Nekabari, who is an admin at a Radio station tries to out a distinction between afro gospel artistes and secular artists. Catch up with him in the interview.
AGM: Please introduce yourself. (your name and what do you do?
Nekabari: I’m Neka GODZBOi. I’m a writer and Content Creator. I’m currently working as the Admin of a Radio Station.
AGM: Awesome. So this means you will have great choice of songs?Â
Nekabari: Hehehehehehehehe. Possibly. I’m eclectic when it comes to music.
AGM: What is your idea about Afro-gospel industry? What do you think about the culture?
Nekabari: It’s nice to have a Community that is being fed & is giving back value to the creators by consuming. As regards culture, it is double edged. While it may not be intended to be seen as a ‘We vs Them‘ thing, it can easily spiral into that if the community doesn’t consciously quench the fires that would lead to that. But on the bright side, it is an Avenue that infiltrates & shapes the minds of young adults and kids simultaneously because of the family-friendly nature of the content being put out.
AGM: Speaking of infiltration, some churches or Christians consider the afro gospel music as a means to look like the world. What do you think about this?
Nekabari: If you look deep enough, everything looks like ‘the world’. What this means is that if one’s mind is focused on finding a resemblance in anything, they definitely will. This is not to say that there isn’t a decent amount of copycats – in Character, Dressing, Sound, etc., but the obsession with trying to pin everything as a replica is more or less evil.
AGM: But don’t you think that some of these artists are trying to exactly replicate pop stars and Co?
Nekabari: Oya yes, there is that, that’s why I said there are copycats. But the scriptures have given us the solution to that – Test all spirits. So our primary way of checking should be the spirit, and not the physical.
AGM: There has been a lot of debate in time past on whether or not, music minister should charge at their conference. What is your opinion about this?
Nekabari: I think it is a more of a Nigerian/African thing. We are averse to paying for services, while we have no problems if those services are packaged into a product if something is not physical there is usually a resistance to paying for it. So that’s the underlying issue. The guise of ‘a minister should not charge’ is just the cover for that.
AGM: Speaking from your expertise level as someone works at a radio station? Do you consider the rising stars in the afro gospel industry to be doing well as regards music. By standard of music
Nekabari: Yes they are. They’re making topnotch quality music
AGM: So who are your favorite music artist, and why?
Nekabari: I don’t think I have one favourite. a few of them are – Gann, Martinx Dikyy, Pamela Scott, Baron Jay, Nutty Josh, Manolo Etuk, Worden Enya, oddfelix, Wiffi Drips, Sal Ly, etc.
AGM: If you have to meet any of these Afro-gospel artists, who would it be?
Nekabari: Uhhhhhhhmmmmmm… Don’t really know oh. I’ve met pretty much everyone in the new circle. Maybe the older generation – say a Weird MC or Tru South.
AGM: As someone who knows a bit of media and comms, what is one candid advice you will give an upcoming afro gospel artist?
Nekabari: I think they’re all pushing the boundaries on how intensely one can create independently and still push their craft with much Zeal.
AGM: Speaking of the older generation, do you think the new guys are doing things better than the older guys?
Nekabari: To build their community and make connections offline. A strong offline community is worth 10x more than streaming numbers. Relationships are the bedrock of any kind of progress in life, so they should be nurtured carefully and with much respect to people in the fold, and those outside the fold. I don’t necessarily think they’re doing anything better.
Like scriptures said, Time & Chance happens to them all. The age by itself is an advantage, so if anything, I’d say the younger generations should by nature be doing even more than their predecessors.
AGM: What is your top 5 best afro gospel songs?
Nekabari:
- Oghene Doh – Kaydee Numbere.
Watch video on Youtube
2. Slow Down – Martinx Dikyy
Listen to the song here
3. Tru South – Shey you know say (main & Remix)Â
Listen here and Watch video on Youtube beloe
4. Angeloh – Open the Door.
Listen to the song on Youtube
5. Lekan Salamii – Agba ft. Royrex
Listen to the song on Youtube
6. Limoblaze – Number 1
Listen to song on Youtube
7. RRHP JESUS – Cypher (2014)
Watch this song on YoutubeÂ
About Nekabari
Neka is a writer and Content Creator. Currently serving as the Admin & Facility Manager of a Radio Station. Neka is a simple guy. One who believes if people know better, they can be inspired to do better. He is passionate about knowledge and its role in the development of the human mind. He is a writer, Poet, and Content Creator. A photographer when the need arises because memories are immortal and should be frozen for visitation.
