Ayuba - I Started Singing At Early Age

Celebrated singer and Bonsue-fuji music maestro, Adewale Ayuba, in this interview, he recalls how his interest in music started. He says that fortunately, for him, his parents were supportive of his choice of music as a career. He also talks about his rise to the top and other sundry issues. Excerpts

When did music develop in you and what did you do?

I started singing fuji at the early age of seven years. Then, I did not do anything except fuji music. Incidentally, my parents gave me all the necessary support. However, they insisted that I must go to school. Good enough, I listened to them and it paid us all off at the end of the day.

Was money not one of the strong reasons why you embraced music?

I did not actually go into singing or music for the sake of money. Rather, it was purely for the love of singing or for the sake of music. I just enjoyed singing. I was not singing for the sake of money. I remember that I used to sing at any social gathering for the fun of it. There were usually Kobo attached to these efforts.

What are the factors that propelled you into singing?

From the onset, I have been married to fuji music. I actually started at the age of seven years; you can see that I was really young. Naturally, when I listen to any music genre, I have the instinct to memorise it. I mean word for word. This has been my special ability from my childhood. It helped me in no small measure in my music career today.

How did you produce your first album?

I released my first Fuji album on Success Records Ketu, Lagos. I had to pitch my tent with him because he was the only humane private record company owner then, who was really poised to assist me at all cost as a result of his strong belief in my talent.

Was that why you stayed with him for years?

I had to because of his initial interest in my talent. Aside from this, he also advised me strongly on the need to be very sincere with anybody; I am dealing with, maintaining that I should not allow my success to go into my head. That is one of the main reasons why I still try to be humble against all odds till date.

How many records did you do with Success Records before you turned your back on the C.E.O?

I did four albums within the expected four years of recording. I met the expected standard which may have made me to stay long. Moreover, I tried to be as humble as strongly advised. After my four years there, I went to Sony Records.

May we know why you have to leave Success Records after your memorable working relationship with the owner for four years?

In as much as I embraced all he did for me to come-up, I had to look forward to growing bigger. For this to really take place, I had to look for a place with facilities for strategic and effective marketing. Unfortunately, Success Records had no such facilities. This was the factor that forced me to make up my mind to leave.

It was obvious that I had to hook-up with bigger and corporate recording company, if my noble dream was to be realised. My case was made easier when Sony Music listened to my four recorded works on Success Records label. Based on this strong belief, they concluded that the four works were all hits.

What factors attracted you to Sony Music Records first?

I see them as a big corporate music company where I can easily realize my dream of being a big time Fuji act. Luckily for me, they had perceived my past releases as hits, and this opened the door for me easily. Later, I was introduced to Laolu Akins who produced my first two albums in Sony Music in 1989.

Was the involvement of Laolu Akins as your producer one of the factors that forced you to stay long there?

Not quite. I have always produced myself before I met Laolu Akins. But as somebody who needs a teacher, I had to embrace him. He was like a super coach to a successful footballer. Honestly, Laolu Akins was all I needed to explode. He used to guide my lyrics, arrangements and instrumentations with all sincere commitments.

For instance, he would instruct that I maintain and use high key where and when it was most appropriate. At times, he could advise me to reverse it for professional result. He has never failed to put in a word in any of my albums. That sincere commitment has, no doubt, brought out the excepted magic to bear on my two albums he produced.

May we know why you had to leave Sony Music despite the commercial success?

The problem happened when I travelled abroad. When I was there, something happened in the accounts department that angered me so much so that I had no choice than to leave after checking the records to confirm the truth concerning what happened. Though, it has been long and I have since forgotten what happened.

Are you on your own now?

Oh yes. I have a label now and hotel, “Sweet Life Home”, somewhere in Lekki, Lagos. That’s my only investment for now in the hospitality concern. I am into it because of my love for the hospitality related business.

What’s your definition of love?

My definition of love is to be straight with my wife. I am a true Christian and that is my true belief in Christianity.

What fascinates you in women? Personally, I don’t believe in the physical looks of women. Rather, I believe more sincerely in the intelligence of women.

What role do you think sex plays in successful marriages?

Sex is what comes after love. You cannot have sex without loving the person.

That is thinking and talking of true love. It should start from this level to beyond. That’s the only natural way to confirm the love you have for a particular person. To me, this must be supported through words of mouth and deeds which I have since been demonstrating with © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company my wife to glory of God.