In this interview with Solomon Nda-Isaiah and Blessing Ukemena, this Enugu state-born artiste insists that Nigerians are getting tired of listening to the same type of music, which is why he is bringing a new brand into the Nigerian music scene.
Tell us about your person and music?
My name is Chudi Ugwu and my stage name is Mahansa. I have a degree in estate management but my focus is more on my music career, music is all I do. I am the exponent of the Afrociori genre, which is a fusion of African, Occidental and Oriental music aimed at promoting world peace .it’s been a tough journey as an exponent of a new genre of music in Nigeria, where people are already attached to some particular music style.
I believe this genre is the next to be exported from Nigeria. The basic philosophy is that the time has come for every soul on the surface of the earth to have a sense of brotherhood irrespective of race, age or culture. AFOCIORI is all about unity of the world’s races and philosophies. I am currently based in Lagos but would soon be leaving the country for more exposure.
Have your song gone international??
The international review of this music style is such that we have showcased it in different parts of the world such as Hong Kong and the USA; we have done a lot of world class events. This type of music is a fusion of different cultures to create international appeal.
Is this your way of achieving world peace?
Yes and it is achievable by the simple fact that I play musical instruments from different parts of the world, it gives people in any part of the world a sense of belonging. I am flexible enough to work with different artistes from different parts of the world. I am collaborating with them to give them a sense of belonging in what I am doing.
Don’t you think we can show case our distinct kind of music and still be accepted internationally just like what the late Fela did with Afrobeat?
Well what late Fela did through his music was to promote and project Pan-Africanism, it was a way of selling Africa to the world. Now we are in a global village and for you to get global acceptance you need to take your indigenous music to the global table, so we have some traditional music that have been fused with other cultures that makes it unique.
Are you saying we cannot be globally accepted without the fusion?
The truth is that there is still a lot of racism in the international community and if you do not show a little of what you have and incorporate it with what they know then they will not accept it. I see a lot of Nigerian acts, who have been on international tour but had only black people attend their shows. Nigerians over there just patronising their own, but we are talking about music that cuts across different cultures and group of audience. It is something different.
Any album yet?
Yes I have three albums and the most recent one is called “The Statement” which is what we have been promoting both locally and internationally. The Nigerian music scene is very particular about a certain genre of music but we are breaking new grounds to prove that we can give Nigerians a new type of music.
What about its acceptance?
Those who have listened to it really enjoy it. They love it and usually ask for the next event. This music is a fusion of different elements playing out with deep rooted message. Every song has a message and very educative in some ways. We stick to educative messages and avoid the use of nude lyrics because we have to make it friendly to the younger generation, we are setting a standard.
Why did you chose such kind of music?
I created it, if you do not stand out you cannot become a standard. You don’t have to do what everyone is doing. If you look at Nigeria today, there is a lot of promotion of plagiarism and use of materials that are not original. This new music is something that we can use to set a standard so that people can get original instead of trying to be like somebody else. You have to be able to sell yourself to the people.
Any mentors?
I have been listening to certain people over the years like Ali Acban, Yanni, Manni Fiasa and Michael Jackson, people who do their stuff with global appeal.
So what are your aspirations?
The basic aim is to present something different from Nigeria. We want to export something new that even Nigerians out there will know that something different is happening and those at home can see its quality. When you listen to the radio, you hear the same kind of music over and over and people are getting bored, I don’t know who runs the events here but there are some music that are not fit for certain events but this kind of music I am talking about is such that suites any event.
What challenges are you confronted with?
Nigeria is a tough battle ground because of stereotypes. People rush after whatever is in vogue but by doing so they stifle creativity and the potentials of other people, who can do something new. If you check it, it seems that a group of people have hijacked the music industry in Nigeria.
Wherever you go it’s a certain group of people that are known and they keep giving Nigerians the same thing that hampers creativities, which is in a way limiting Nigeria. They conclude that it is the kind of music Nigerians love; they tend to forget that music is a product of what comes from a target audience. When you limit music to the youths then you are simply saying that is the type of music Nigerian youths like and not what Nigerians like. That is part of what we want to correct.
For instance a person who is over 60 years should not be listening to hip-hop because it does not suite his perspective at that age. The radio people are compromised; there seems to be a certain group of artistes that have bought over the radio stations. Normally, you are not to pay anybody to play your music on radio but that is not the case in Nigeria.
These artistes are supported by the big companies who put in a lot of money to promote them. People like us who are creative and original do not get the big companies to promote us because they believe that Nigerians do not like certain types of music.
So I have to break that hold. We are trying to do something new for the A-class or higher audience, something that even children can relate to.
From all you have said, it means that the Nigerian music industry is compromised?
First of all we do not even have a music industry; we just have a group of people running things. I have said it before that we don’t have a music industry. We don’t get royalties for music works, in foreign countries, where the set up is good people get paid for just writing songs. That is not happening in Nigeria, so we just have what looks like an entertainment industry.
How long have you been doing this?
I have been into music for about 20 years now but this particular project is 12years in the making and we have been promoting this music, trying to get people to listen to it and accept it. It is being accepted internationally and so if Nigerians do not want it then people out there wants it.
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