By Damilola Fatunmise

For young and talented Adegboyega Adeyemi, music is life. Blessed with a captivating voice, the fast rising singer boasts of a different and unique style of music, which he dubs “Urban Afro”. In this chat with TS Weekend, the Physics Engineering graduate of Redeemers University narrates how his love for music began and how his dream career was almost shattered by a ghastly motor accident last year. Enjoy it.

Tell us briefly about yourself

My name is Adeyemi Adegboyega Anthony. My stage name is Adegboyega. I’m an ‘Urban Afro’ pop artiste. I am from Ekiti State, and a second of three boys raised by extremely liberal parents. At the age of three, we relocated to the United States of America. ‎After four years, my father was posted back to Nigeria, and we all moved back with him. I started doing music officially in 2014 after graduating from Redeemers University. After my Youth Service, I proceeded to a music school where I learned how to score music and play musical instruments like piano and saxophone.

How many singles do you have till date?

I have three singles presently. They are Kusi, After Round One, and Faya Dance, which illustrates how African women dance. Instead of killing each other like what is happening in South Africa, let us all come together and dance. The three tracks majorly talk about ladies. Yes, because women are very inspiring. The way they dance, walk, and talk are all inspiring.

Have you been signed by any record label? 

No record label has signed me yet. I am doing my thing on my own.

Are your parents in full support of your musical career? 

Of course, yes. My parents have been very supportive of my music career, and they are my sponsors too.

Did your environment influence your career in any way?  

Well, yes. I was brought up around music. My father loves music. I grew up listening to Fela, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Celine Dion, and other old school songs my father used to play. So, I’m used to music.

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What has been your best moment so far as an artiste?

2016 was my best year musically. I performed at Civic Center, Lagos in front of many dignitaries including Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. It was indeed a memorable show for me. Another wonderful experience for me was when I performed at the State House in Abuja during the launch of ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign, alongside Darey Art Alade, who happens to be one of those I look up to. And that same year, I had the opportunity of performing at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which was the biggest stage for me. The crowd was energetic, the mood was high and the music was on point.

2016 was a fantastic year for me until I had a ghastly motor accident around 5a.m on Christmas day. I was coming from the nightclub with my friends and my brother who I have not seen for two years. The spirit was so high, I drank to stupor and didn’t realise I couldn’t drive myself home safely. Just immediately after the Lekki tollgate, I just heard a loud sound and that was all. When I got down from the car, I noticed blood was all over me; I didn’t even know where it was coming from until a lady who stopped to help me pointed to my forehead. Immediately, I started calling my friends but none could come to my aid, except my brother and his friend. We looked for hospitals on the Lagos Island but none was opened that early morning. I was later rushed to a hospital on the Lagos mainland where my forehead was stitched. I almost lost my life in the accident. It almost ruined my music career but I’m grateful that I’m alive today. I bless God for giving me another opportunity to live. I thank God that my dreams were not shattered.

Listening to your song, ‘Faya Dance’, I noticed some Femi Kuti’s influence in it. Have you met him before, how close are you to him?

Yes, I have met him once. I even shot the video of ‘Faya Dance’ at his Afrika Shrine.

How do you intend to push your music to people out there?

Apart from getting the music played on radio and television, I am also putting it on social media platforms. My fans can go on Google and search for Adegboyega’s Faya Dance. They can as well go to some blogs to download it.

Aside music, what else do you do for a living? 

I am also into fashion; I have a clothing line where we make indigenous attires like buba and sokoto, agbada, danshki and all.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I want to be among the A-list artistes in Nigeria. I want to have international recognition, performing around the world, signing endorsements deals, and with my face on billboards.