Yinka Davies has a very powerful voice. Everyone who has heard her sing will attest to that. It was therefore no surprise that her voice won Voice of the Decade Award at Nigeria Music Awards (NMA) in 2007. She has spent over two decades in the Nigerian music industry, working with some of its best artistes including: Sir Shina Peters, Lagbaja, Alex O and Mike Okri. To her credit is the 14-year-old ‘5 and 6’ band and two albums, the second a double CD of 17 tracks, as well as her time as judge of Nigerian Idol. In this chat with Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, the mother of one, who also adopted her late sister’s son, talks about her music, the Performing Musician Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and her band…
How is your album, Black Chiffon, doing in the market?
Yinka DaviesNext question, please.
One only hopes that pirates are not feasting on it as is usually the case in Nigeria. Are you experiencing that challenge?
Black Chiffon is a double CD (compact disc), 17-track album. It is meant to give people value for their money.
What we need in this part of the town is to value the arts, the sustainability and preservation of the craft, plus get to know the people who are willing to export our creativity into the world. Should a pirate be willing, he is very welcome.
Looking back from Passion Band in 1990, when you started singing professionally, to the present-day, would you say that you have achieved what you set out to do with music?
Correction sir, it was Caution Band with Alex O, in 1990.
We still have a very long way to go, so I would not say I have achieved; I would say, surely, we are moving straight ahead.
These days, you are missing from the theatre that you loved so much back then, although there are many more plays on stage now. What is responsible for this?
Should anything be responsible for my unavailability to be in a play while performing somewhere else on stage?
You have described your voice as a gift from God, and it is unique. But do you sometimes feel that you may not be utilising it to the fullest?
The important thing is to keep the spirit, soul and body alive for such a dream moment.
You are naturally full of energy, and that part of you manifested when you were a judge on the ‘Nigerian Idol’ show where you clearly enjoyed yourself. Do you feel bad that you are not on the show anymore?
I am grateful for the opportunity to be an invigilator.
What do you miss most about Nigerian Idol?
All our noisemaking.
Which of the artistes that you have worked with over the years will you count as your favourite?
Each one of them is unique in their own way; they are all experiences for the archives that I may get to bring out or present on stage as my personal recipes.
‘Emi n’lo’, your first album, was released in 2002, while the next one, ‘Black Chiffon’, came in 2011. Why do you take so long in releasing an album?
You know, that is a question I probably will answer once I understand the why myself.
Are you presently working on another album; and if so, when will it be released?
You will get to hear of it soon.
What is the state of your band, ‘5 and 6’, which you formed in 2000?
My eternal gratitude must go to God, for giving me very reliable men and women these 14 years. Thank you forever for sticking with me through thick and thin, my beloved ‘5 and 6’.
Are you a member of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN)?
Yes, I am.
Does it make you feel bad that the once-vibrant PMAN is nowhere to be found in Nigerian music?
Honestly, I truly do not enjoy negative questions; that is why I look at the brighter side of things. PMAN will be sound again, as far as I am concerned.
What are your thoughts about Nigeria’s new generation of musicians; do you think they are going in the right direction?
They are all doing the best they can under the circumstances we live in.
Do you now have another manager, having parted ways with Muyiwa Majekodunmi?
I have my administration team now.
When you look back, does it worry you that you stopped formal education after secondary school?
I cannot think of any worry.
How are you going to celebrate your birthday on July 16?
Until July 16!