I tap into your fan base while you also tap into mine. Except if you don’t know what you are doing and you need me to bloom, that is where I collect money from you.
Among all your songs, which do you think is your greatest hit?
For recognition, the song that brought me out is Nwa Baby. But the song I believe has made a serious change in my career is Ada Ada. When it came out, lots of people began to understand where I’m coming from and where I’m going. Lots of people began to understand who Flavour N’abania is!
Ada Ada has become a national anthem, especially in wedding ceremonies; how did you come about the song?
I told myself that I needed a song that would be a wedding song in Africa. That was how the song came about. There is this similarity in marriages across African countries. I started composing it long time ago when I newly came to Lagos, then I was still leaving in Surulere. Within two years, I told myself that it wasn’t yet time for the song to be released and that was why I kept it till when I finally released it. I have lots of other songs with me and I’m waiting for the right time to release them. Every song has a time.
You were once referred to as Enugu boy before fame suddenly came. Do you still find time to travel to the east, especially Enugu?
Yes I do. Travelling to the east especially Enugu makes me remember my humble beginning. And most importantly, I don’t brag when I go to Enugu. I still go about visiting old friends even when they don’t expect it. There are lots of people over there that want to draw inspirations from me. I left Enugu, came to Lagos about five years ago. I’m here in Lagos because it makes me concentrate. I love the hustling spirit in Lagos. But whenever I want to chill, I still prefer Enugu. I’m like a hustler in Lagos. The hustling spirit is basically what I admire among Lagosians. Business wise, Lagos remains the bomb but when it comes to relaxing, ‘my guy na Enugu oh’ (Laughs).
You said nobody supported you back then, how did your music career start?
I was born and bred in Enugu State. Enugu is my home. But I’m from Umunze, Orumba South LGA in Anambra State. There was nothing where I come from. I didn’t really set out to be a musician. What I know is that I was always admiring choristers in my church. I was passionate about singing and drumming. My pastor noticed it. He called me one day and said a friend of his just came in to Enugu and was looking for young musicians to train. I was 13-years then. Then I was already playing drums in the church. So the pastor introduced me to Chris I. Ordor, the CEO of Sound City Communications. Ordor had just started a musical company aimed at training young musicians on the basics of music and nurturing them all the way to a professional level. He took me in. I couldn’t offer anything then, I was just learning.
They even sent me to the University of Nigeria to study Music. My parents weren’t happy. It was so bad that I had to run away from home. For eight years I ran out of my parents’ home. I only went there once in a while. They never wanted me to be a musician. My mum continued crying; she had no option. Along the line when the company was about relocating to Port Harcourt, my mum said I must not go with them. Then I just finished my first year and was about entering second year. I had to stop school. But by then I had already learnt enough. I was already playing at companies’ end of year parties, birthdays and similar events. When I left the company, I had to join my mum in Ogbete Market. She had a shop where she sold jewelleries.
But it was not fun. She kept telling me to relax that I would soon take another jamb and gain admission. Along the line, I joined another band and we kept playing at one event or another in Enugu. Anytime the lead singer didn’t show up, I would be asked to take over. Once I get onto the stage, I would tell then ‘N’abania efeninegeme’ which means ‘this night everything will happen’. At times I would ask them the flavour of music they wanted. That was how my stage name, Flavour N’abania came about. I was also backing Mr Raw then. I didn’t really want to come out as an artiste. At the end I just felt I could also sing on my own and the move to release a single began.
How do your parents and siblings see you today?
(Laughs) You should know! They are happy. They feel on top of the world. But I’m happy they did what they did.
Most of your lyrics and videos always talk about and portray women as sex objects; is that deliberate?
It does not. It’s all about the music; it’s all about what my fans want.
How do you cope with the avalanche of women that flock around you?
I admire and cherish my fans. Sometimes I see these fans and I tell myself these girls are beautiful! The truth is that I’m a man and I must appreciate women. But I don’t take advantage of them.
What is the craziest thing a female fan has done to you?
So many crazy things! I’ve seen so many crazy fans, especially outside the country. Ladies outside the country are even crazier about music stars than Nigerian ladies. Some would want to worship you. Some would see you and begin to cry. Some would kneel down and just want to touch you. So many crazy things that amaze me!
Considering your popularity, are you not disturbed that you might find it difficult to settle down in marriage?
You know the star thing takes away so many things from you. Firstly, you may not just get married like that. You must get married when you know you are ready for family life. You wouldn’t want to come back home and your son would ask ‘mum who is this man?’ (Laughter). I will get married at the right time. I’m still young. I’m not even up to 30-years. I’m still looking at about four years before getting married. I thank God I started my career early.
So who is that special person?
At the moment it’s me and my music.
Considering the likeness in hip hop music here, do you see a future in the Nigerian music industry?
Nigeria is so big. Yes there are low quality of jobs but there are still good ones. There are still people who are keeping it real. Yes, most times you see lots of artistes sounding alike, but there are others who are still unique in what they do. As for me, I will keep singing. I’ve already generated lots of fans around the world. At least there are about 24 countries where I’ve performed in Africa so I believe I have many fans around the world. They don’t just like me because I’m a Nigerian; it’s about my style. Do you know what it means for your song to cross border?
So far you have been scandal free, how did you achieve this feat?
No artiste ever set out to have scandals. It’s always people close to these artistes that bring out some of these scandals. But the issue is that I try to stay away from trouble. For instance, I don’t even club. Anything I want to do I do it inside my house. I party inside my house. I record inside my house. When you start mingling and partying with everybody in different places that is where one or two things would start to emerge. I’m either here in my house or in my second house in the Island. When you mingle much, at times you start trusting people that are not supposed to be trusted. You start having divided attention. You would take a picture and make joke with it and tomorrow it’s all over the newspapers and internet. Who did it? Is it not someone you trusted?
What are your regrets about life and does anything make you shed tears?
Everything happens for a reason. You need the balance of both the good and the bad aspects of life in order to succeed. If it’s all good it may bounce back. You need the combination of both the good and the bad in order to remain focus. I really don’t regret anything about life. Everything I passed through especially in my early years is part of what has brought me to where I’m at the moment. I’m always ready to take life the way it comes. You need to welcome the positive and the negative aspects of life.
What is your philosophy of life like?
I don’t take things too seriously. I see life as something we should all take very easy.
Like how many of these musical instruments do you play?
I play the drum, guitar, bass guitar and piano. I play these instruments so well. And you don’t learn them within a year. Even sixty-year-old person in the game is still learning. Till today, there is no day I don’t play and rehearse with my instruments. You have to take it as your life. Even if I’m traveling, I’m always with my instruments. I spend about four hours every day learning and rehearsing. I always lock myself with my instruments. I don’t like going out. It doesn’t interest me rather I will just expose myself to things I don’t want.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a good number of videos, I have three videos which I intend shooting and dropping within two months intervals. I’m not releasing any new song now.
Your Shake video parades lots of plus size ladies-curvy, busty and with a big bum should we be expecting another video with such kind of ladies?
(Laughs) Off course, this is me. I’m very prepared. I will even give my fans more of it.
How do you go about the selection of these attention-grabbing ladies?
I work with my team. We share ideas on everything.
There are lots of up and coming artistes and some others you started with who are still struggling; do you in any way try to extend a hand of fellowship to them?
I’ve been doing that. I have lots of guys back in the east and even here in Lagos who I try to help out. There are some that I decided to fund their music videos apart from just collaborating with them. I also keep telling them to believe in themselves. As for me, nobody helped me. Nobody gave me any money when I started. I keep telling them to be focused. I prefer creating opportunities for them to come out of their shells rather than just giving out money. How long would you continue to give out money? And most times, the money might be channelled into something far from the purpose you gave it out for. But all the same I still support some financially; I still train some. I think that is a good way of giving back. I already have a foundation focusing on the young musicians. I’m going around schools especially secondary schools to discover and groom young musicians.
At least I’ve been to a couple of schools, especially in the east. There are some I have decided to put under my label. But at the moment, I don’t allow them to record; I want them to be groomed first. Gone were the days when parents would start crying whenever their children chose the path of music. Apart from the young ones, there are two others who are officially on my label. I signed them about six months ago and they have already shot their videos and should be released soon. I also collaborated with them.
Since you got signed to a South African record label, Soul Candi, your presence in Nigeria has been reduced; are your fans not missing your stage performances?
The real reason you don’t always see me around is because we hardly do good concerts here in Nigeria. There is hardly any big or massive concert in Nigeria; I mean big shows. What you find in Nigeria is more of private and company shows. There is no proper concert. On the other hand, I only signed a distribution deal with the label. And the deal only covers the southern region. I have intention of planning a proper concert here in Nigeria; something out of the ordinary.
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