By OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO
Her unique musical style is Afro-folk. She blends African and Brazilian rhythms with European-American folk to form Afro-Folk. She is Sesu, a United States based Nigerian female musician who returned to the country recently to promote her music. She shares the story of her journey into music as well as her childhood experience.

Excerpt:

Childhood experience

It was interesting because I travelled a lot as a child. I’ve been to places like Mexico, Spain and that’s why I can speak different languages. Life has thought me to be a lot more patient and learn to understand what people are saying in their languages

Educational background

Sesu

My father was an ex-senator back in the country, Jack Richardo and my mother is a medical doctor who works with the United Nations. I was brought into Nigeria and later through a scholarship that I got, I travelled to England to complete my education. I went to Cambridge University and studied Spanish and Portugese Literature for my Bachelor degree as well as Masters degree. When I got to the city financier for my PHS, I decided that I wanted to do was music. So, I had to follow my passion which is music.

Playing jazz

I have been performing jazz for the past 14 years, but I’m only four years old professionally.

I have been playing music since I was 10 years, I’ve always done a band thing. It was like four years back that I decided to pursue a career in music.

My parents’ reaction

My parents actually pushed me into music. Whenever my father was around, he would always ask me to go get my guitar and start singing for them. So, they encouraged me to go into music. I also write songs. I have my parents’ support.

My father is a very good friend of late Mary Makeba and other top musicians, so they used to visit our house. Being a politician, my Dad also got a soft spot for music. I’m not a dull child. I’ve got an amazing degree from Cambridge and a Masters degree.

I was an athletic champion in 100 and 200m, for two years in Great Britain. I have proven my worth to my parents and done what they required of me. When I decided to go into music, they just gave me their support instantly.

Music in England

I started playing jazz in England, in 2007/2008. It was a wonderful moment for me. I met and played with a lot of people like David Shotimi who used to play with Fela, Richard Baker, London Afro Beat collective and so many of them.

My homecoming

I’ve only been in Nigeria for two months. So, I’m still new in the country. I came back home because I am a Nigerian and I wanted to do more things in the country.

Everyone has been very friendly. I’ve met new people and have made new friends. I love the people in the Nigerian music industry. Everybody here is very open and proactive.

Musicians are poorly understood in the industry. And because the industry is a close one, it makes people outside the industry not to understand what’ s going on inside of it. As a musician, you are bound to face with moments of victory and that of failure.

All of those moments are important in your musical development because some of the greatest songs have been songs of broken hearts, songs of feeling of downcast and high moments. So, a musician has to go through those tortuous moments before he or she can make it. It takes a lot of courage to do that.

Handling attention from men

I handle it like any other lady would do. You just learn to handle them with a pinch of salt and smile, listen to their stories and walk away. But it requires one to be polite and open because you need their admiration for your music. But one has to let them know where their boundaries end.

In a relationship

Yes, I do and his name is music(laughs). I don’t have time because I’m busy with my music. For now, I don’t have a place in my heart for any man.

No soft spot for men

Yes, I have a massive soft spot but I’m waiting for the right person. As a woman, I’m more sensitive and as an artiste, I’m even 200% sensitive. So, I really need to wait for the right man.

Men bluff you

It’s something serious and it’s based on appearances. A lot of people form their own opinion about you. And there’s a place in Sesame Street where someone said “a man and his reputation walk down the same street without recognizing each other.” And it’s the same with my music. People will always talk and misunderstand me, but I know who I am. God knows who I am and the people who matter in my life know who I am.

Giving up your dreams

Yes, I’d have felt like doing so. There was one particular time when I felt like giving up because I had the worst show in my life. The hall that was used had a poor sound system and my band members arrived the venue about three hours late to the show without rehearsing. After the show, I thought I had enough. So when the next show came up, I prayed about it. And after the show, I got an invitation to sing for a royal family in Europe.

Anything to correct about my past

I did everything right because I believe in destiny. Nowadays I thank God for my worse days because after the darkness of the night, there comes the dawn. So, I have a really bad day, I know something amazing is going to come.