When Omawumi won the highly coveted ‘Next Rated’ title at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2009, it came as no surprise to many who had been Wowed by her songs ever since she burst into the music scene. After taking the First Runner Up position at the West African Idols, a music reality TV show, she brewed up an impressive fan base with her first single “In The Music” and hasn’t looked back ever since.
Omawumi Magbele grew up in Warri, Delta state where she had her Primary and Secondary School and is a graduate of Law from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State. Her first album “Wonder Woman” had great reviews with hits such as “Today Na Today” and “Thank God”.
Come Sunday 7th of April 2013, the music diva will thrill guests at a concert titled the name of her new album the “Lasso Of Truth”.
We met for a chat at The Oriental Hotel, Lagos, venue of the concert where she was rehearsing with her band. After watching a sneak peek of some of her performances which left me in awe of her talent, she took a break for an interesting chat. She occasionally spiced up her sentenced with Pidgin English and her often sarcastic way of answering questions got me laughing throughout the interview.
Omawumi and I had lots to talk about, but we started with the buzz of the moment, her concert.
Omawumi Magbele grew up in Warri, Delta state where she had her Primary and Secondary School and is a graduate of Law from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State. Her first album “Wonder Woman” had great reviews with hits such as “Today Na Today” and “Thank God”.
Come Sunday 7th of April 2013, the music diva will thrill guests at a concert titled the name of her new album the “Lasso Of Truth”.
We met for a chat at The Oriental Hotel, Lagos, venue of the concert where she was rehearsing with her band. After watching a sneak peek of some of her performances which left me in awe of her talent, she took a break for an interesting chat. She occasionally spiced up her sentenced with Pidgin English and her often sarcastic way of answering questions got me laughing throughout the interview.
Omawumi and I had lots to talk about, but we started with the buzz of the moment, her concert.
Now this interview was culled from Bellanaija.com. Read more after the cut
Lasso Of TruthYour upcoming concert has gotten a lot of your fans excited. What is it really about?
The concert is about the “Lasso Of Truth” album. Each song has a direction and a reason why it was written. I feel that people have had an opportunity to know Omawumi of “Wonder Woman” and now I want to use this platform to showcase the songs off this album.
“Lasso Of Truth”, quite a unique name. What is the inspiration behind it?
If you follow the comic heroine “Wonder Woman”, you’d find out that she has this weapon called the “Lasso of Truth”. It’s like a rope that you can use to tie people and they have no choice but to tell the truth. I named my album the “Lasso of Truth” because I make relatable music; a lot of people can relate to the kind of music I make so when you hear my songs, you’d just be like what this girl is saying is true. You’d say, “Ah, Omawumi no lie for this song oh”.
If you follow the comic heroine “Wonder Woman”, you’d find out that she has this weapon called the “Lasso of Truth”. It’s like a rope that you can use to tie people and they have no choice but to tell the truth. I named my album the “Lasso of Truth” because I make relatable music; a lot of people can relate to the kind of music I make so when you hear my songs, you’d just be like what this girl is saying is true. You’d say, “Ah, Omawumi no lie for this song oh”.
I particularly like the song, “If You Ask Me” and the title is also unique too. What is the message behind the song?
It’s like what a gossip would say when you ask something that is really tough. The response would be like: “No be from my mouth you go hear say Abacha or Babangida get open teeth. As you dey ask me this kind question, who you want make I go ask?” You know there are some things that one shouldn’t just say. It’s like saying, “look I wasn’t there oh, but this is the kind of thing that can happen”. The song was talking about incest and in the story of the song, the father was sleeping with the daughter and this is the sort of thing that people don’t want to ordinarily hear so you have to put it to them subtly and make them understand that these are things that actually happen in our society.
It’s like what a gossip would say when you ask something that is really tough. The response would be like: “No be from my mouth you go hear say Abacha or Babangida get open teeth. As you dey ask me this kind question, who you want make I go ask?” You know there are some things that one shouldn’t just say. It’s like saying, “look I wasn’t there oh, but this is the kind of thing that can happen”. The song was talking about incest and in the story of the song, the father was sleeping with the daughter and this is the sort of thing that people don’t want to ordinarily hear so you have to put it to them subtly and make them understand that these are things that actually happen in our society.
As an ambassador of Project Alert which stands for violence against women, what is your take on how women should deal with issues such as rape?
Fortunately, I’ve not had any personal experiences like that and it would not be fair to say that if it were me I would do like this because when you find yourself in that situation, it’s not very easy to decide on how to carry on. It’s a very vulnerable moment in the life of anyone that experiences that kind of thing because it seems as if something you were not willing to give is forcefully taken from you. It is mind-blowingly annoying. I will just continue to appeal to authorities involved to make stricter laws for rape. I heard that the sentence for rape went from 14 years to life imprisonment and that is so fantastic.
Fortunately, I’ve not had any personal experiences like that and it would not be fair to say that if it were me I would do like this because when you find yourself in that situation, it’s not very easy to decide on how to carry on. It’s a very vulnerable moment in the life of anyone that experiences that kind of thing because it seems as if something you were not willing to give is forcefully taken from you. It is mind-blowingly annoying. I will just continue to appeal to authorities involved to make stricter laws for rape. I heard that the sentence for rape went from 14 years to life imprisonment and that is so fantastic.
The messages in your songs tend to tilt towards issues about women. Is this deliberate?
People say I am a feminist but I don’t think I am. But I champion causes that are pertaining to women in the society.
People say I am a feminist but I don’t think I am. But I champion causes that are pertaining to women in the society.
Growing Up
Take me back to your roots. What kind of upbringing did you have as a child?
I grew up in a pretty normal environment in Warri, I had a pretty normal childhood. My Mum is a very important part of my life, I lost my Dad in 2004 when I was in 400 Level. I have 13 other siblings, I am the 12th child. Yes, my father was very busy, him try well well football team plus more. But I grew up in a loving family, that kind of family where you won’t know who gave birth to whom. Most of my childhood was happy but no matter how free we were, they still taught us values, normal way wey be say pikin dey grow up.
Take me back to your roots. What kind of upbringing did you have as a child?
I grew up in a pretty normal environment in Warri, I had a pretty normal childhood. My Mum is a very important part of my life, I lost my Dad in 2004 when I was in 400 Level. I have 13 other siblings, I am the 12th child. Yes, my father was very busy, him try well well football team plus more. But I grew up in a loving family, that kind of family where you won’t know who gave birth to whom. Most of my childhood was happy but no matter how free we were, they still taught us values, normal way wey be say pikin dey grow up.
The way you flow with the Pidgin English is so interesting. Do you speak this way all the time?
Yes of course I do, a whole lot. I don’t know how to change. This Lagos high life is not for me. I’m still trying. Can’t you hear now that I’m speaking fo-ne?
Yes of course I do, a whole lot. I don’t know how to change. This Lagos high life is not for me. I’m still trying. Can’t you hear now that I’m speaking fo-ne?
0 comments:
Post a Comment