Nigerian drummer and musician, Ara, recently clocked 40, which attracted accolades from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Wole Soyinka and a host of others. Surprisingly, after over 25-years as a performer, Aralola Olamuyiwa is just set to drop an album this year. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, the drummer girl spoke on marriage, Kefee’s death, romance with movie industry and many more…

At 40, are you satisfied with your accomplishments?

I am thankful to God for the celebration, though I am not there yet. I just started and like they say ‘life begins at 40.’ The new age means I have to double up my effort and work harder. I will release my debut album this year too, which is the first time in my entire career. So, this is a critical time in my life and a lot is happening.

Considering you’ve been around since 1987, don’t you think you’ve delayed an album too long?

That is the beauty of a performer. When you are a performer, you never go out of fashion or demand and it explains the reason we last longer. I am more of a performer than a recording artiste. King Sunny Ade is still valuable till date. I don’t want to go to the international scene, but performers are evergreen. It is not too late; I would rather say I am highly

favoured and blessed to have come this far without releasing a single album out there.

How would you describe the reception of your recent birthday gig at Oriental Hotel, Lagos?

An Evening with Ara was awesome and everything I dreamt of. I just wanted to hang out with friends, but unfortunately a lot of people could not make it because we had problem in getting the invitation cards out early. My mother, family, friends in the entertainment industry, the media among others were all in attendance.

At the gig too, former President Obasanjo, Professor Wole Soyinka and few others lauded your contribution to development of culture in the country. Does that add anything to you?

I was really glad. We are blessed to have a man like OBJ and Wole Soyinka in this country.Nigerians are a peculiar people and we must know for a fact that once a president is always a president and Baba still has a great pool in the political arena. Wole Soyinka also is respected in the society. I feel they still appreciate and understand our culture. Obasanjo’s endorsement of me as a cultural ambassador and one worthy of emulation is an icing on the cake.

Most people know you as a drummer, but you had a screening of your movie (Osunfunke) at the ceremony too. What is that about?

It is my first movie under Ara Entertainment productions. I delved into movie productions for one reason to further expose tourism potential in this country and exhibit our culture to the outside world. It is not enough for me again to get on stage and play drums, as I need people to also see the beautiful part of us and to know our history because it is who we are. I need people to see the tourism potential that we have in this country that are yet to be tapped into.

We have some countries in the world that do not have what we have, yet they make money from tourism. We have potential and we are not riding on the advantage. I was so surprised when few people who saw the movie and from Osun State too didn’t know that Ijoko Ogedegbe and Odofejegboju still exist. The scene where the peace treaty was signed by different kings after the Kiriji War is still there too. If these places were to be outside the country, they will attract tourists and bring money. It is high time we started looking inward in this country. There is so much tourism potential that we are not tapping into. I am opened to do everything to project my culture and tourism potential of the country. It could be through music, movie or poetry.

It seems you know much about culture and heritage; could this be as a result of your background or education?

It is my passion. It has nothing to do with my background or education; it is about my love for my country, culture and my root. Bob Marley says if you know where you are coming from, you will know where you are going to. This is who I am. We have many black Americans, who don’t know their identity or root, but I am privileged to be here and I appreciate what motherland has given me. My brothers and sisters are out there in Diaspora and they have no-one to look up to, but I dare to breach that gap. There is so much happening in Nigeria and either the world likes it or not, we are the giant of Africa. We might not be doing everything right, but we are doing some things right because we cannot all go wrong. I believe strongly in this country and I know that one day we would right all our wrongs.

But don’t you think demands of movies will clash with your music?

Both are interwoven and they come naturally to me. I don’t see myself having any major challenge in combining music and acting. Osunfunke will be in the cinema soon this year.

Of all the awards you’ve bagged, which do you consider priceless?

I would say the Key to the City of Miami in 2004. It meant a lot to me because it was a liberty key given to me for breaking a major traditional barrier and for being the first female talking drummer in Africa. It really encouraged me and gave me the authority to speak to the Nigerian girl child that sees herself as a limitation to achieving greatness in life.

How challenging was it to push the talking drum into limelight?

I would say that the timing was right for me. At about the time Ara emerged, the world was already waiting for something different. You know anywhere in the world where a woman wears a man’s cloth it is always appealing and people want to ask questions. And of course, with the support of everyone who stood by me and encouraged me to go further, I was able to make a statement. I thank God for that.

You recently signed a management deal with Akinwale Oluwaleimu’s Event and Entertainment Consult. What does that really entail?

I am signed on to Aremo Segun Oniru’s ‘D Prince Is Here Entertainment’ record label and we had a meeting on most suitable management outfit that could help push and project the Ara brand to greater heights. Though I had option of different management outfits, I went for Akinwale because he has a passion for music and he has been around for years. If there is anyone who understands the music industry better in Nigeria, it is him. He was also there from the inception and creation of the Ara Brand. Since I didn’t want to place my career in the hands of any mediocre, I went for him.

You speak so well and with outstanding confidence; could you tell us about your formal education?

I don’t know everything; I am just informed and I wish every Nigerian youths will be informed so that we will know our rights. After my elementary education, I went to the University of Ilorin to study law but left to do music.

I later went back to Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, to study English and I was there for like two years. I was even the vice president of the department and was doing well before destiny called.

So you were a dropout?

I am not a dropout because I had a choice. I see it that I heeded to the higher calling.

Could you tell us more about your debut album?

It is a 12-track album with the title, Arade! My management will inform the public when it would be out. On the album, I featured Pasuma, MI, Poffy T and few others. Tomy fans, with the album, you will get a real feel of Ara. It is just a way of saying thank you for walking along with me through all these years.

Do you have any favourite track?

For me to have waited for almost 25-years to release an album, you should realise that every single track in that album is very important to me. So I would tell people to take time to listen to each track when it comes out.

You occasionally bring your son to events. Are you consciously preparing him for entertainment? Have you seen traits that he might want to follow your steps someday?

At my birthday celebration, there was no way I would have done that without my son by my side. So, it is natural for him to accompany me once in a while to shows, though it is his choice. He is just six years old and whatever he decides to be in life I would only guide him. He plays the talking drums well. Naturally, he likes the drums and music. He knows virtually all the artistes. Now, I cannot really say if he would takeafter me because he is still young.

It has been a while since you left your husband; do you have plans to give marriage a second shot?

Marriage is not my priority now. When the time comes, I would face it.

How is the relationship with your ex-husband?

That is a forgotten issue; let’s face the present.

I think it would only be right to hear from the horse’s mouth. After the death of Kefee, it was in the news that you predicted her demise. Was there anything like such?

I didn’t predict Kefee’s death. I had a dream, and I told her about it and the need to be careful. Her death was painful because Kefee was like a baby sister to me. When I heard the prediction news, I was not surprised. I have been in the industry for years and I know how they turn things around to sell papers or blogs. Though I didn’t like the fact that it had to do with somebody’s demise, it wasn’t a problem to me and there was nothing I could do to control it. There are certain things we don’t have control over.

Could you share with us an incident that almost broke you down?

Most definitely I have and I think every human being have been through those paths in life. I am no different. I don’t want to dig up holes that I had forgotten. It is okay with me to let them go, but I have been there and I sailed through. I thank God I live to tell my story. I came, I saw and I conquered them.

What legacy do you love to leave behind?

There are many young girls today that will testify to the fact that they’ve been able to go a little bit further in life just because Aramade did something with the talking drum. So, I believe I have been able to impact the Nigerian girl child by telling them that being a girl should propel them to work harder and remain focused. I think the legacy is already set and themost important thing is that I have been able to impact young girls.

Who would you say was your greatest influence in life?

That is my father. I’m from a polygamous home, but my dad was a father like a mother. He didn’t joke with his kids and we meant everything to him. My career started when I was six and my father encouraged me. I was a very troublesome child and I did all the wrong things as a kid because I grew up in the midst of boys. I did everything the boys did and I got into loads of trouble. People said negative things about me being promiscuous and all sorts because I was always with the boys a lot. It was how I grew up; no girls to play with. But my father understood me better than anyone. While everyone else was tearing me apart, my father would tell me to always raise my heads up. He also gave me the opportunity to defend myself each time they reported me and I did anything wrong. So, that means a lot to me as a kid and I transferred that to the way I treat my son too. If he is accused of something, I would hear his side of the story and warn him if he manages to defend himself properly.

And if I see that he is intentionally naughty, then I deal with him. My father instilled a lot in me and he was a very loving man.

Did your father play drums too?

He was a banker for over 30-years. But from my maternal side, I have the blood of the Alaafin of Oyo. My cousin and my great uncle play talking drums. I think it is genetic for me. On holidays; I spend time with them and watch.

We have few days to elections and everyone is involved. How would you advise Nigerians, especially youths?

They should be asking the right questions. Since the youth comprises over 60 per cent of the population, they are the problem and solution. We should be asking questions on why we elected President Goodluck Jonathan and why we must re-elect him; why Ambode and why Agbaje.

Are we asking the right questions or selling our destiny? If we get it wrong this time, we should not point fingers to anyone but ourselves. So we should ask the right questions and put the right person there because the power is in our hands. The earlier we realize how powerful we are, the better for us. We should not be carried away by advert or the glamour because that is not the essence of political positions. It is about getting in there, servingthe people and making life a better place for the populace. I really feel sorry for youths that will sell their mandates during these elections.