By Gilbert Ekezie
Mr John Oboh (aka Lion King) is a foremost artiste and music producer at Ajegunle and Olodi Apapa in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State. He produced many of the Ajegunle based artistes who are still making waves in the society. In this interview, the entertainment guru who was formally known as ‘Mighty Mouse’ speaks about his vision, exploits, challenges, prospects and resolve to fight for the repatriation of the Black Africans
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How did you start?
Well, I started as DJ in the 80s and later came into music performance and production.My calling as a performing artiste is more from my spiritual base, than the will to be an entertainer. So, till date, I still don’t see myself as such. As a producer, I prefer sitting down to watch and hear artistes perform, but I have a prophetic calling that puts me away from what I have been called to do .
What is the prophetic calling you talked about?
I was called to fight for repatriation of the Black Africans and to use my gift to help those who need my professional assistance.
You have produced artistes, could you mention some of them?
Obviously, I produced the likes of Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh, African China, Oritsefemi, Danfo Drivers and other popular.artistes, especially those who had their background at Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos State at Jahoha Studio Olodi Apapa.
You have been slent and not visible in the music industry for a long time now, what happened?
That’s true. You see, man proposes, but God disposes. There were some developments that happened in my family that upturned things around me, and.I could not give much time to my studio work. So, I had to.leave.the studio to those I trained. But I am not happy the way they handled the place.
Why are you not happy with those you handed over your music studio?
Unfortunately those I left in the studio treated the intending artistes badly. They ddidn’t uphold my standard of compassion and integrity, rather they were more interested in making money for themselves. I later observed that they didn’t have the vision. What is the need after training then as producers, they started cheating the artistes.who went to the studio to produce their song? So. ,I had to close down the studio to the.public in order to protect my integrity. Thereafter, I faced my family affairs. But that God that I am bouncing back stronger and better.
Now that you are bouncing back, what do your fans and others expect?
As I said, it is a spiritual thing to me. The same spirit is still directing me. If it.calls, I respond. The songs do not make meaning to me unless I am in the mood and my best time is when I express the truth.
through my emotion. So, if I am not in the mood, I am not singing, rather taking an advantage of those who devoted their time to listen to me. But now that the spirit is with me, I am standing up to fight for the rights of my people, to speak for their defense as a prophet
Who do you see as your people you want to fight for?
The people I am referring to here are Black Africans. My current album titled *Back to.ypu” is about Black Repatriation which means calling all Black Africans taken away as slaves back to Africa, is my purpose on Earth and I am doing everything possible and genuine to
realize that.
Why do you want the Black Africans back?
I want them to know that our.continent is.a land of gold, milk and honey. They should not reject Africa because the Eiuropeans made Africa poor, though we are not ppor as they take us. to be. I will say that they who live lives freezing in the.cold, are the ones who are poor, not Africa.. If you look at the resources we have, they can’t do without us. That is why they continued keeping us in bondage, using guns to tie us down into slavery. They interfere in our rulership and take control of who rule us. They are the ones who give our leaders bags to hide their stolen money, but later turn back to blackmall them. We see all violences going on in Africa brought in by the Americans, Europeans and Arabians.
They introduce their non African philosophies.
Why do you think the so called slave masters put violence in Africa?
They put voilence everywhere in Africa so that there will be no development, but misery. They also.go out with their media preaching on how poor we are , how uneducated we are, and how our leaders are so corrupt. But if you look deep, the.are more corrupt than Africans. They brought corruption and slavery into Africa and introduced armed robbery and other vices we have in Africa. They use their guns to.oppress us till this day.
What advice do you have for Africans?
I care more about Africans in diaspora who do not want to invest in Africa. They should please do because there is no place like home.