Emmanuel Daraloye is a Nigeria-based music critic. In this long interview, he tells our correspondent about his journey so far in the art of music criticism, the challenges, triumphs, and many more. The interview has been edited for clarity purposes.
For those who might not know, can you lead us through who Emmanuel Daraloye is?
My name is Emmanuel Daraloye. I was born on December 30, 1994, in Ipele. I grew up in Akure. I was nurtured in Ondo City. In the last three decades, these three cities have been a focal point of my existence. I had a bit of my Primary education in Ipele at St. Stephen Anglican Primary School, I completed it at King and Queen Nursery and Primary School, Oke Aro, Akure. I spent six years at St. Dominic High School, Akure for my secondary school education. Six months ago, I ‘officially’ graduated from Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. I studied English Education. While in school, I co-founded a campus-based online newspaper called Arbico Parrot. It stems from my passion for journalism and an attempt to enlighten the students. I have always been a writer, I took it more seriously in 2010 when I wrote an article titled “Nigeria of my dreams”, which was reviewed by my then-English teacher, her encomium encouraged me to forge ahead.
Let talk about your journalism voyage, lead us through it
Between 2015 and 2019, I worked on radio stations like Arbico FM, Eki 100.9 FM, the defunct Music and Cultured radio owned by King Sunny Ade. My roles in this station go from news broadcasting, Sports presentations, entertainment program presentations, and so on. Between July 2018 and April 2019, I served as a media aide to Hon. Maxwell Adelosoye, one of the finest new crop of politicians in Ondo State, contested for Ondo West Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly. Before I switched fully to music criticism, I was already writing or doing something related to the entertainment sector. While I was in school, I was part of the show organizers, I managed the artistes, and I designed rollout plans for artistes, too. For those who followed me on social media between 2013 to 2018, I was already writing a bit about the entertainment industry. Things just took a new and more intentional direction in January 2020. Also, while I was in school, my articles had already been published in Sahara Reporters, Punch Newspaper, Guardian Newspaper, etc.
For the past three years, I have been fully into music criticism. I have written reviews for some of the biggest media platforms in Nigeria and beyond. It all stems from my love for music and a way to document Nigerian music.
It started offline, because, for most of the year 2019, I was not on any social media platforms, whenever I was with friends and big brothers, they got mesmerized by the way I analyzed music, they called me ‘music head’ and urged me to take it seriously.
On January 1, 2020, I made a full return to social media and kicked off my journey. With moral and financial support from my benefactor, Mr. Adedayo OlaOluwa better known as Ogbeni La. I started with WhatsApp, then Facebook. I wrote on Facebook for more than a year before Mr. Taiwo Adebulu of The Cable News reached out to me. He was the angel who helped my life. After this encounter, I started writing for Cable News. Months later, Mr. John Paul Akinduro linked me up with Mr. Victor Ogunyinka, who published my reviews in Vanguard Newspaper. My Facebook friend, Rahaman Abiola Toheeb was magnanimous enough to allow Legit News to publish some of my music reviews. In 2021, I met the London-based poet Dami Ajayi on Twitter, he became a mentor to me, and I wrote a couple of reviews for The Lagos Review. In the second half of 2021, Mr. Jerry Chiemeke selected me as one of the staff of Afrocritik. I have been with the platform ever since. In October 2022, I was elevated to a senior music critic position at Afrocritik.
Dr. Charles Omotayo contracted me to write for Ranks Africa Magazine. My former coursemate at Adeyemi College, Bioluwatife Akinyemi, linked me up with Mr. Rotimi Ige of Tribune Newspaper where I wrote some reviews for the newspaper. In September 2022, I debuted for Not Just OK, I appreciate Mr. Ademola Ogundele for the help. The support of these people and many more has been a catalyst for my growth as a music critic in the last three years. In the years 2021 and 2022, Black Pride Magazine selected me as one of the top five music journalists in Nigeria.
You have been a journalist for more than a decade, how do you think growing up has shaped who you are right now?
Thank you for this lovely question. Growing up between Akure and Ipele played a huge role in my current journey. I lived in a house where I read the newspaper every day. At one point, my guardian gave me a radio, and I had my radio with me. While everybody was asleep, I was listening to late-night shows. I read newspapers and listened to the radio a lot. My love for journalism started from this. Like the natural law of nature, I started writing in my room. I wrote poems, short stories, and all that. At some point, I was even writing songs. I know my way around 16 bars and all that. This whole journalism was just a natural occurrence, by the time I got to Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, my passion had been uplifted and here we are.
Who were some of the journalists you read about their work?
There are too many to mention. My earliest recollection would be Mr. Mike Awoyinfa of the Saturday Sun Newspaper back page. My guardian always fancies him. Then there was Sam Omatseye of the Nation Newspaper, Tunde Fagbenle of Punch Newspaper, and Tatalo Alamu on the third page of The Nation Newspaper on Sunday. I read a bit of Femi Adesina and Dele Momodu, too. I can’t be exhaustive in my listing, they are too numerous to mention.
Long before I started reviewing music, I was already a fan of Dami Ajayi, Osagie Alonge, Ogagus Sakpaide, Ayomide Tayo, Motolani Alake, and Joey Akan. They helped in shaping my writing.
What’s your take on music criticism in Nigeria?
It’s still at a novel stage. I believe it can always get better. One of the reasons I started writing music criticism was for documentation purposes and also due to the lacuna I noticed in the industry. I observed that the industry was more concerned about showbiz, gossip, glamour, and all that. I was just fed up, rather than complaining, I swung to action, and I began writing about the art they created. I have never been interested in the personal lives of artistes. Take for instance, Brymo, Asa, and Show Dem Camp are some of the few artiste I love in Nigeria, I don’t follow any of them on social media, there was a period I didn’t check their social media handle for close to a year. I don’t care much about their personal life. I just want to enjoy the music, write a review, and keep it going. More people are now writing about the music, I find it lovely and I think it can still be better.
Are you familiar with the music industry?
Thank you for this question. I know the music industry like the back of my hand. I live and breathe music. Like I said earlier, I am a music critic. And at the last count, I have reviewed close to 700 bodies of work.
What are some of your favorite genres of music?
For someone who was born in the 1990s, I grew up on a bit of Juju music of Chief Sunny Ade, and Ebenezer Obey. As a Christian I was heavily influenced by Funmi Aragbaye, Senwele Jesu, Mama Bola Are, and Tope Alabi. By the time I relocated to Akure City in 2003, I began frolicking with Reggae music due to the influence of my guardian, Dr Raman Abubakri. His love for Reggae music rubbed off on me as I began listening to Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, and the like. By the time I got to secondary school in 2006, I was already writing songs while listening to the early Afrobeats greats like 2face, P-Square, Dbanj, and 9ice. So, my favorite type of music genre changes as time goes on. As of the time of granting this interview, I have been listening to more Hip-Hop, Apala, Juju, Afrobeat, Reggae, and Afrobeats.
How would you describe your writing style?
My writing style is lovely. I tend to always point out what the readers don’t notice in music in my reviews coupled with some backstories.
What is your experience with interviewing musicians?
It has just been fair. I have never been a fan of interviewing musicians. I always prefer to write about their music. Perhaps, due to my current location, getting access to these artistes can be problematic, some of them ghost you after you have booked an interview session with them. I have interviewed a cross-section of artistes, from Beautiful Nubia, Dresan, Kabex, Ajebutter 22, King Perrryy, Pheelz, and others. I still regard my interview session with Pheelz and Beautiful Nubia as my favourite so far.
Provide an example of a time when you had to research and write a music-related article quickly.
I do research for every one of my articles. For every one of my articles you read, at least an hour or more has been expended into researching. Providing an example would mean I have to furnish examples for all my work.
If you had the opportunity to interview any musician, who would it be and why?
Fela Kuti is the only artiste I wish to interview. I idolize Fela. Another artiste that I would be glad to interview is Damian Marley. I’d like to have a conversation with Vector, Jesse Jargz, and Brymo.
How well do you know the lyrics to popular songs?
I know some, for others, I don’t know, I always check the internet for the correct one. Some are not even correct.
When writing an article, how do you decide what information to include and what to leave out?
How do I answer your question? I just went with the flow, there was a period where I was tabulating some of my points. At one point, it looked forced. So, these days, I just do enough research, assimilate enough information, and then fire on my keyboard.
Which music websites do you regularly read?
Afrocritik, I check that website a lot. Also, The Lagos Review,Not Just Ok, Culture Custodian, Native Magazine, and Pulse NG.
What do you think is the most important aspect of music journalism?
Researching, reading, and writing. The reading part I learned from Dami Ajayi. There was a period in 2021, I was under his tutelage for about three months. I have read more articles than books since the beginning of 2023.
How often do you listen to music?
I listen to music every day. That is a part of my life.
Thank you for your time Emmanuel Daraloye, I wish you all the best.
It has been awesome sharing my time with you. I appreciate you.
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