the "bad" things she did as a teenage girl back in the day, she also
dishes on her latest work and sundry issues:
Why it took me so long to launch my album
I just wanted to take out time and make good music. There are some
people who do yearly albums, I try to do like two or three years.
There are people whom I emulate. I feel that as music is a craft, you
must try to make sure you put out good materials that can stand the
test of time. It is not something that can be relevant for only two
months or a year. You want something that is good.
My Lasso of Truth album I'm very happy, I have got a lot of positive
feedback. The sales in the first week wasgreat. They made about
500,000 copies and it is almost sold out. The sales did very well
because the demand is high. Idid not even know that the demand wasthis
high, even outside Nigeria, We havebeen working out platforms where we
can sell the album. People outside the country ask whoever is
travelling abroadto buy the CD in bulk for them. The demand is that
high.
If not music, I would have loved to be a teacher I might be fun to be
with, butI'm not a comedian. My mother wantedme to practice law, but I
wanted to teach. I have always wanted to teach, I would have been a
teacher. I don't know why I have the capacity to get people to listen
to me. Right now, I'm part of an organisation that mentors young
girls.
You know when you sit with young girlsand you are advising them, if it
is someone else advising them, deep downthey might not listen and
think the person is spoiling their fun. But I come across as somebody
who has been there,done that and got the T-shirt. So they listen. I
think it would have been a beautiful challenge for me to be a teacher.
I'm sure I would have been worried about the pay but it would have
been flexible enough for me to have a family as well as enjoy what
I'mdoing if I was not into music.
My early days I had many experiences but I'd like not to embarrass
myself. I was very mischievous as a kid. I used toget into a lot of
trouble. I had a lot of older ones, so they used to deal with me a
lot. They would say, 'Omawumi don commit again'. I was the sort of
person that would steal my elder sister'sbra and put socks inside;
that was whenI was bare-chested. The sad thing is that when the thing
now came out, it just came out at once. I did the usual things that
children do. I can't say mostof it in print. If my older ones should
read it, they would discover some thingsI did back then. I was pretty
much a normal kid. I used to play a lot but my parents made us
understand the value of education.
Year 2013 so far I have got four endorsements this year. It has been
fantastic. The thing about it is that I have been working towards
things like this for a while. The way my work is, I have a healthy fan
base. I have the kindof music I make and the kind of peoplewho like it
and it appeals to. When it comes to endorsements, I'm really grateful
to God. It is a process, if you work and you put out good material and
you are relatable, it's a good thing. The fact that I can market so
many products proves I'm a true Nigerian. Without blowing my horn and
in trying to be as modest as I can, I am educated. Most parents want
their children to be educated and even if they want to pursue their
dreams, they use me as an example. I pursued my dream but at the end
of the day, I got the basic education. Is she street wise? They use me
as an example.
Even though you are educated, it doesn't mean you should be dumb.
There are some parts of my life I feel people make comments, like 'she
is a single mother'; it is not supposed to be celebrated. The plus
side of it is that I have a beautiful daughter. I figured that it is
better for me to keep a life that God has given me as opposed to
killing. That it didn't work the way it should work or that I am not
married, itis still a process, I am still a human being.
That is also relatable. It is not like they say that when you get to a
stage and you don't get someone to marry you, you go and get pregnant.
Some of my friends, when they look at me and say they want to be like
me or that they don't have time for men, I tell them no.Circumstances
and life brought it upon me, I would not regret one day of it. I am
happy with my daughter, I am happy about the family that she has and
the one I have. Nonetheless, it is not something someone should come
out and say this is the way to go.
Criticism I'll tell you the truth, I'm indifferent. I have developed a
thick skin. I would not say that from the outset it never affected me.
But it didn'tmean I put my hand under my cheek and started brooding. I
was just worriedwhy this sort of thing happened. I am asolutions kind
of person and so I started looking for solutions. I found out that
there was no solution. Whether you like it or not, people must talk
about you.
The more mysterious you are, the more stories would be woven around
you. I figured that you win some and lose some, you cannot have it
all. The day you are the focus of the press, you just say by God's
grace, this too shall pass. Idon't like it when people form an opinion
about me out of negative publicity, especially when it is not true and
it affects my career. That is the partI don't like because I believe
everybodyputs a lot of hard work into their music.
That's why I always tell people, I'm not an angel. That is why I
encourage people to just enjoy the music. It is the music I am giving
you, not my personallife, not who I am. My first crush and boyfriend I
can remember him. I think I 'died' for him so much I cannot remember
how he toasted me.
You know when you like a boy so muchand you try to catch his
attention. He was my elder brother's very good friendand it was like a
taboo to have anything to do with your elder brother'sfriend. The
elder brother would beat both the friend and the sister. That was the
sort of position I was in. I still collected the beatings because when
you are blinded with love, you would stick with the boy no matter
what. Eventually, we were so in love for a long time.
What influences my fashion sense I try to be comfortable and look good
as much as I can. It is not easy but I try. I'm not much of a fashion
icon. I just know you wear fine blouse or skirt. I find it difficult
to accessorise or match colours. I don't know all those type of
things. I started hearing it when I cameto Lagos. I am a Warri girl.
Before now, I was all about my shirt and jeans. Some people say they
like Omawumi but they wish I would dress better or that I need a
stylist. I would tell you that it is fine. I wish I would have a
stylist, but in a situation where Idon't have one, as I dress, take it
like that. The most important thing is that I am putting out good
music. The minuteI become a 360 artiste - where I am selling my
fashion as well as my music, then you can criticise but till then,
accept me as I am.
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