Encomium
Diva in the making, Azeezat started entering Lagos molues when she was five – an experience she relishes with nostalgia. Even though she now moves in cars, she’s not afraid to admit that she treasures the rare opportunity to climb ‘okadas’ whenever Lagos traffic jams rear up their ugly heads.
Where do you live and why?
I live in Takwa Bay because it’s my dream. All along, I’ve always admired international artistes living in secluded places, close to nature. And that’s what Takwa Bay has given me. I thought I was going to live in the Caribbean but I found one within Lagos.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and bred in Lagos.
Where do you shop?
You get a lot of things in Tejuosho. Because of the structures, it allows someone like me to move around?
What’s your earliest Lagos memory?
I was born in Lagos and I remember I started taking molue when I was five years old. At 10, I had started entering molue myself.
What do you miss when you’re out of Lagos?
The hustle and bustle. There’s a spirit that runs through Lagos that’s not elsewhere.
What do you hate most about Lagos?
Would I like anything changed about Lagos? Maybe NEPA. You can’t take the area bys away because that’s what makes Lagos, Lagos.
How do you get around Lagos?
In cars, I miss entering molue because that’s where I wrote most of my best songs. Now I’m confined to cars because of stardom. But whenever there’s hold-up, I jump on the bikes. I can’t stop taking okada.
What’s your favourite hang-out or pub?
I normally don’t hang out or go to clubs except if it’s work. But I like to be around Ikeja. My life revolves round Ikeja.
What are your extravagances?
My dreams. I can sacrifice anything for my dreams. I can starve myself to accomplish a dream. I spend extravagantly on my dreams and my pet project, Woman Empowerment with Entertainment (WEWE).
What new projects are you working on?
My sophomore. It’s in two volumes (double CD). One is called Abinibi, the other is Born to sing. Also, I’m celebrating my fifth anniversary on stage at the Goethe Institut on February 5, 2005. I just modeled for an outfit called Spellbound and I’m working on a new video.
Apart from Lagos, what other city are you attached to?
Canada. Apart from the fact that it’s conducive for entertainment, I love the fact that you can be so close to America yet you’re not in America.
(First published in 2005)
