“I’m more comfortable in Pidgin”

Friday Eruemolo Igweh

— Friday Eruemolo Igweh, better known as Baba Fryo; he sure needs little or no introduction. In 1996, his monster hit, Denge Pose, shot him into the consciousness of Nigerians, such that he became a household name. However, after his last album in 2005 which was mired in controversy, this Delta State-born musician has not released any new work. In this interview, he told us the reasons behind his long absence from the scene and his forthcoming album
By Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan
It's been quite a while, what has been happening to you?
Well, I get to hear people ask me that lately. You know, everything has been going on well with me. I just have to take my time before releasing anything because in music, it's not about how well you can sing or how skillful one is; it is all about you luck. You can sing a meaningless song and when it gets into the market, it becomes an instant hit.
You mean it was luck that made your monster hit, Denge Pose, very popular?
It was luck but that doesn’t mean the song didn’t have a message. In fact, I made sure all my songs carry one message or the other. After Denge Pose, I released Notice Me, then followed by CNS (Country No Send) in 2005. So after that, I just had to sit down and think about the kind of style I should come out with.
But you are widely known as a dancehall/raggae artiste. Why do you now want to change the style?
Well, it's not as if I want to leave that genre of music entirely. I just want to change to something similar.
Many believe since you have not released an album for long you are ‘washed up’ and finding it difficult to cope.
That’s not true at all. I have a job and it is music. I still get shows everywhere, don’t you know?
But you are just not as popular as you were back in the days.
It doesn’t matter. My works have made an impact that a whole lot of people can’t just forget it like that. I still dey get shows well well. As you dey see me so, I look like person wey dey hungry? I no hungry and na music dey feed me.
Some people believe that the acceptance of your kind of music is being hampered by hip-hop and the likes?
No, that’s not true. The sky is big enough for all birds to fly. No musician is disturbing another, it's just that some music promoters are fond of promoting one kind of music over another. Like in the case of reggae, promoters relegate it to the back- ground and favour the Babylon music, the kind of music whereby you see women going almost naked and shaking their bottoms for everyone. This decision dey cause confusion.
But in a way you also played Babylon music because in some of your videos you have women who shake their bottom.
I play raggae beats. I do feature women in my videos, yes they dance, shake their bodies but they never expose anything. The message in my songs is what matters. Even for church them dey shake yansh.
You used to cover one of your eyes like a pirate. Why the change?
Me, I no dey do notice me. If I get meeting like this, I no dey wear am so that people go see say na me. I be street boy, I dey waka for street and if people dey over hail me, I dey wan run comot. I like my freedom.
Recently, many artistes were clamouring for royalties. Having had successful albums in years past, have you ever received royalties to show for it?
My sister, I never wan answer that question now. Time go reach wen I go answer am. We are still meeting and in the nearest future, I will talk.
So, when are we to expect an album from you?
Well, let me not tell you today or tomorrow because I do not want to disappoint you. But when it is done, you will see. I play conscious music, so it has to be good.
Will you sound like your old self?
No, not at all. Let me tell you this: I dey enter from church to church now and people think say I dey find solution for myself. I don read Bible sef well well and know the dictates of God. I see the pastors and how they systematcially milk their brethrens. They are so money-conscious. In the Bible, Jesus said we should forgive our enemies but in some of these churches I have visited, they say that their so-called enemies should die!, die! And die! Babylon has indeed taken over. These and many more are what I am currently researching.
You used to be on O'Jez Record Label. Why did you have to leave the way you did?
Well, you suppose know wetin happen. They refused to release my album on time. You know, music has its own time; especially the beats and style. My album was ready and they refused to release it. Everything come begin to pass and you think say I no go para? I need to para now. Before them release the music sef hen, I don dey frustrated already. I no even get mind for it any longer. This all happened in 2005 with the album CNS. I am not on any record label now. By the way, is there any record label in Nigeria any longer? What we now have are the pirates in Alaba market. You see young artistes giving their songs to pirates to sell. I think all this piracy is being encouraged by us. Especially the young artistes. We give our songs to these pirates and also with N20,000 or N30,000 to get songs in a selection album. There are a lot of problems in this industry and the solution is only to have a strong regulatory body.
How’s your family?
That’s a very private area of my life that I don’t like talking about, but they are fine.
What about Fryo, your son?
I have Fryos not just one. They are my soldiers.
You started your musical career in Ajegunle. Are you still there?
No, but I still appreciate and visit the place. I am currently staying at the Ojo area of Lagos. Soon, I will be moving to Badagry and who knows, I may even go to Seme.
You prefer expressing yourself more in pidgin. Why?
I flow better in pidgin English. Also, many people too dey form as if dem no fit speak pidgin. For Jamaica, na patua dem speak pass even for them corporate environment. I speak very good English but I feel more relaxed with pidgin –it’s the language of the people; especially the ones on the street.
What’s your educational background?
Well, I just have a secondary school leaving certificate. I didn’t continue with schooling because the thing dey hot my brain (laughs). I no wan do more than my capability or else, I fit kolo. You see, I dey read with imagination, not like the normal way.
If you have not found music as a career what do you think you would have been?
A boxer. Thank God music has been in me from childhood. The funniest thing be say, people no know say I be musician for Ajegunle until I released my album.
I learnt you are married to lots of women.
Ha! Na one wife I get O. But you know how troublesome you women can be. Una get problems well well. Today, 90 per cent of Nigerian marriages are shaky. I am not saying mine is, but some women can make men do what they initially do not want to do.