Encomium
Paschal Uche Ejikeme, famously known as Etcetera is one of Nigeria’s brilliant but underrated music stars. No doubt, he has carved a niche for himself in the saturated industry, churning out many fantastic songs, including This is not a Song, Michelle’, Biafra, Ring the alarm, among others.
The award winning soft rock musician is now a columnist with one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, The Punch, where he writes about problems and changes we need. Unfortunately, he recently came under attack, especially from colleagues, who believe he wanted cheap popularity after a failed music career.
Etcetera, however, disagreed, insisting it’s nothing but the truth, “and of course, people hate the truth.” In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, held on Sunday, August 10, 2014, the singer bared it all…
Being a columnist for a Nigerian leading newspaper, The Punch, would you say it’s by accident?
No. It wasn’t by accident. Writing has always been a passion of mine and I didn’t think twice before accepting the offer.
When exactly did you get the offer to start writing a column?
I started writing a couple of weeks back.
There were speculations that you chose to become a columnist when music wasn’t fetching you fortune as expected?
There will always be speculators, my friend. Won’t the world be boring without them? I accepted being a columnist because, just like music, it is a powerful correctional tool, and if properly used, you can influence and stir the minds of the people positively. And just like my music, I write about changes that our society needs, traits it lacks and how to achieve a better system from the present rot.
How is the experience now being a columnist compared to your years of being a music star?
I am still a musician and being a columnist feels no different. When you listen to my music, you will understand what I mean from the depth of the message. But with music, your words are laid on a bed of sweet, sad or melancholic melodies. I am a musician and that is one habit that doesn’t die easily.
When did you drop your last song and what are you working on now?
I am dropping a song soon and also working on my next album. And let all those fans who are worried I left music, fret not.
Your write-ups have sparked controversies, especially from your colleagues. They believe it’s a publicity stunt for you to be relevant after a failed music career. What’s your take on that?
You call it controversial, but a lot of other people call it The Truth. And if you attribute the truth to publicity stunt, then the writers of the Bible must be equally guilty. And let’s not forget that the essence of freedom and democracy is for people to be able to air their opinions always without retribution. After all, we are all humans, even though some are political dancers.
But why did you think the likes of Tiwa Savage and husband, Freez, Olisah, etc publicly criticised you, even when you didn’t mention their names?
I think you should ask them. They are the only ones who can answer that question. I am not a shrink or a mind reader. So, I wouldn’t know why they said what they said. People’s rights to their opinions must be respected at all times. As a nation, that is what we are trying to achieve and we will get there someday, by God’s grace.
A lot of conscious songs don’t really go far in the Nigerian market of today, reason some artistes switched style and it’s working for them. Why not do the same?
I am not a groupie. Nobody sets standards for me. So, I make my own part. Goodluck to those artistes that have changed because they thought the new course is better. If there are many routes to the village square, it’s left for everyone to choose a more appropriate one. We are a country of diverse ethnicity, why can’t we also be a country diverse in music.
If you have the opportunity to change anything in the industry, what would that be?
There is no industry yet, my brother. So, the only thing that can be changed is everything.
Why do you think no industry?
My brother, what we have is just a bunch of hard working individuals swimming against the tide to make a living for themselves.
What and what do we need to have the industry of our dream?
We need structures to have an industry. And as we speak, we don’t have that luxury yet.
Yet our artistes are known globally, making impact across Africa and the world, and you said we don’t have an industry?
Our artistes are known globally because music is the only universally acceptable language. But with structures, our musicians will rip the fruits of their labour and have something to fall back when they are too old to jump on stage anymore.
– RASHEED ABUBAKAR
