Robbers on rampage They
are after our jeeps’-TuFace, Ruggedman
By AZUH AMATUS and OLAIYA TOLUFASHE
Friday, February 29, 2008
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Tuface
Idibia
Pix: Sun News Publishing |
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His popular slogan is Nothing dey happen but the multiple
award winning hip-hop sensation, Tuface Idibia, knows too
well that many things have happened to him. Only a few weeks
ago, the artiste lost his new Range Rover Sports Utility Jeep
to armed robbers in Anthony area of Lagos.
This happened exactly four months after surviving a robbery
attack shortly after returning from the United Kingdom (UK)
where he had gone to receive the 2007 MOBO award for the Best
African Act of the year.
Indeed, the frequent robbery onslaught on the musician has
now become a major issue in the music industry.
While many of his admirers have asked him to relocate from
Nigeria, ostensibly to avoid his assailants, others have blamed
the incessant attacks on Tuface and other music celebrities
on the porous security system in Nigeria.
The latter was vindicated recently when another top entertainer
in Nollywood, Uche Jombo, had her RAV 4 Jeep snatched by some
ruthless bandits in front of her house at Yaba. The incident
happened barely two weeks after Idibia’s thus marking
the beginning of a new year on a sour note for the artistes.
But while Jumbo was lucky to have retrieved her car, Idibia
has not been that lucky.
And when confronted recently about the stolen Jeep, Tuface
who regretted the incident simply declined comments.
Also Ruggedman, another hip-hop crooner could have lost his
newly bought Touareg Jeep to armed robbers but for providence.
The musician was said to have been the target of robbers a
few weeks back in Lagos but that he managed to escape being
attacked.
In the same vein, popular Nollywood actress, Jennifer Eliogu,
was recently held hostage by armed bandits along the busy
Lekki expressway. After rough-handling her and damaging her
car, the robbers made away with money and other valuables.
But the frequent attacks on Idibia and his colleagues notwithstanding,
the musician said he would not just stop doing what he knows
best. Only recently in Lagos, MTN Xtracool and Dojoes Management
announced their decision to partner with Tuface Idibia on
a musical tour of six cities in Nigeria.
The artiste, however, chose the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, venue
of the media briefing to explain his two sides. According
to him, when people see him, they can only see the outside
but when they move closer to him, they would see the inside.
After explaining his interest in the project, Tuface, fielding
questions from journalists also exposed a bit of his “
inside.”
MTN Tour with Tuface
The tour is basically to celebrate music and to showcase some
very talented young guys as well as spread the message of
love. I have set up a foundation, 2face Foundation, with the
support of my friends, and we have been looking for partners
that will share our vision of creating opportunities for the
poor but talented Nigerian youths. We met Femi of Dojoes Management
and when they approached MTN, I was happy to learn that MTN
agreed to sponsor the idea of a national tour. As we tour
the cities, (Abuja, Kaduna, Benin, Enugu, Ibadan and Lagos)
we will introduce new acts and expose them and by the grace
of God, they would hit stardom and become another Tuface or
something bigger, good for them.
Keke and D-One
Oh! they are in the US for the Grammy Awards. They are definitely
going to be part of the show. As for my contract with Kennis
Music, we are still working together. We signed a three-year
contract in 2004. It expired last year but we are still doing
some things together. It might not exactly be the same kind
of contract but it’s still something solid or strong.
Record label
I am not a Jack of all trade. Definitely, it’s not that
I will be in charge of the day-to-day running of Hyperteck.
I have learnt some things and I think I have a little knowledge.
The accounting and managing of artistes, no be me go do am.
I have a couple of artistes on Hyperteck Entertainment who
we are going to release very soon. We have Da Natives, we
have Rocksteady, W4 and Mallam Spicy are fresh guys. They
are going to come out very strong. I’m working on my
new album as well.
Bob Marley’s post-humous birthday concert
It’s a good thing that they recognized me. And I think
it is because my music is doing well in Jamaica right now.
It also shows that the music industry in Nigeria is growing.
Many musicians are doing well now; from the artistes to the
managers, the dancers. It’s growing bigger and better
by the day, I hope everything gets organised.
Encouraging younger artistes
I don’t even know many of them. But when you ask them,
they’ll tell you Tuface inspired them. Tuface gave me
the courage and confidence; Tuface gave me the idea on how
to play music like this. And there’s quite a lot of
people that I have collaborated with. Like I mentioned, the
tour is a project I stand by and I pray it will help our youths
to be more positive in everything they do.
Your jeep was stolen, true?
Yeah my car was snatched at Anthony, Ikeja.
Do you suspect anybody?
Na long story. I no fit gist you any story. But they snatch
am for Anthony. I don’t even want to talk about it.
I’m not really feeling good about it.
Collaboration with R-Kelly
Yeah, I did a song with him. The song is being mixed and mastered
right now. Nobody has heard it yet but it’ going to
come out in my next album.
Three women pregnant for Tuface
My own be say, I be human being; I dey live my life. That’s
what maters to me.
Are you denying or confirming the rumours?
I am not confirming or denying anything. Anyhow they think
it. My own is I don’t disturb anybody, so make nobody
disturb me. I no talk anything; I just live am like that.
But on TV, we hear you preach about, don’t you use it
yourself?
If I say use am na good thing I talk now, protect yourself.
How you take know say I no dey use am. You know whether whatever
happen, may be na me want am to be like so.
When is Tuface getting married?
I never know yet o. |
