Alhaji Bolaji Bello Talks About Life at 50

1.Can we meet you please sir?

   My name is Alhaji abdul rafiu Abolaji Bello to be precise,I was born in the mid 60s  in 1965,I was born in Ora,Ora is in Ifelodun local government in Kwara state,I had my primary education in kwara state,JNI Primary School Ora,My Secondary Education was at Government Secondary School in Ilorin,and I also did my higher education at Kwara state Polytechnic I did Business Administration,Am a music producer,songwriter,arranger,publicity consultant,and a media broker and that is what I do for a living.

2. How did Islamic music start for you?

Like I told you am a muslim,I love islam to the core.have always been a producer of   music for the past 28 -29years ago,have been a producer and thaty has been my professional calling,and have produced for every known stars and superstars in this country probably in the traditional music scene and along the line when it is time for Ramadan after some years in the production industry I just decided to do something for islam,I was in the studio one day to do a Islamic collabo I invited pasuma,sule alao malaika,sulaiman adio atawewe,toyin adio,I invited the and I told them what I wanted to do  that I wanted to do something for islam and they agreed with me and they supported me,when we are in the studio  when we want to do the production and pasuma told me you are the producer and people will expect you to sing in this work ansd I saw it as a strange thing ,how could I sing because have been a singer all my life because am a producer,I write song,I arrange,have never been a singerbcecause I didn’t come from a musical background so apart form the talent God has given me,the songwriter and a producer,so reluntantly I decided  to do one or two tracks and when the album was released titled it (Takbir)Means Glory be to God.the album was a good success,people were clamouring for more ands they asked to do another one,in a nutshell that is how I became a singer,but I have to tell you one thing I don’t play at shows,I don’t performs at shows,I only produce albums and am a professional producer and songwriter,I have never prepared my mind to face the crowd,am a shy person,am a reserved person,to face the mammoth crowd I don’t think I can do it ,I don’t drink,smoke I  just decided to do something for islam,I just use that medium to pass message and to serve my God.

3. When did you start music professionally as a producer and a songwriter?

     Actually I started production in the year 1991-1992 with Toyin Adio performer we ve been friends from childhood,we actually came from the same place,we attended the same school,so when the guy came to lagos we met on the street somewhere on the island,and he told me he just met a man who want to invest in the music albums and I don’t know how to go about it and I don’t even know how to do it,I just jokingly told him that we are going to do it,so it was a playful thing so we took it as a play and I sat down with him and we started writing songs and I arrange it for him and  we went to the studio and the titled of the album was (Ijo First Class) and that was in 1992 and the album became a huge success and the followup album we did was Mr Performer and after Mr Performer we did (Fame) we invited Bola Abimbola is now in America and when the guy came and we were interacting  we got to know that we stay in the same  street in surulere  lagos,and it was Bola Abimbola that introduced me to Sarolaj Records that was how I started working for Eru Owa,I produced for Bola Abimbola,I  did Actor Jordan for Sunny T,The Man for Pasuma,that was how Bolaji Bello became a household name,Glory be to God,frankly speaking I released my first islamic album in the year 2001 as well titled (Takbir) Marketed by Ramsalam Records.Sule Atawewe actually introduced me to an American based  businessman and promoter.

4.  What kind of Islamic Gospel do you sing?

      The Kind of Islamic Gospel Music I Sing is Islamic Contemporary Music is a kind of music that is mixed with personal instruments with a little bit of highlife and Afro so that is the kind of music I sing,and is different from what others are doing and there are so many artiste in the country and if you want to make a difference and you have to look for something that is unique and not common and that is why I decided to go for that.

5.  How acceptable is your kind of music?

      Glory be to God,like I told you am not into music just to make money,am already making money as a producer,I made my name, little I got from producing for artiste I give Glory to God,am into music to serve my God,I actually believe you can serve God through music,if you listen to all my music you will see that I always pass message and that is what I have been doing and if you listen to Wal Asiri you will see that is talking about the endtime and all the atrocity being committed by human beings and that you should remember the endtime.in my music I want people to gain one or mtwo things in my music.and to educate them,am a producer,a dancehall producer,when I produced an artiste I know what I do to them,I know what I want,as far as am concerned as an Islamic artiste I do soul inspiring music,something people will listen to,they will think and said this is Islamic music.

6. How many artistes have you produced for so far?

     Have so many of them,like unknown stars and superstars for instance in the southwest,and have been a secular producer,produced for secular artistes such as Pasuma,Saheed Osupa,sule alao malaika,sule adio atawewe,toyin adio,I can say am into the production of K1 De Ultimate Album,and have done one or two things for General Kollington Ayinla,Rasheed Ayinde,Remi Aluko so many of them.and I also  produced for Islamic circle too,like Alhaji Waheed Ariyo who is now dead now may his soul rest in perfect peace,Ibrahim labaeka,hafsat sideeq,have lost count,have actually did the first album for Saoty Arewa,I remember then there is this job we did for corporate picture,and he came in as an alfa  we did Surat Maryam,Surat Yasin I produced the album.there are many,I know have produced many artistes and I give Glory to God.

7. What was your experience performing for the first time?

     Like I told you it was a collabo,I was in the midst of my friends and my brother it was a worthwhile experience because I didn’t have cause to feel anyhow,because  they gave me the courage to do it and I did perfectly well and when the album came I couldn’t believe my ears I kept asking myself did I do this Glory be to God it  was widely accepted,it was very very unique,and they all supported me, Pasuma supported me a lot financially and morally e.g Malaika,Atawewe because when I invited them they did not collected a dime from me that is a support.even when I offered them money they did not collected any money from me and when we want to do our video  all the costumes they are going to use they buy it themselves and when we finish I thank them and pray for them,they ve been wonderful,and wthey are wonderful people..

8.  How did you get inspirations as a producer?

     My Inspirations as a producer,you can get inspiration from anywhere,I like strolling around and at times you will see me park my car and started strolling around on the street,because that is where I think I get my inspirations,when I walk on the street  the inspirations comes and also I have my miggets or recorder to record when I get any inspiration I record. And inspiration comes anytime.

9.You just celebrated 50years birthday a golden age,how do you feel?

   It is a wonderful thing and joyful things as well,Since I was born,have never celebrated my birthday,when I was 10,20,30,40,but when I was 40years I actually wanted to celebrate it but I have a change of mind and when I reach 50 years I decided to celebrate it in a larger way and is a way of thanking my God and I prayed over it and people came in large numbers to support me.it was a wonderful event,people came in from diferent country USA,London,Ayuba came to perform,Pasuma was on the bandstand,Saoty Arewa,all the Islamic artiste Wasiu Sodeeq,Remi Aluko, so many of them,I really thank God for sparing my life and that it make the event successful.

10. When are you planning to release your next album

      I did Wal Asiri 2years ago and have told you am not into music just to make money,am into music to pass a message and I see it as worshipping my through music and now am preparing another new album to show appreciation to God for sparing my life to give thanks to all those who came to honour me on my birthday and to greet all friends and fans in the UK And Usa and I just came back from Usa four month ago and I want to thank all those who supported me there and am preparing to go back to the Usa so I want to finish with the preparation of the album so I want to go with the tape so luckily I can launch the album in the USA,am not launching it here in Nigeria,by the grace of God before the coming of Ramadan my new album will be on the shelve.

11. How have you been able to strike the balance between your business and your musical career?

Am not growing younger and have been in the industry for the past 30 something years and one needs to move ahead and what is going to be the next thing for you because you are not going to be a producer for life and have just registered a new company Bolaji Media and Marketing Limited is a limited liability company,I intends bringing out artist from my label,I will start bringing out artist,I will start releasing album from an established artist,my company is doing well,we are still in the studio,and like I told you my album is once in a year or two  year,and that doesn’t affect my production and my other business,because I don’t have to go to shows,I don’t even go to shows that is it.

12.People say Islamic gospel artist have to be holy compared to a normal artist,How true is that?

That is my own believe too,like I told you am into music to serve my God,and there is a difference between those are singing secular music,gospel music,Islamic gospel music,and I expect you to be totally singing gospel Islamic music,this is end time anyway,everybody is looking for money and if you want to survive you just have to do anything to survive,I believe that is why these people are doing anything to make money,I cant blame them because the country is bad,our leaders are not doing anything to help the younger ones,and this people needs to survive,and how do they survive,what would they do to survive is for them to sit down and crack there brain and know to get money ,so what they do is to sing and praise them in there song and they give them money in response and when the album comes out and they launch it and they will start making there money,am not bothered I sing to serve my God  am a focused person,I knolw where am going,have never given a thought,I would rather not going into Islamic music than join the bad gang,have made up my mind if money is not coming out from my Islamic so be it am not bothered,I will look for another job to make ends meet,people want to see you and when they see you as an Islamic singer they think that you are a neat and holy person is for you to advice them and to ginger them.

13.What is your relationship between other Islamic artists and your association ISMAN?

     Am a bonafide member of ISMAN,am the chairman if Ikeja Zone before I travelled out,when I travel to Usa they called me  to come and participate in the elections unfortunately I wasnt around that I wont be able to be part of that election,they urge me to be part of the Executive,is just because of the love they have for me,they thought and believe I will be useful for them,somebody actually paid for my office that am using,I was asked to go for the National PRO of ISMAN,even though ttehy asked to be an ordinary member I wouldn’t decline by the grace of God,am the National PRO of ISMAN,I love ISMAN,because  is an association that we so much believe in,and the association will be 20years by this year October and we are going to celebrate it in a bigger way and elaborate event ,we are looking at Oriental Hotel,Eko le Meridien or Muson Cneter we want to do it on Island or Lekki,everybody is going to know about it and you are going to be our partners,we will be very happy if your company can be one of our partners,ISMAN will be 20years by October and we are going to celebrate it.

14.Any advice to upcoming producers and artists that look up to you as a role model?

      My advice is for them to be patientand endure,you neede to take endurance as your watchdog,if you cannot be patient and endure you cant achieve.Endurance and Patient should be your watchworld

15.Are you married Sir?

     Am married with with kids and they are all doing fine and I want you to be expecting my next album before the starting of Ramadan.