Come September 22, the King of World Beat, Otunba Sunday Adegeye a.k.a  King Sunny Ade rolls out the drums to celebrate 50 years as a musician.

In this interview with Weekend Groove, the Ondo State born high chief went down the memory lane as he recalls intimate and  interesting moments.

My Life, My Music

Music is my life. As long as you enjoy my music, I’d continue playing to entertain my fans. Sometimes, circumstances can push a man into taking a risk. When I left home, they didn’t know I was coming to Lagos. As a Prince, I was not supposed to play music but I had a passion for music and I took the choice to thread that path. When I joined ‘’Moses Olaiya’’ (Babasala), I tried to prove myself and show the stuff I’m made of. I headed the music arm of the theatre group and I learnt how to act too.

King Sunny Ade

Ibadan

By the grace of God who has granted me strength, Ibadan is home coming because I was crowned ‘’King of World Beat’’ there.

Boxing

During my primary schooldays in Oshogbo,Orlando Owoh was the local boxing champion. Because I was small in stature, I took to boxing to protect myself. Then, before one could join the boxing club, Orlando would check our books and report cards. If he finds out that one isn’t intelligent, he would send one out to box against the wall. So, he trained me to be a boxer.

The Band and I

I see the band as a matrimonial home. So, I am the husband and team leader. We are like a family but I am respected as a leader and I don’t misuse my power. Despite that, when there is an act of disobedience, I’d bare my fangs.

35 years

My being declared “King Of World Beats” was the people’s choice. I didn’t have to contest for it and I’m happy about it.

My Children and Music

I have always wanted to be a graduate but since I couldn’t, I want my children to be. I want from them is to get their certificate. Thereafter,  they can get involved in music. If they require my services as a manager, I am ready. But God has been kind to me. I have a honorary degree in Music from LASU and I am a lecturer. With the help of computers, I don’t have a problem with my students. I also have my music being transferred into Sheet music.

Grammy Nominations

It was difficult for the organizers to classify my music. The difficulty in categorizing my genre of music led to the introduction of the World Music Category which caters for Africa, Asia and the Caribbean musicians. I ask myself, why haven’t we won the Grammy and how does the government treat the music industry? In Nigeria today, all we do is copy. This explains why we are where we are.

Live Performance

The Media makes musicians lazy. When you patronize a lazy musician who cannot play  live, what do you expect? Secondly, to buy musical equipment is expensive and bringing a band together is not easy. The session men make more money because they dictate to you how much you must pay. The high amount required to be payed to have sessions scares away aspiring musicians from forming a band . This situation led to musicians taking to miming and plastic performance on stage.

But with Live performance, you are a better performer because you have control over the session men and the audience. Today I’m happy because musicians are gradually coming back to doing Live performances. The government on their path should also encourage investors who wish to set up musical instrument manufacturing plants. They should also reduce tax on the importation of musical equipment.

Collaboration.

I would be happy to let the younger generation collaborate with me if they do my songs the way I want them to be done. I have a family to feed. So even if I am willing to let them play music, they must be able to pay. If my children want to use my song, they have to pay because the song belongs to all of them. It is simple business.