Smoking, violence limit artistes’ breakthrough —Taye Currency

Award-winning Fuji musician, Adebisi Taiwo Akande, popularly called as Taye Currency, opens up to SEYI SOKOYA on his single life, future of Fuji music and his opinion on other musicians. Excerpts:

As massive as your house is, there is no woman therein. Have you adopted a single life?

No sir. I have a woman in my life. The fact is that she is not just around for now.

Is it the woman you reportedly sent packing for voting for Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, while you supported former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala during the 2011 gubernatorial election?

Yes.

Have you guys settled your rift?

Let’s just say she is the woman in my life and lets leave the matter at that.

What does it cost you to maintai maintain n your mansion?

It wasn’t until I finished building it that I realised how big it was. But I don’t have any regrets building it, even though it costs a lot to keep it. My brother, a poor man cannot embark on a project this huge except if God helps him out. It was God that made the building and its successful completion possible. A small house costs little to maintain and vice versa. This house has four sitting rooms and five bedrooms, a mosque and a boys’ quarter. A cleaner comes around regularly, same for someone to cut the grasses. In many ways, this one is different from my first house, because it costs more to take care of it. Two of my managers are also stay with me. I have a table tennis stand, because I play the game.

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You mean you love tennis than music?

I love table tennis the same way I love music. But music happened to havebrought me success. I could have been successful if I had dedicated more time to sports.  I have a standard table tennis stand and kits. That is how much I love the game I wished I could play for Nigeria, but we all know that table tennis does not have the support it should, compared to football. But I received maximum support from my fans when I opted for music. Fans appreciated me and got me shows. You can’t say same for tennis. However, I have been able to support younger talents in sports. I sponsor a table tennis club in Ibadan. I also fund competitions in Liberty Stadium with Kayrom Lee and others at the Adamasingba Stadium annually. I have been doing this for five years. I promote the clubs at my shows and I hope to discover more talents. It is my desire, to help others move on in the sport.

Many say you copied K1. How would you react?

I didn’t build my house to impress anyone. I wanted it and I went for it. As regards K1’s role in my life, I have never hidden the fact that he was my mentor. Aspiring to be like one’s mentor has never been a crime. As a matter of fact, having a mentor drives one to do more. In any way, Wasiu has been a success. It is my desire to do more and I’m sure he wants that for me. Every father prays that his child prospers. I would like to be like K1 in many ways and even surpass him.  He has been a forerunner. He has done so much for the industry, especially Fuji. I also aim higher and I am doing my best.

Having been in the industry for more than 30 years experience as a Fuji artiste, what do you think is wrong as it no longer waxes strong and vibrant?

Nothing untoward is happening to the Fuji music. The regular and top musicians are doing their best to promote the genre of music, just as some young artistes are showcasing their talents.

Don’t you think the future of Fuji music is threatened as new talents are rarely being discovered?

New acts will come, just wait and see. We all know that social activities and entertainment can only thrive when the economy is buoyant. Where are the spenders and the promoters? We do all those things by ourselves at the moment and it’s never easy. If old timers like us are finding it hard to thrive, why should we expect upcoming acts to be able to do it on their own? It will take time for new acts to be discovered, but they are out there.

There are no more competitions being organised for Fuji musicians, just as the quality of music and musicians has dropped drastically. What could be responsible for the decline?

In the past, many used to see Fuji musicians as ruffians. That impression, sadly, has caught on with the young ones, but that impression has been corrected. Young acts these days want to look, sound and act tough, as if those are the qualities needed to be a Fuji musician. Smoking, being violent and reckless are vices that limit the chances of an upcoming musician to get a breakthrough in the entertainment industry.  You need to have talent, but then you also need to be respectful and obedient to those who can help you grow in the industry.

Your son, Yusuf, is contesting for a seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, when did he become an active politician?

We are all politicians. Musicians, doctors, lawyers and all human beings are politicians. He told me he wanted to contest and I agreed to support him.

What are his chances in the contest?

That will depend on a numbers of factors. All I can do is to support him and wish him well. I am a musician. He is my son. He has chosen to try his hands in politics and so be it. He has his strategies and knows how to deploy them.

Congratulations on your VERA Awards where you beat Pasuma, Osupa in the Album of the Year and Artist of the Year to it. What next?

To work more on my music and the Currency brand. I plan to ensure i attain a greater height this year. The award has helped in a way sure.