7th January, 2011
Two years after his return to Nigeria after over five years’ sojourn in the United States of America, the Rub a Dub master, Ras Kimono, spoke about his new project, frustrations and other issues
Kim, what has been happening to you?
Good things man, good things. Recently I dropped two singles titled Veteran and Wicked Politician. I decided to drop them because of the demand from my fans who have been complaining that I was not forthcoming since I promised to release an album. So, I decided to do that so as to follow the new trend in the music industry because, before, when you drop singles, people buy them, but now you give them to DJs to play.
Why haven’t you released the album two years after your return?
Marketers are not forthcoming. You negotiate back and front and at the end of the day, they back out. It seems nobody wants to drop money nowadays, that is why it took me so long. But putting it on air is the first step towards releasing the full album.
Will this frustration make you go back to the US?
No, I have come back to stay and for good.
Don’t you think that if the album stays for so long, it may lose its value?
Not really, any time it is released, it will remain fresh because the songs are quite unique. In fact, I hardly play them so as not to get bored with them.
What have you been doing since you came back?
I have been trying to create awareness, going round, playing in concerts. I was in Ethiopia for a concert. You know, if you don’t have an album on air, people will not know that you are busy. That is the reason I decided to experiment with the two songs and see what comes out of it.
It seems that reggae music is no more popular as before in Nigeria, why is it so?
Yes, it is because everybody is afraid of touching reggae and I am happy nobody is touching it because the vacuum is there for me, that is why I can come back and say I am back to stay. If people are playing it, I may have problem of aligning with the new trend, but nobody is touching it.
Have you done anything to prevent people from touching it?
No, I am not the creator of reggae music. Jimmy Cliff came before Bob Marley and he too left. So, I am not the king of reggae. I don’t hold the key to reggae music, but people are afraid of touching it because it is a serious music. As you can see nowadays, everybody wants to sing about sex and bling bling thing, henessy, beer and not talking about the reality on the ground. Also, if you are not conscious enough, you cannot play reggae music. Musicians don’t even know about themselves, so how can they talk about others? Some of them want to make money today and die tomorrow.
Victor Essien came and left, Majek too, so what is happening?
It depends on the angle they are coming from because they dropped music. If I had dropped music for the past two years, I may have failed too but you need to be around and study the environment. They came and did not study the environment. I have been around for two years now and I know the tricks, the dos and don’ts of the industry. It is as if I am starting afresh and that is why it took me long before coming out. As for them, they came and never studied the environment and they fizzled out.
Do you have any regret staying outside the country for so long?
No regrets whatsoever because some of my colleagues I left behind have realligned with something else. If I was around, I would have drifted or done something silly. You know, when I came back, my popularity overshot. Well, my going out of the country is a blessing in disguise.
What made you leave Nigeria then?
You know, at least you have been in the industry for long, you know that the economy nose-dived and things were not moving. How will a big star like me in a country of over 120 million people not be able to play in 10 concerts in a year and where I made my living? That was why I took cover. You know, I have a band and also have a family and things did not move the way they should, so I left.
Do you see your song as spiritual because you left the country after releasing Run Fi Cover and Still I Arise?
Not really. My songs are about reality and I speak about the reality on the ground because reggae is a conscious music and most of my songs are conscious songs too. It’s like I am a prophet but I am not and don’t call myself one. I just feel the pulse of the masses about what I put in my music. What I am saying has been happening and still happening and will continue to happen. People want to hear about sex, but me, I won’t sing about that. My songs are living songs.
But some people believe that reggae music is about booze, ganja and other vices, is that true?
That is a total misconception of reggae music. Even most of us that play reggae don’t drink or smoke. For instance, I don’t smoke ganja or drink alcohol, so also is Musa Baroka and others.
What of Bob Marley and others?
Yes, Marley did that but not all of us. Guess what most of this hip hop guys smoke, they drink heavily and when somebody says reggae musician, I say hip-hop guys.
What is the future of music in Nigeria?
Music industry is growing. Why we ran for cover from 1998 to 2003 was like hell, but from 2004 when Tuface and others came, things became more viable and it will get better.
It was believed that it was because of the coming of the young ones that made you run for cover?
Who are the young ones? Tell me, why don’t they play reggae music? We went out of frustration because we didn’t have any other business except music and when the economy became bad, we left.
Did you really make money from Golden Tones Benson & Hedges concerts?
Yes, we made money from them and left with it. Remember, everybody that played on Golden Tones did so with a live band, this is not so nowadays but they are paid millions of naira which they pocket and only play with CD. But in those days, you will have to pay managers, band membes and others.
Which other plans do you have?
Well, I just dropped the singles hoping that I will get a good marketer for the comple album.
Most people are of the opinion that you came to Nigeria to test the waters since your wife and kids are not in the country?
People may have their opinion, but for me, I have come back to stay. It is easier for me to visit them than for them to come and see me. Bringing them here could really be expensive for now, but for me, I am back to stay and no matter the stress, I will not run to USA again. I am back to make money and leave a legacy for my family before I die.