Bukola Folayan popularly known by her stage name BOUQUI is one of the best gospel hip hop singers Nigeria could boast of. Her Christian faith and strong belief in the words of God as laid out in the Holy Bible is her reason for the formation of the BOUQUI brand. In this exclusive interview with ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM she bares her mind on her latest musical effort.
People look at you as contemporary artiste because of the hip hop style of your song, what is your reaction to this?
I love it! When you are known for something you love to do and want to be known for, that is the best–I love it and I am unrepentant, unapologetic, uncompromising christaholic Jesus freak. I want people to know that and I am not apologizing for that.
I represent Christ. I am not reducing the quality of vides I do, my music are on point, the Bible say it’s the spirit of excellence.
And so we exude that in whatever we do. If they call me Christian, identifying me with Christ, it is the most beautiful thing, and that is what I set out to do and what I am doing.
I was going through your profile, there was a place where you said your brother motivated you into music, how has it been so far?
It has been beautiful, that was 12years ago and I have been singing professionally for 15 years. My third album is on the way .We just finished recording, I actually just came from the studio and I will be going back to the studio when I am done from here. I just had to be part of this tour.
How would you compare gospel music and the contemporary music in Nigeria?
Well there is no comparism because success is achieving what you set out to achieve. We set out to touch lives. We set out to change people from the wrong path they are on. To bring people into the kingdom of light. So if we get that done, we are successful.
On the other side they think success has to do with how many cars you have gotten, how many girls you can get, and that is not what we are doing. We are trying to get people to change from the bad to the good. So there is no comparism. We are people of different minds people of different interest and people of different goals.
Looking at where we have been, where we are and where we are going to, how would you rate the Nigerian music industry?
We are defiantly not where we are supposed to be and we are not where we used to be. We are in the process of evolution. We are evolving, not where we are supposed to be and definitely where we used to be. We are still on our way to greater things. We are still taking little steps in the right direction.
How does it feel being the only lady in the midst of these energetic men in the Move Tour and what are your challenges?
It feels good …they say what a man can do a girl can do also, I’m not saying better, but I’m not saying I don’t do it better. I do it better (laugh) just joking. I think it is good to be able to represent my gender. Look, I am rubbing shoulders with Jahaziel , it is great . The challenge is you have to contend with guys all the time, I mean , they are younger more powerful – it’s great. We are not trying to do hip hop for the popularity, for the money or fame, we are trying to use the Bible to make disciples.
And whatever we do, we are not trying to compete with each other; we are just doing our thing and making the next generation see that there is a better way of living. You don’t have to smoke, drink, sleep around; you can’t serve God that way. Do your best and still be happy on like the popular opinion that you have to behave in a certain way to get fame. So I am happy to be a part of this movement. I might not be a part of cross movement but this cross, I am happy to be part of it.
Should your fans expect something new from BOUQUI?
I will be dropping my third album this September called the ‘Marks Of The General’, it is a full package, watch out for it.
You have a lot of fans in around Nigeria, what is your advice to the youth?
I will like to tell them to keep their heads up. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t achieve what you have set your mind to achieve. Never say never, you will succeed if you believe it.
A lot of people say the sky is the limit but I say no there is no limitation to whatever you have set your mind to do, so when you put your mind to it, you will be a goal getter, the sky will be your springboard to do anything.
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