Why I killed old Muma Gee —Singer, Muma Gee

Gift Uwame, popularly known as Muma Gee is a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, fashion designer and politician. Muma Gee rose to prominence after the release of her debut single, Kade in 2006, earning a number of nominations including Headies and Sound City Music Video Awards. Referred to as The Queen of African music, Muma Gee is also known for her glitzy traditional costume and theatrical stage performances, which paved the way for her in movie ecosystem with over four works to her name including ‘Last Dance’. But the mother of three told Newton-Ray Ukwuoma why she had to shed her brand and her plans for the music industry in this interview. Excerpts:

It has been seven years since you released any body of work. What are you doing at the moment?

I am working on a project that we will put out very soon. It is titled Sugarcane Love. We are currently prepping for the video. We have been on it for a while. All the time I have been on break, the brand Muma Gee has been test-running a couple of songs, a couple of videos. But I think we have gotten what we wanted now. The whole album is ready, but we are releasing singles after singles until the end of the year when the full album will be released.

Why did you join the music industry?

When I was a little baby, four years old, my mum, a chorister in the church, introduced us to music. I started singing at that time and growing up, I had so much passion for music. Watching television, I was inspired by the superstars I saw doing music and I aspired to be like them. So, that was how I metamorphosed into the person I am today. It was not a day job. It took a while to really get to this level. At some point, I saw the need for uniqueness and I worked on the Muma Gee brand to be the brand that promotes our cultural heritage through music and costuming.

Talking about costuming, how did you conceive the idea?

The conceptualisation came as a mere inspiration. I wouldn’t say it was copied. I had to rep my people. I got all the materials from my people and background. The beads, the native attire all were sourced locally. I tried as much as possible to get rooted into my background and that was basically what it was.

A name like late Brenda Fassey was easily associated with Muma Gee, but the Muma Gee brand of today is not as glitzy?

I killed it. The brand became too heavy so I needed to kill it.It became almost like a deity. The only thing left was for people to worship the brand, Muma Gee. People saw me like a goddess. There is nothing wrong in being seen as a goddess, but a lot is wrong with being so out of reach of the man in the street, you know what I mean. I didn’t like to be seen as a deity, so I needed the brand to get lighter.

Using people like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj as examples, don’t you think the goddess status is what every singer covets?

Like I said, there is nothing wrong in being a goddess. In fact, the people you just mentioned added sexiness to their brands. But Muma Gee was about tradition and culture. I think it became too traditional for the new people to get on with it. I had to get a little bit light. With the old Muma Gee, I wore beads from wrist to shoulder; I wore jewelleries all over my body, my neck was ringed with lots of necklaces, my ears lined with a variety of earrings; but today, my wrists are freer, my neck is free and I have just a lanky earing, very few bangles and my hair is smaller. I just want everyone to have the freedom to reckon with the brand.

Do you have any regrets since your decision?

No regrets about it. Even more, we wanted to make it the way we wanted it.

Whose idea was it?

It was my singular idea. I had a team working with me when I couldn’t handle the brand by myself. The team came on and keyed into the existing brand and it worked for us. We made a lot of money with that, but it is time for a change.

Resurrecting the Muma Gee without the initial traditional aura, what are you looking at?

Well, my music has tilted a bit to the trending sound. But it is still African, only more Afrocentric than just being very traditional. The hair now is thick African hair, but it is trendy still, it is youthful. The different between the former brand and the now Muma Gee brand is in the perception. Now, Muma Gee is more likeable, light and contemporary compared to the heavy Muma Gee. I actually succeeded in building a brand larger than life and older than its real self. Now, I am doing the real me. People see me and go like, “You look younger”. And I am like, “I don’t look younger, I look me.” But before I looked older than me.

How old is Muma Gee?

I am 39, heading to 40. Nothing to hide about my age. I am not ashamed of saying my age. Though a lot of people might be surprised because of the larger than life image of Muma Gee, but this is who I am.

Is it okay to say you shed your former brand because you wanted to adapt to the new, trendy music of today?

No. I did that because I wanted everyone to have access to the brand. Initially, the Muma Gee brand was heavily patronised by the rich and political class. But we want to get on the street. Let the kids, the children, the youth of today access the brand.

Can you share what music was at that time and what it is becoming now?

Music then was real music, music now is razzmatazz and noise. When I say noise, I mean the beat.

At what point did you decide it was right to get married?

Personally, I believe in the divinity of the creation of womanhood. By that I mean, the fact that a woman should at a certain point respect the fact that she can be a mother, can have her own kids and nurture them. I don’t believe in having kids outside marriage. I believe so much in marriage. I don’t believe in divorce or separation because of my Christian background. But in life, some circumstances are beyond our control. However, at the time I knew it was right to marry.

•  I want to be the most paid artiste —Cextus

When you are worked out and need to relax, what do you do?

I read a lot. I am a scholar and will remain a scholar. I read Theatre Arts at the University of PortHarcourt. I graduated in 2004. I read Marketing at Rivers State Polytechnic. Now that I am back to Lagos, I recently gained admission to study Law at the University of Lagos. I want to be the Attorney General of this country someday.  It is crazy, but I am going to get there. That is what I am doing basically in addition to pursuing my career in music.

Do you plan to leave the industry?

Absolutely not. For every challenge I have faced, both good and bad, I have always been ready and equal to it. Yes, there are moment when you feel somehow. It is life.

How do you handle scandals and which is the most shocking you’ve experienced?

I think the most shocking was two years ago when I heard that I abandoned my husband. As a woman, when you read online that your marriage was over because of a statement that was not true, coming from whom it came, it will definitely be shocking. But I took it to heart. I kept quiet for one year and kept begging the person to please tell the world the truth. When it wasn’t forthcoming, I had to grant one interview telling people my ordeal. I knew I owed no one any explanation, but there were fans and people that believe in me; more so, there were lots of young women out there who were looking up to me, these were the reasons I granted the interview. Not to undo anybody. I didn’t intend to hurt anybody.

For the avoidance of confusion, are you talking about your husband, Prince Eke?

I am not talking about any particular person.

How do you manage, school, music and taking care of your kids?

I don’t know how I do it. For example, I had an all-night event yesterday. I got home at 5am, prepared the kids for school and I am here at this event this morning. I always have nannies, even before I got married and kids. Thankfully, my mom is with me. So, I have confidence in her because she will protect my kids with all her strength.

In 2011, you were involved with the River State government.

Yes. I was the face of the River State Sport Festival. I had a video done and a theme songs. I performed with hundreds of dancers. That was fun.

Did it motivate you to contest for election in 2015?

My contesting for election has nothing to do with being face of the sports festival. My contesting election was inspired by the fact that irrespective of who we are as entertainers, I believe we can bring the required change into the system. I believe we have what it takes in terms of exposure and grassroots reach to steer the wheel of the nation right. I was motivated by this realisation to contest. I contested for the Federal House of Representatives under the Federal Constituency of Odiabidi and Ahoada East.

What was your experience during the election?

My campaign was marvellous, but my experience regarding election is that elections in Nigeria (I would not say of 2019) are usually manipulated. The real people never get the seat except they are puppets.