Obesere: How I made more money from a song in one week than I did 19 years ago

You’ve been the buzz on social media in the past few weeks over one of your hit songs, ‘Egungun Be Careful’, which was released 19 years ago. What’s behind the resurgence?

There is nothing without God’s knowledge. I will say thanks to the Almighty who let that happen because all I was told is that it has never happened before.

I remember that even the time I dropped the album it was really accepted as well. It is beyond my own imagination as well.

One thing I know is that the kind of music I play never fades. In whatever you’re doing, don’t limit it to just today but always think about tomorrow.

I may be singing with slangs but all the slangs that I use have meaning and that is why ‘Egungun Be Careful’ is still relevant today.

‘Egungun Be Careful’ is just like a warning that anybody can use anytime. You may be going out with a lady that doesn’t suit you but you don’t know and people will be telling you that you better be careful with that lady you are going out with. I sang the song then like fun but the way it came out again, I still can’t understand because it’s beyond my imagination.

It is believed in some quarters that you actually paid social media influencers to kick off the trend. How true is this?

I must tell you for a fact that before you can do such, that means you must have spent billions of Naira. I think it’s God’s work because calls came in from outside Nigeria as well and that was why I said it from the beginning that everywhere you go na God.

So you’ve been receiving calls from abroad too over the trend?

Everywhere, not only in Nigeria.

How did you get to know about the sudden trend

 I’m also on social media as well because I usually give my people audience. At the same time, I have people around me that are working with me as well and who understand what is called publicity and social media management.

‘Egungun Be Careful’ was widely accepted when you released it 19 years ago, how would you compare its success then and now?

When the album was released by Mr Gbenga Adewusi of Bayowa Films and Records International, I collected my money and I am still collecting my royalties on it.

Now that it has come out again in a bigger form than when it was released, I am still making my money on it, so, it is a plus for me. I thank my star and I still appreciate all the fans that gave me the opportunity for more recognition.