BEVERLY HILLS, April 11, (THEWILL) – Talented vocalist, dancer, stage performer, actor and a former judge of Nigerian Idol, Yinka Davies is a delight to be with. Her charm easily rubs off on a sad soul. The multilinguist who has been off the entertainment scene for a while, opens up to Shade Metibogun on love, music, finding Christ and sundry issues. Excerpts.
Up until the sad news about your son, you were off the entertainment scene for a while. What have you been up to lately?
I have been remodeling, I am trying to fix my house, as you can see. I have been trying to do right for so long. Now I am trying to diversify. Music wise, I have written quite a lot, I need them to find expression. I have been at it but the situation on ground made me pause. Artists are interactive kind of people, the reason we are who we are is because of you people. We imitate your lives and we present your life to you so when we don’t have the chance to do that, you are more or less crippled. I have to use the word crippled and I am not using it lightly. When we don’t get such opportunities, we cripple the beauty of giving you something you never want to forget, something that will make you ask for more, you know that excitement. That is what we live for.
You are blessed with a powerful vocal range but you have not been making and recording music. Why is this so?
Art for me is a very precious gift from God; I can’t tell you that I love you when I don’t mean it. There are tricks to the trade. Some people have a love centered music kind of lifestyle and then some people think of the curve. I think of the curve when I am working with other people. We can always create on the spot but, for me to write a song, it must get beyond the curve, I must be inspired and the Holy Spirit is my only helper when it gets to that. I cannot force myself to write because I just want to write or make money. Of course, it is not a bad idea to make money, you need it but that is not my reason. So making more music may take a while. I am probably buying time so that when I hit you guys with a bang, you will enjoy it.
What is your opinion about the music industry right now in terms of lyrics, artist management and record labels?
I can’t blame the younger generation for the kind of music they do. The people who were before them are way too far from them. I am like the closest thing for them to see and I am not even out there like before and so what they see on television that is foreign, is what they turn to and appropriate our culture into it. The slang is Nigeria, the innuendo is Nigeria. It is really a lot of concern and I can’t blame them for it. We are not there for them. As for the record label, we don’t have them anymore, sad to say, it is one of the main setbacks in the scene. The structure is missing, we need to bring back the blueprint of what is left of it. When a good record label comes, everybody will know. And then if you observe, if you are not from a wealthy or influential family, you will find out that there is no way for you in the industry. One should be able to get ahead irrespective of the person’s background, and it is just a matter of time. I love every one of them, we see, we hug and chat and we move on.
What is your idea of a good record label, what are the structures you are talking about?
Let us get the blueprint first. There should be a structure on ground; collecting royalty is there, getting money off every record album sold, which is not the same anymore. This is a new generation, everything is gone to the cloud, life has changed. If you don’t know how to make money through the internet you are gone. You don’t need record labels anymore. That was what happened to Teni, she pumped money into herself, she went online, posted herself there, got her friends to vote for her so her rating will be very high and that is it, she is reaping the benefits today.
Why do you think such a thing is happening? Is it that those who are supposed to be role models are too preoccupied to tutor the younger generation?
You have used the right words; we are too preoccupied with nothing.
There are now so many record labels out there that just sign on artists, get them flashy cars but after two years, they just fade off the scene. What is your take on this style?
Those ones did not come for music; they came for a different kind of business. The music is a front if you ask me. It is sad but it is true. Our job gives people license to do and undo. Those who know how to throw money around have discovered that secret, it is not even a secret, it has always been like that. Artists are the best thing to put in front to cover up for a lot of evil you are going to do around, it has been going on since like forever.
Veterans like Mike Okri are staging a comeback and plan to give the younger ones a run for their money. What do you make of his decision?
Yes oh, he needs to come back, he is just a magnificent crooner, I salute his depth and talent.
As a former judge on Idol West Africa, do you think music reality shows are the way forward for music talents?
It is just one of the many outlets for people to shine, it is never a way forward.
There was uproar on social media after one of the judges of a music reality show recently judged a contestant harshly. As a former judge of a reality show, do you think judges should pamper contestants in reality shows or tell them the hard truth?
From the look of stuff, we all differ. I don’t really know the scenario you are painting but one thing I will say is that Nigeria is so blessed, though it is taking so long to nurture young children. The country is 60 years old now, you can imagine those born when Nigeria got independence, they are 60 now, do you know what that means? The ones that had it are tired of fighting; the ones that are behind don’t know what to fight for. Give the people some respect a little bit, we don’t have music schools, we don’t have drama schools and there are no teachers. A lot of good minded, incredible professors are being taken away by international communities. So, who will train the people on the street? When we saw the likes of Daddy Showkey, we started singing along with them. Some of these street guys are not learned, they are just trying to showcase their talents. They should be respected for coming out, they should be applauded for making a trial, that is all I have to say.
You are very passionate about Nigeria. Where do you think we got it wrong and how can we retrace our steps?
That is a strong question. Let me say the nastiest thing you have ever heard. I will say it was when Nigerians rejected God. We think we are church goers; we pray but we don’t believe in him, that is rejection. It is just like asking a person how you look when in reality you want them to admire you and your dressing, which is what I call rejection. If you care for this country, the first place you begin with is in your community. The person that will help a child cross the road; is the person still doing the same thing? There were no area boys before, they were not even called touts, they were just handyman in the street but now, the touts have become governors and presidents, what do you expect? And it is never too late to retrace our steps, we are still alive but pride, ego, I better pass my neighbor will not make a lot of people turn around to do what is right. Apart from that, the bible says, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life – a lot of people will rather die there. I don’t want that nonsense.
You sound religious now. When did this transformation take place?
God has been close to me and I was not aware but when I found him, I wouldn’t let him go. There is a lot of self-assessment, a lot of examination in Christ Jesus. There is a picture of Ife that was shown in the olden days, their thatched houses of the 16th and 17th century were so high, most especially their roofs, but their doors were low, before you can enter such a building, you have to bend or bow. Where is it today in Nigeria? The tradition was showing people who we were. People did things out of love, that is where Christ is concerned now, we are not forced to do it but it is done out of submission to one another. When anything is done out of fear, that is not life, it is like a dead man walking. In him is life and his life is the fullness of me.
A lot of people believe that as they grow older, they need to be closer to God. Will you say turning 50 made you rediscover God?
Those ones turned Jesus to their comfort zone. It is not the same for me because I got to know him when I was younger. It was in my early twenties, very early. I was 21 years when I developed a personal relationship with him. I was talking about God then too but I was too playful. I give God the glory. God said we should come as we are, he didn’t say we should change, just come and experience him.
You don’t look your age by the way. What are the unique things you do to keep you looking young?
I have a unique relationship with God. I have a tête-à-tête with the Holy Spirit every day and I have a love affair with the lord Jesus Christ, what else do you want? And you don’t want me to be young? The bible says he will renew your days like an eagle. What does that mean? It means I can’t be old; it is too late. I have the sexiest of being; I am just starting life. I don’t have any beauty routine; I do try though.
You are one of the advocates of ensuring more ladies find their way into the music industry. Do you think we have more ladies in entertainment now?
Yes, I think more women with so much desire to see the entertainment world strive, not just any kind of lady, but the ones that believe in the art for what the art is all about, they should be in entertainment. I mean ladies that believe that art is a form of expression.
Does that mean some of them are there because of the money and not for the love of entertainment?
Yes, it is obvious. Some of them have talents, some of them don’t have, some of them want to be, and some of them aren’t.
If you are to advise them, what will you say to them?
I will first of all ask them what they are looking for. ‘What are you looking for? What are you in this for?’ A lot of art is information, educating the populace, the community. Art is like a town crier, you tell them the current affairs of the town and also include what the king wants his people to do, that is the work of a town crier. If you don’t have information to give to the people, then what are you doing there? They need to hear these things, whether we like it or not, the world will still need some people to lead them. Those who practice art should help people improve their lives. For instance, fashion comes from what you see people wear; if you don’t see people wear it, will you wear it? So let us decide, that is what art is all about. Artists are responsible for lives, if we don’t know it, then, there is a problem. That is why I have been out of circulation because I have to think about the things I put out to the people to listen to and dance to. I have heard some songs that really got to me and I had to ask myself if that is what we really listen to and also dance to. A lot of people are dancing away when somebody’s life is gone.
But can we really blame the people involved? They are also thinking about the commercial aspect of art, they also have to survive
A lot of things can be done but after a while, you ask yourself what next? When you get money to take care of yourself, fix the things you want to fix in your life, must you still continue in the filth you got yourself entangled in? Everything must be done in moderation. Just like we are fighting some people in government, when you have stolen what you want to steal, are you not supposed to take care of the people who elected you there? Do me a favor, wake up, pull your sleeve, get to the street and take care of people. You think people will fight you when you start taking care of them, they wouldn’t. But you now stay there as if it is your father’s property and you will continue to upset and oppress. It can’t go on for long because, your time, your days are numbered.
Is that one of the reasons music artists reign for a while and they then go into oblivion?
It is because there is a need to balance the sheet, you must balance the sheet. You can’t eat off anything and not give back. After a while, what you have been eating will turn against you. It is the way life is, you can’t go on for long. It is life, life demands it from all of us. Everything will catch up with you. That is why I don’t blame the musicians now; when they are really ready for something to change in their lives you will see it. You will know that the person is genuine in what he or she is doing. Let me give you a very nasty example. The day I heard Timaya’s song, it was so beautiful, I enjoyed it but, the last thing I heard him sing is that “I can’t kill myself,” I thought that was the most incredibly annoying song I have ever heard. He is laid back, he is tired. You need to hear the undertone of some of the songs these artists sing. They are crying, they need help, something is wrong with some of them.
You are an artist, a stage performer and now you are also into movies, which one would you say you shine most in?
Everyone will pick music but I usually pick something else. But the glory is the singing; I think I should concentrate on it. I love music, I love writing, I love stage acting, it is quite intense for me, it takes a lot, it takes blood to act, and you are putting your life into it.
You once said that listening to Jazz inspired your music career. What about the acting aspect, how did you discover that aspect of you?
I wasn’t aware, it just happened. I gate crashed into them. That is it. I enjoy all aspects of my career but I derive so much pleasure in dance, rhythm and balance. Jazz brought life into sound for me but improvisation helped me a lot as an actor. I wanted to write a book but I am waiting for another person to help me put it into words.
While growing up, you were so close to your dad but you have never mentioned anything about your mum. Why?
They were divorced. I went with my dad when it happened, I was older and without hesitation, I followed him. My mum is still around, we are like strange bedfellows, a lot of Nigerians are close to their mum. When the time is right, a lot of information will come and a lot of healing will take place.
Were there issues that happened in the past you haven’t forgotten about?
Why wouldn’t I forgive her, she is my mum. We were six children, my younger sister passed on and now we are five. When they divorced, three followed my mum and three followed my dad. Those who were older went with my dad and the younger ones went with my mom.
Accept my condolence on the demise of your son. What actually happened?
I wouldn’t know, all I can say is that his sickness started with toothache. We didn’t know he had autoimmune blood tissue disorder. We discovered that around May into June last year. The doctors did all they could do, they tried their best for him. We were on treatment from around July till December. In January this year, he went to be with Jesus.
How have you been coping with his death?
I am coping, I have moved on, I am back to working and fixing stuff.
Was he married before he passed, I saw pictures of him and two young children on social media?
He wasn’t married but he had two children. I don’t know how it happened. I sent him to school, and he came back with children. I am a grandmother now, his children are fine. They are in our family house. I want to take care of things here and get settled before I can think of moving them over here. Where I am now is not yet conducive to bring anybody, let me just settle things first.
There are conflicting reports that you were once married
No
Are you worried that you are not married at your young age?
Why should I be worried? Is it written on the forehead that you have to be worried when you are not married?
What if the right man comes?
Let him come now or am I going to be crying that he has not come, is that what you want me to be doing?
Are you seeing someone now?
I told you that I am in love with someone; I am in love with Jesus. And he is not invisible. Anyway, when the man comes we will know.
What qualities do you desire in your man?
Don’t worry about the qualities, it is not about it, it is for you to be available to submit, not to love the man. It is the man that should love you. Rebecca in the bible did not automatically love her husband. Even now, people still do arranged marriage and it works. Women like power; they want their man to have it all but why can’t, they just follow even if the man has nothing. You can do it; Patience Jonathan once said that it was because of her that her husband became president. You marry because you are willing to submit. You are ready to be given to a man that you would take care of you and it is not for love but for submission. Women are very capable of destroying the order so you must know what you are looking for. Don’t look for the man, let the man look for you. Christianity is the way, don’t let anyone deceive you.
Do you have anything you are currently working on?
Let me tell you a little bit about my next album, it is called the Ninth Mile, there are so many things connected to the ninth mile. I love the sound of the East, the relishing of the sound that comes with a lot of bass; I want to explore their side. I have done the West, I will still do it again though, then I will move to the North. It was because Dan Maraya died. I begged one of my friends in the North so I could go over there to work but when it was almost time to go there, Dan Maraya died, that was how I paused so I could go to the East. That is what I am waiting for; I will go to the East to stay for some months and I will be working on my album.
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