King Jesse Buga: I wrote the song ‘mummy’ to thank mothers-Some women go as far as into prostitution to get money to raise their children
Q: It is a great pleasure to chat with you. Please give a formal introduction of yourself?
A: I want to say a very big thank you for having me, my name is Jesse King Buga. I am from Edo State, Okpella Etsako East local government. I am a proper Edo man. I am from a clergy family, a Christian home. God has been so good to me, I am also married.
Q: You are from a clergy family, I suppose you started music from church, did you inherit the talent from any of your parents?
A: I grew up in a mission house (clergy home) my dad being a clergyman was posted from one station to another so we moved around a lot and that took me to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Ibadan, Ekiti and Lagos are places I actually grew up, I started at Lagos Island. I attended Okesuna Primary school now known as Adeoshodi Primary school, after I was withdrawn from W.J David Baptist memorial school at Sura, i later attended Boys academy Sangros, then Ikeja Grammar school, Badagry Grammar school, Topo Grammar school, you might be wondering why I attended about four secondary schools, well, it was due to the nature of my dad’s job moving from one church station to another, we had to move around with him.
My university education was at Ondo state university, I studied economics education. I also attended Ado Ekiti university formerly known as OSUA after which I took to entertainment as a career.
The musical talent is from the family, my dad an organist, a pastor of course who loves music.
All the virtues I have today are all from the church,the church was my drive. I started from the junior choir then moved to senior choir.
Q: Haven spoken to quiet a number of artists, I realized many studied courses entirely different from music, what is responsible for such; in your case, you studied economics, were you discouraged from studying music from onset?
A: I think what is actually responsible for this is the culture in this part of the world, it is about what the parents think or believe is good for the child not what the child thinks. I cannot say it is their fault but it is what they learnt from the society. The careers they are familiar with are lawyers, Doctors, Pharmacists etc, so most of the parents just wants to fulfill all righteousness and they say go study this course or the other, it is not about what you say and that has been a norm in Africa but lately we have broken out of those chains, things have changed especially globally therefore the competition is high and creative art is now more lucrative than it used to be when creative art practitioner were looked down on as mere jokers.
Now parents want their kids in professional sports like football, music etc.
If one chooses to study music at the university, you still need some practical street experience, it is an added advantage to whatever is taught in the four walls of the classroom although most schools back then did not have music as a course unlike now, these days there are multiple choices, children just have to discover who they are and parents are more supportive of whichever direction the kids wants to go, times have changed.
Q: You mentioned that you are from a clergy family, so after you released your first album ‘Buga’ did it come to your family as a surprise that it is not gospel music?
A: Honestly I have had the full support of my parents. My family is liberal, they trust me right from time as a good boy. Singing secular does not matter, what matters is who I am on the inside. For my parents what matters most is, I have not shamed them, police haven’t come for me, i have not been involved in crime etc. And that’s enough for them, seeing their child do well.
Q: What genre of music would you categorize your music as?
A: I started with highlife music but right now I am a shifting musically to ‘world music’. My style of highlife is not root highlife, I have infused some indigenous percussion drums into my music, it’s sounds like what I call ‘metal’ highlife.
Q: What inspired you write the evergreen song titled “mummy”?
A: Hmmm(sigh) It is a powerful song to me, I did not write the song for the sake of it, it was born out of real life experiences I have been opportune to see and experience, incidents that have occurred,moods from our women in Africa I have witnessed.
I want to say a very big thank you to all the good mothers, to every sweet mother out there, God bless you, God will continue to keep you, you have tried, you have done your best to raise and to support the family.
For those who are single mothers and those married, I think we need to appreciate them because they go through a lot emotionally than we can comprehend.
Most African mothers are not being treated fairly in the family and society in general, many after so much life altering sacrifices, for their husband and kids, those they sacrificed most for are the same ones that turns against them to claim, oh! she’s a witch, some kids even fight their mothers etc, but despite the wrongs against these mothers they still love their children, some mothers don’t even have anywhere to turn to because they gave all their lives to their family.
Some women after long suffering with a man, he would suddenly change and discard her. We all need to put ourselves in these mothers shoes and act right.
I have seen some single mothers struggling in the market, trying to sell one thing or the other to raise a child, one can not imagine the kind of things some mothers are doing just to make sure their kids have a better life.
Some women go as far as into prostitution to get money to raise their children, that is how crazy it could get.
Through that track ‘mummy’ I am giving it all to them because really there is nothing you can really do that will be enough to thank good mothers for all their sacrifices.
In my own experience, when I was in school, my mother would pack everything for me not caring if there was anything left at home for them to feed on. It is so emotional seeing all those sacrifices. It is disheartening to see those women who has sacrificed a lot being ill-treated, that is the reason I wrote the song ‘mummy’
Q: Discussing music business, talent is one thing and the hustle is another ball game entirely, which of these has taken you this far, what’s your advice to those interested in the music field?
A: One might have musical talent but the business part of it might not work for you, it is an indication that you are not yet in the business.
Basically the music business is what you should learn about before you even venture into showing your talent, learn how you will put your music out there, know your audience, learn about technology and what is going on out there.
Q: Could you mention a few countries and cities you have performed? And is there any project in the works?
A: I have performed around the world to mention a few, Maryland USA, New York, Dallas, Houston, Texas, UK, France etc.. I pray the Covid-19 pandemic ends so that i can continue the tours. The new tour is Buga fifteen years anniversary commencing soon.
Q: Do you have those who influence you musically and culturally? How well has your traditional unique style of dressing been accepted? Are you a traditionalist?
A: Musically I have influences around the world, highlife, the legends Victor Uwaifo, Victor Olaiya, Rex Luxi, Orlando Julius, Steven wonder, Boys II Men, i listen to an array of music across the world and generations, right now I listen to the likes of Davido and the rest of them, they are fun, they make me feel good, I laugh and groove to their music.
As for my style, I chose my costume so I could be unique, to standout and own my creative ideas.
My dressing style has brought up debates some say I’m a keggite but I’m not. The fact still remains that as African, we all came from these fabrics, we all come from these costumes, these is who we are, this is our identity, it tells a lot of stories about us.
On my trips especially to the United States Of America, even from the airport they admire my outfits, people come around to tell me how much they love and admire my outfits and take pictures. It has been a very beautiful time with my costumes, people have accepted the style of my dangling cap, “The Buga Cap” is so iconic that others have taken to and they wear proudly.
For me promoting our cultural heritage is key for me.
Q: Tell us about your relationship with Madam Nike Art Gallery
A: Mama Nike is a mother, I like her because we have something in common which is creativity, she’s unique, she knows what she’s doing, she’s an expert in her field and she is happy doing what she does, that is exactly who I am also, so I see myself in her and that has endeared me to her, she is a mentor to me, she’s blessed with wealth of experience. She has made a lot of sacrifices promoting the African art and culture, she is a living legend. You can’t go to the Art gallery and get bored, she’s innovative. She’s always ready to help, may God bless her.
Q: What are your social media handles
A: I was hacked sometimes ago so I just started afresh
Instagram is @Jesse_king_buga
Facebook Jesse King Buga.
