Bright Chimezie, a renowned highlife musician who passionately advocates the uplift of Igbo culture told YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine’s JULIET IKEOKWU what has been happening to him and other things recently. Enjoy…
What are you working on presently?
Very good question. I’m working on African Children. I’m coming out with a hit single any moment from now.
Read somewhere that you relocated to your home town, Umuahia…
That was many years ago. With my wife and our five children.
You have been doing music for a long time and you are still releasing new songs, can you tell us your success secret?
I wouldn’t know. The only thing I know is that I am true to myself. I’m honest with my life and comfortable in my skills.
How do you get the inspiration to write music?
When we started, we didn’t look at the money. We wanted to offer something to the society. We felt we were natural and authentic. God talked to us in the African way, so we shared it with the people. I guess that could be the inspiration and why the music is ever green. Because it’s a selfless kind of music. We were passionate about it and in passing whatever message came, across to the people.
One can say that God has been good to you, what else do you require of Him?
Just long life and good health (Laughs).
What advice do you have for the present day musicians?
Let them be very original. Let them offer the society something they can think about. Something that can inspire them. Apart from the woman, woman thing (song), which is good. But it’s too much. They should give the society what they can meditate upon.
What’s your take on the music industry?
It’s growing, it’s becoming great. The only thing is that authenticity is not there. A little bit of artificial. I don’t know how to put it. You speak grammar better than us. So, they need to work on their lyrics.