ONYEKA ONWENU: Female singers should do more than shake bum

From being a music celebrity, actress, journalist, politician to changing into an writer at 68, there’s not a lot that Onyeka Onwenu doesn’t have an thought about. OLAITAN GANIU joined the lady, who’s extensively known as the ‘Elegant Stallion’ in her youthful years, for a digital chat as she launched her memoir titled, My Father’s Daughter. Onwenu spoke on varied points starting from feminism to music and extra in addition to her journey to fame.

You’re eight years older than Nigeria, what your recommendation for the nation as we clocked 60?

Let’s maintain this nation collectively for the youthful ones. We can’t go away this place worst than what we met. So, it’s a matter of particular person efforts as a result of I imagine that all of us have friends of affect even a small little one does. Inside your friends, what are you able to do to make life higher for the subsequent particular person? What are you able to do for your self, your neigbour and your nation? All of us can do one thing.

Largely, I’m begging the leaders of this nation. We’re quick approaching the pessimist, let’s watch out. Every time we had completed so previously, God has a manner of pulling us again from the brink and made us say that God loves Nigeria. We pray that He’ll be capable to pull us again once more however we’ve received to assist ourselves by stopping the corrupt practices, being leaders we referred to as to be, serving the individuals, main by instance, instructing our kids proper. ‘You destroy this nation you ain’t received no different’ as a result of different individuals have their drawback, they received’t take you in. So, we received to remain right here and be aware of our doings. Don’t begin one thing that you just don’t know the way it going to finish.

For youthful individuals, you’ve a duty to study, to be well mannered, to talk the reality, be hardworking. All of us have duties.

What’s your take about feminism and girl-child rights?

Feminism, that phrase that we’re so fearful of? It’s not a nasty factor, it’s a good factor. It means, as a lady, I’m not going to apologize, I’m not going to be the second charge, I’m not going to take the backseat as a result of I’m a lady and I must be seen and never be heard.

I at all times say once I die and go to heaven to fulfill my God and He asks: “Onyeka, why did you not obtain issues I informed you to go and do.” I’d say, “Papa, the lads didn’t let me.” I can’t give that excuse. What I’m saying is that it doesn’t imply that I’m higher than the person, it doesn’t say that we should all be doing the identical issues as a result of we now have our totally different strengths and weak point however we should complement and respect one and different.

Guess what, I’ve boys and I don’t have women however I’ve many daughters on the market. What I at all times inform them is – be your self, be your finest and don’t let anyone push you down and don’t push down anyone, both.

It’s believed that younger feminine is commonly taught to suppress their emotions for them to get together with others, what’s your view on this assumption?

Don’t let anyone make you suppress something about your self – expertise, zeal, perception, who you’re, your world view, your skill to precise your reality. Don’t give anyone that sort of energy as a result of should you lose it, you lose your self. Hold making use of your self, doing good, loving your self, neigbour sooner or later the world will come round and acknowledge your reality and the truth that you didn’t hand over or promote out.

Does your new e book ‘My Father’s Daughter’ tackle a few of these challenges?

Sure. ‘My Father’s Daughter’ tackle the problems going through the girl-child. Hoping that lots of younger girls would learn this e book and study some coping measures they will take for themselves.

Principally, I come out of this, not apologising for being a lady – a robust girl, a profitable girl, a forward-looking girl. I would like each girl-child to know that they created for a goal. Sure, you’re going to face challenges, that is the society we discover ourselves in, however you’re going to surmount and survive them to make good with the aim of your life.

It’s a e book of tales, my experiences with challenges that I needed to face.  It doesn’t glamorise anyone’s life, it simply says that is what I went by means of, these are the teachings that I realized and perhaps you may study to not make the errors that I made. The e book doesn’t paint me having an ideal life or having all of the solutions however it says this my tales. It’s very deep. Although, it may not be an ideal e book as a result of I’m not an ideal particular person, nobody is.

Lately, you revealed that you just married to a Yoruba Muslim. Did you face any problem out of your kinsmen being an Igbo girl?

Under no circumstances. My household sort of knew that I’m an independent-minded particular person. I’ll do no matter I needed to do by way of whomever I fell in love with. He was a Muslim earlier than we received married and there was no objection to that. My youngsters are proudly Yoruba and Igbo, so should you say one thing unhealthy in regards to the two tribes, they’ll question you and that’s the angle we must always all have.

Let’s cease insulting and deliberating and placing down one another. We’re blessed with the richness of our tradition and that’s what makes this place (Nigeria) very attention-grabbing. Be happy with who you’re, the place you come from as a result of you may’t love somebody with out loving your self first. We must always settle for what God has completed to this nation by placing us collectively as one entity.

You’re one of many only a few feminine singers in Nigeria way back, what was it like discovering your voice in a male-dominated trade?

I don’t know the place to start, however I do discuss on how tough it was… about PMAN and all of the processes of mine and different individuals’s contribution to the trade together with Chief Mrs. Chris Essien Igbokwe. She introduced loads the leisure trade.

There’s a severe fear in regards to the high quality of music by way of lyrics and nudity compared to evergreen songs recorded by the older era, what your recommendation?

Watch out of what you reside for prosperity. In case you can’t give your finest, don’t step out as a result of what you recorded is at all times going to be there for lengthy, so you bought to present it the perfect. Middle your artistry round one thing that may final with that means, not simply shaking bumbum and it’s simply the ladies which might be at all times shaking it, the lads don’t shake something. Ladies are price greater than shaking their bumbum. Sufficient of the bumbum.

Although, everyone seems to be free to be inventive, however simply know that yours is not going to final whereas the opposite particular person with significant lyrics will stay evergreen.

Musically, we’ve not heard from you. Are you utilizing your new e book to get followers again?

I’ve ardent music followers. They don’t go no-where (laughing)… we’re collectively. However, I’ve been releasing stuff, the way in which music is been put out as of late are totally different. In case you go to my Youtube channel you will notice lots of my new music. There’s the one referred to as, ‘Arumba’ which is a few younger woman and the risks that she’s uncovered to and I even have a tune on IDP, ‘Not Alone,’ and plenty of a number of songs on the platform.

Any plans to collaborate with the brand new era artistes?

I’ve been collaborating. Phyno and I did a tune titled, Ochie Dike which turned out to be a stupendous model. So, it’s as much as the brand new era artistes to name me on. I’m at all times out there, particularly for ladies, I’ll at all times assist as a result of girls, ‘we should shine greater than the lads ooo!’… but when they (feminine singers) don’t attain out to me, I can’t pressure them. However, they need to know that I’m all about them.

What’s your motive of writing a memoir?

The considered penning this e book has been with me for fairly typically. The reason being, for individuals of my era, we now have loads to show and share. As my youngsters are rising up, I inform them lots of tales however I have to put these tales in writing, to allow them to go it right down to their youngsters and grandchildren. After I’m gone they know that they’ve this grandmother who was a little bit of emotional and little bit of a troublesome girl.

The e book isn’t just for my household but in addition the younger individuals on the market as a result of I at all times really feel unhealthy about what is going on within the society, the place the nation goes, we’re dropping loads a part of our tradition, socialization, the instructing of oldsters to youngsters. I wish to go away behind younger individuals that may learn and say ‘Oh! Now I do know. So she went by means of this and survived it. I can also survive.’ These are my causes, although it was tough writing it.

How a lot of your profession does the e book seize?

The e book is over 450 pages. I talked about my failure. Whenever you fall you rise up, you don’t want to remain in a single place. Be taught out of your errors and transfer on – it’s in regards to the lesson learnt – in public life, music, college, performing, broadcast in addition to rising up. I hope this e book evokes everybody to put in writing a e book in order that we are able to share with the subsequent generations. You shouldn’t go to heaven with out writing a e book.