Orlando Owoh, My Best Artiste -Yinka Ayefele

For over a decade, YINKA AYEFELE has become an household name in Nigeria and beyond, especially among music lovers. His popularity cuts across tribes, gender and social strate. He is one person who gives no chance to his disability in achieving his goal. The Ipoti-Ekiti-born Gospel Juju music crooner recently spoke to journalists on his music, the future of entertainment in Ekiti and his plans to build a studio in his home state. AYODELE OGUNDIPE, the Managing Editor of DIAMOND MEDIA was there. Enjoy the excerpts:

 How do you see the future of entertainment in Ekiti?
The future of entertainment industry in Ekiti would have been very bright, but for the problem of hooliganism by "Area boys" which we face. Many of us want to come but to be frank, none wants to take the risk any longer.
the indigenous musicians in Ekiti dont move out, they dont reach out, no exposure except Chief Elemure Ogunyemi and Maj. Femi Ariyo who play outside the state and popularise ekiti music. If they can reach out, the better. Apart from music, look at the film industry. i dont think they have an association for the theatre practictioners. Even if they have, is it functioning?

Orlando Owoh, My Best Artiste -Yinka Ayefele

People say you have been attacked in Ekiti on some ocassions...
(cuts in)
In fact, if not because I am from Ekiti, I would not be coming to ekiti to play. I have been attacked in Ayetoro-Ekiti for instance, but the Aretoro experience was even better than that of Ikere. The Ikere experience was terrible. In the country generally, as an entertainer, you "settle" the area boys, but in foreign lands, nob ody harasses you. In abroad, they recognise and appreciate entertainers; right from the airport, they show enthusiasm and give money to us rather than collecting.

How did you get into music because they said you started as a broadcaster?
They got it wrong. I actually started with music originally. I was not a broadcaster. Right from my secondary school days in my hometown, Ipoti-Ekiti, I was a trumpeter, guitarist and so on. I was a member of the Boys Brigade. However, on getting to Ibada, I worked with popular artistes like Toye Ajagun, Wale Thompson and Micho Ade. I was also a guitarist with the Assemblies of God Church where I was placed on salary as a guitarist. It was there I met a woman who introduced me to Radio Nigeria. But along the line, the musician in me made me to produce musical jingles as a pioneer in that area. Though, I was enjoying broadcast, it was in the process of raising funds for my treatment after my accident that I released Bitter Experience. Later to show appreciation to donors, I released Sweet Experience and on and on like that...

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