In this exclusive media chat with one of Asaba and Anioma traditional music super-star, Azuka Moweta, band leader, Anioma Brothers Band, as he shared insights into ups and down about his musical career, his type of music, motivation success stories and challenges endured so far, as well as his foreseen roadmap to greater heights in the music industry. Kindly read below, Asaba Post TV's media content about the interview with him.
Question: Please, can we meet you?
Answer: My names are Azuka Moweta, I am from Umunkwo Village, Ezenie Quarters, Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Question: What type of music do you play, since when too?
Answer: My type of music is called "Ekobe Music" at my tender age, especially, between my primary and secondary school days, this type of music took a greater part of me and I loved Ekobe Music, right from that tender age, I love music a lot, back in my childhood day then, whenever I am less busy, I usually engage myself into music, as well as entertain my close friends and classmates to the melodious tunes of Ekobe Music, during our break sessions, back then funny enough, I use our class chairs and desk as improvised musical band sets to produce and imitate some Ahaba trending Ekobe musical tunes then in my school, to entertain those around me, that I always does straight from my heart and always felt lighter and happier as well too. As I do these musical acts back then, I enjoyed them a great deal, I must be honest with you, all I see about myself then was nothing but a future musician, to me back then at those tender age, music was just all, I could see about myself, I tell you this truthfully, believe me.
Question: What inspired you to play music and to become a musician today?
Answer: Just like I said earlier, I loved music from my tender age, especially, during my primary and secondary school days. Back then in Asaba, there were many popular and trending Ekobe Music, especially, those tunes performed by the then popular #NduOfu Dancing Group of Asaba, this all male dancing group was one of the best Ekobe musical group back then, who entertained our people after the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, going out regularly to watch the NduOfu Dancing group perform at various occasions, wherever, they were invited, gave me a lot of joy and inspiration as a child back then, honestly, those days were my humble days of modest beginning, events of those days, shaped the man, you see in me today. Hence, I knew and believed that music is both my profession and calling, that I was born to do it happily, better and professionally too.
Question: How had your family reacted to you playing music?
Answer: My maternal grandmother was a huge inspiration towards my musical career, back in those youthful days of mine, when I was living with her, she was a strong and an active lead vocal member of one of the then trending Ekobe Music in Asaba, it was called Egwu Idegba Ani Dancing Group, back then, we had Egwu Idegba Ani Dancing Groups from both Umu onne quarters as well as from Agu na Ugbome quarters too, you see back then, whenever, my maternal grandmother was preoccupied with domestic chores, I watched her from a distance happily and effortlessly singing some of those Ekobe musical tunes with a blend of Egwu Idegba Ani flavour, you see, those days and my grandmother's songs greatly inspired me in many ways beyond words can express. She understood that I am naturally inclined to music and she took notice about my love for music, she never discouraged me, but she will usually advised me, my son, "music is not bad, but, please my child, be careful". It was only my father, who never supported my musical career, his reasons being that musicians are a bunch of never do well folks, throughout his life, he openly expressed his deep seated disdain for the type of life style, he had over the years seen musicians led and that left him an unhappy man, with respect to his son's choice of career path, honestly, that is the only stuff and part about me, my father never liked, he was ready to sacrifice everything for me, if only, I was ready to drop the idea of becoming a musician, choose another career path, it pained him so much that I held on to my musical career, of a truth, I understood my father's concerns and fears then, hence, I made a promise to myself, that I will be a very responsible musician, and that is the standard, I still maintain till today.
Question: In what ways, does your music affect your fans listening or watching you Perform at occasions and events?
Answer: I am so happy because, when I started my musical career, I started with a musical band called "Nwata Gbo Li Okei Dancing Group (the wife of one of Ahaba Red cap chief) Nnee Igwe, then was our band leader and mentor, as a child, going out to join them perform at events was a huge delight and I always looked forward to each invitation to join the group at events, later, I joined another dancing group called "United Brothers Band" led by Late Uche Nwalama, I was with them, when their hit tracks were produced, the first was "Uwa Zulu Onye" and the second one being " Akalaka". Then, late Uche Nwalama was my boss, mentor, his kind of music greatly influenced and inspired me, hence, he is one of those who were the reason, I am a musician today. Each time he plays, he always watch the mood, reactions and emotional gestures of his fans, he is always sensitive to their moods and how happy they are responding to his music, in the same vein, whenever, I play my music, I am always watchful at the reactions of my fans, well wishers and others watching me play my music, it is always clear from their reactions that they are happy and my fans had always grown from strength to strength, since then till today.
Question: What are the challenges, you had faced being a musician, how had you managed and overcame them?
Answer: My challenges are many oooooo, as a musician, from my humble background, my challenges ranged from threats of possible rejection during my early career days, due to doubts about my capacity to perform, though over the years, those doubts are no more today, because am now a better, tested and trusted professional musician. As my musical career grew, my career was challenged seriously in terms of funding, instruments, logistics, close family members then never believed in my musical career, which yielded very low support and patronage as well. Can you believe me, if I tell you that my first album was sponsored and produced by a man from far away Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he heard my music then, he loved it and took it upon himself to support and help produced my first album "Olisa Na Li Ekene". Back then, my Asaba people never believed in my capacity, but today, I am bold, grateful and happy to tell you that the owner and founder of Odogwu Entertainment and Palenque Records, Mr. Nnamdi Moweta, had given me another reason to see better days of hope and career fulfillment, he heard about my kind of music, listened to it, believed in my Ekobe type of music, gave me a chance and many windows of opportunities to showcase myself and talent to the world, for this support and opportunities thrown my way, honestly, I am eternally grateful to him, Odogwu Entertainment and Palenque Records, their investment into my musical career, had given me a new lease of hope and increased determination to put in my best.
Question: What are your messages to your fans, supporters and well-wishers?
Answer: Of a truth, I will say, I am very grateful to them, their supports, love and kindness, brought me this far in my musical career, I also pray for them, I pray that they be blessed with long life and prosperity in all they do, because, I am committed at making them proud of all their love, supports, kindness and investments into my career. I know that this Ekobe Music will take me far, it will bless my life, it will take me round the world, it is the only hope I have that will make me rich and bring me out of the traps of poverty. I love Ekobe Music, Ekobe Music choose me, I am happy for that. I also thanks the chairman, AZ Fans Club, Ogbueshi Achiever Onianwa, he is always trying his best at showcasing us to others, promoting our music to potentials event organizers, who invites us to their functions, events and ceremonies
Question: What is the future of your music, where are you seeing your music in the nearest future?
Answer: This Ekobe Music is the only hope, I have to make me great, rich and famous, so I am putting into it all my best, despite all the discouragement, I endured back in the days, I am happy today, that none of them weighed me down, I am happy, I stayed true to my dreams and my believes in the fact that music is my career, hobby, profession and calling. Most times, it is not who you placed your hopes upon to help you, eventually, shows up to help you. I never knew nor believed that Odogwu Entertainment and Palenque Records will locate and raise me up, I never knew them from my early days of my musical career, back then, there were a lot of people, I was looking up to for help and support but got none from them, today, I am very much grateful to Mr. Nnamdi Moweta, Odogwu Entertainment and Palenque Records, they are the best that had happened to me, honestly, since they discovered me, my career story had progressively changed it had not just changed, but I am confident that the future of my musical career will remain great, greater and greatest in the nearest future. I am very grateful to Odogwu Entertainment and Palenque Records, I always pray for them and wishing them the best in this life and beyond, are my prayers for them,amen.
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