"Interview Of Onyeka Onwenu"

How did you get your first break into music, then later, acting?

 

While still in the United States in 1978 or thereabouts, I happened to speak on the phone with Sunny Okosuns. His first wife Nkechi was the sister of my first cousin’s wife, Ada Dan-Chimah and Sunny had called their house in Chicago where I was spending my summer holidays.

I told him I was interested in having a professional music career.

 

He asked me to send him a demo tape, which I did and which he liked. When I got back to Nigeria in 1980, I contacted him again and he took me to EMI. I was signed on and Sunny Okosuns produced my first album, ‘Endless Life’.

I never planned to go into acting.

 

My immediate elder sister Ijeoma was the Actress in the family and she was very talented, my mother too. 

 

However, around 1989, Zik Zulu blackmailed me into acting in the film, ‘Nightmare’.

The story was about a childless woman who found an abandoned baby and raised her.

 

He promised that the proceeds would go to an orphanage. He had faith that I could act.

 

The film was well received and my acting career took off from there.

 

 

 

A lot of veterans have issues with present-day lyrical content and shoddy live performances — what’s your take on this?

I grew up in Port Harcourt in the ’50s and early ’60s, before the Nigeria/Biafra war. Those were the days of Rex Lawson, Osita Osadebe Celestine Ukwu, etc. Their songs were philosophical.

But they also had lyrics castigating women and calling them Ashawo, ‘One Pound no balance’ and so on.

 

That made me promise myself that I would sing songs that would uplift women.

My point is that sexy, nonsensical lyrics have always been with us. As each generation matures, they realise that what endures is what edifies. They will switch tactics and write better songs.

I am more worried though about their videos. They are becoming more sexually explicit by the day and the children are watching. In fact, they are being influenced by the lewd dances they see in these videos, and their parents seem unconcerned.

 

Mark my words, sooner than later, these children will begin to enact these sexual moves in real life.

I was at a children’s party recently and I nearly cried at what I was witnessing. Many parents were around and didn’t care.

But when I took over the microphone and began singing my songs, Iyogogo, Ekwe, You and I, Bia Nulu, Alleluya, etc, the dance steps changed.

 

The children enjoyed dancing and synchronised their steps but no lewd movements.

 

 

 

Did you ever consider taking a hike when the entertainment industry wasn’t as financially profitable as present day?

Yes, I considered leaving the music industry, but not for financial reasons, but for the lack of respect and consideration from the audience, the press, as well as the male practitioners in the industry.

Sometimes, people feel that you are public property just because you are a woman and an entertainer. They feel that they are entitled to talk to you anyhow, touch you, use your services and not pay you.

I had to devise ways to protect myself.

 

My policy is to only mix with people on a professional basis.

 

I am very formal. I do not joke around and I do not socialise. I also collect all my fees before the show.

By the same token, I conduct myself in a professional and self-respecting manner. I leave no room for failure to live up to expectations. In fact, I strive to exceed expectations in my performances.

I must say, however, that this has led to some people labelling me a snub. But I am not. I am indeed shy and very down to earth. I am also confident and self-assured.