Did you start your music career at a tender age?
Yes, I started playing music in primary school. I became a
member of the school band, then choir leader and member of the community band.
I was the youngest but the most important to them as I played all percussions
and performed the vocals.
When you started as a teenager, did you ever envisage that
music was going to fetch you an international recognition?
Yes, I knew. The reason is, because right from school, every
time I entered the school premises, the mood changed. People kept shouting my
name. My mates and those even older than me and the teachers admired me.
In the ‘70s and ‘80s many believed you and King Sunny Ade were
rivals. Don’t you believe that?
No! We were not rivals. People only thought we were. My name
is Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi and I can be identified by what I stood for. I am a
very good composer with good songs and meaningful lyrics. That is my talent.
When people listen to my songs, people can’t just get enough. That’s why people
still talk about my old records. I have more evergreen songs than anybody else
and that has been proven.
So, you never saw King Sunny Ade as your rival?
No, I only see him as a brother and a colleague who God has
given a unique talent like me. Obey is Obey and Sunny is Sunny. No controversy!
Don’t you think that if you hadn’t left secular music for
gospel music, you could have been richer today, knowing full well that secular
music is lucrative?
Anybody saying that doesn’t know the value of God. Falling is
not a problem. Anybody can fall.
But would you rather accept that you could have been richer
as a secular musician?
No, no, Ayo, I disagree. Listen, that’s where people miss it.
Who knows where money is? Only God knows. The one who commanded that money
should be available in the belly of a fish. I lean on God always and depend on
Him always for my provisions. The cars I have today are all gifts. Just a single
man has been buying my cars for me. He knows when my cars are due for
replacement and he has taken that as his responsibility. I have a car that I
have only driven for five times and I got it over a year now. Just from one
man, not two.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered as someone that came to the world,
played music with so much passion and did everything according to God’s plans.
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