be brimming with smiles, having listened to the just-released debut from Africa’s most enchanting contemporary guitarist, Fiokee.
As his voice boomed into the receiver, this reporter was astonished by the lightweight nature of Fiokee’s vocals. Adding that to his never-ending youthful looks, one will find it difficult to believe that the musician has become the latest addition to the league of African entertainers that have crossed the 40-year age landmark.
With MAN, Fiokee blurs the boundaries of instrumental music, with his soul-stirring guitar riffs, and progressive legatos, creating some of the most experimental compilation sound pieces in recent years. From RnB-fusion to Amapiano groove, down to the Tanzanian Bongo Flava percussions, among others, Fiokee throws in a fine mix of talents , from Maua Sama, to Bella Shmurda, down to Ladydoe, to create a seamless musical experience for his generation of listeners.
I FEEL good because this is actually a big one for me. Like being the first guitarist to actually drop this kind of album, not just in Nigeria, but also in South America, Portugal, Netherlands. I decided to drop it in January as my 40th birthday gift – that’s why I said the album is mine. So, if I hear any song, whether Igbo, or Akwa Ibom , I can translate it into music. I could write the words down even without learning the words, and that helped me a lot. So, when I finished secondary school, I went to my dad’s place. I became a sales boy in his shop where I was selling, and he would be paying me N1,000 per month. I would save that money for three months and remove N700 for renting a guitar. Why I did that is because not everyone has money to buy toys for their children.
After two months, I didn’t have the money to rent the guitar again, so I started going from one church to another, to be a volunteer so I can play the guitar. After a year, I got into many things, and I started playing guitar. So, in 2003, I moved to Warri, and I was there for five years. I used to travel from Warri to Port Harcourt and play in a church. I moved to Lagos, in 2008, where I started properly. That has been my journey so far.I was suffering while I was playing the guitar.
FIOKEE Weldone Etubom
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