By Gbenga Bada
Popular Fuji musician, Sulaiman Adekunle Alao Malaika kicked off his musical career in 1983 during his primary school education in Lagos Island despite his mum’s disapproval. 31years after, with 19 studio album releases and several mixtapes to his credit, the Alaiyeluwa of Fuji music has joined frontliners of the Fuji music genre. A singer from a musical lineage-his grandfather and dad were musicians – Malaika exclusively spoke to NET in a rare interview session conducted while recording a yet-to-be released mixtape.
You recently released an album entitled ‘Superstar’, can you tell me more about what makes it special?
Superstar is one of the best albums I have ever done and it comes with just two tracks. While one track is long, the other track is short. As a matter of fact, the album’s recording time is longer than a regular album. Normally, a side of an album has only 38minutes but just one track in the Superstar album is over 33minutes while the other track is over 34minutes and some seconds. The reason for this is simply because the record was too tight and it wasn’t easy working on the album. When musicians go to the studio sometimes, they take their recordings twice or thrice just for perfection but that wasn’t the case while recording the Superstar album. And expectedly, we have been getting good and commendable comments on the album everywhere over the album. Alhamdulilahi on the acceptability of the album and the songs in it are awesome.
Since you started off your career professionally, how many albums have you recorded and released?
Alhamdulilahi, God has made it possible thus far. Apart from side albums, which are often referred to as life recordings, Superstar made the 19th position of my officially recorded and released albums.
Why the name, Superstar for your 19th album?
I have found out in life that when you want something from God, you use every way possible – although righteous ways – to get it from God. By working hard, being prayerful and persistent, you would get what you wish from God. For the title, I want to be known more than I already am, I want to become a superstar. I perform everywhere and even outside the country and I see people enjoy my brand of music and that is exciting for me but I want to perform at bigger venues, sold out concerts like a superstar and that was why I named the album Superstar.
Already, I am a superstar in my own right but I want to be an internationally acclaimed mega superstar by God’s grace.
You did a song with rap star, Olamide entitled ‘Bosenjo’ just before the release of your Superstar album. Was that a strategy or like a build up for the album?
Professionally, what you sing about sometimes only comes to your head in the studio or when someone approaches you for a duet. For ‘Bosenjo’ I never thought about doing a song like that because I have done songs with hip hop acts long before now. However, I met Olamide in one of my brothers’ houses and I was told he was eager to meet with me, I drove down there to meet with him. On getting there, we exchanged pleasantries and we got talking so he requested working with me saying we haven’t done anything together before because he has been following my success since his young days and that that he likes the way I sing. I reciprocated by telling him how I love his approach to his music and he asked if we could do something together and I told him that is no problem and that I would even fund the recording and all other things. When all these happened, I haven’t even began recording for my album and he also said he wasn’t recording for his album and we promised to feature on each other’s album whenever we were ready. Few days later, we met at the studio he uses for recording and that was it. I never imagined the acceptability of the song because we did it for the fun of it and Olamide was even the one that suggested that we shoot the video since the acceptability was heartwarming.
What was it like working with Olamide, a younger artiste in the studio?
Like I said earlier on, it wasn’t my first time of working with a hip hop and younger artiste. I have worked with Jazzman Olofin, Fada U-turn, may his gentle soul rest in peace, I have worked with Artquake and many more so working with Olamide wasn’t anything extraordinary even though I can’t take away his brilliance and passion for what he does.
It was a normal studio session, it was fun and we were like brothers and God blessed it as the fans accepted it.
Your names on the music scene seem to be ever increasing, what is the idea about?
If you know me well, you would notice that I have never for once changed my name on the music scene but add to it because when people decide to give me more monikers, I can’t reject them. I only receive these monikers because the fans are giving me those monikers the way they view me or how my music appeals to them. My names are Sulaiman Malaika Adekunle. While my trade name is Malaika, Alaiyeluwa is a title that was accorded to me by fans. There are also monikers like Jagaban of Fuji, Ike Anobi, Seriki Fuji and several more that I can’t remember myself.
That brings me to the question, how did you come about the name, Malaika?
When I started off my Fuji music career at a young age, I was known as Tekoye and that was because of my late brother, Alhaji Wasiu Ejire Tekoye, who was a musician while he was alive. Alhaji Wasiu Ejire Tekoye was my role model while K1 de Ultimate is my mentor in the world of Fuji music. Let me explain it this way, when K1 wanted to kick off his career, he picked a name from Barrister and later was known as Talazo and we had several people jostling for the name Talazo after K1 made a statement with it but I decided to go with Tekoye, whose name was Talazo junior then, because his real names, Tekoye in Yoruba means bow to survive. So, when we started having different Tekoyes, I told the late Wasiu Ejire that I would like to change my trade name and after giving him my reasons, I had a meeting with him and my dad, Alhaji Ambali Adetunji and when they asked my preferred trade name, I chose Malaika. They were both surprised and asked why I chose the name and I told them Malaikas are God’s mouth piece and I know whatever I sing about or talk about would be predictions or prophecies that would one day come to pass. Again I thought to myself that if and when I grow older and I decide not to sing Fuji again and probably want to go into Islamic music or entertainment related stuffs, Malaika would still fit in. At the same time, there is this impression about Fuji artistes bearing funny names that can’t be explained. So, those were what brought about the name, Malaika.
Going by the belief that the Fuji music house is in disarray and that you are not on speaking terms with Osupa or Pasuma is fighting with K1 and several other allegations, what is the state of the Fuji house?
All those are rumours that can’t be proven. Maybe before now, we had differences with one another over some things but all those rumours have been buried and we have a strong Fuji house as I speak with you. There is true unity in the Fuji house today and so would it be forever more. We are united and we all speak with one voice and we are one. It is funny how things like these are associated with Fuji music because rivalry and differences are going on everywhere but in Fuji music house as I speak with you, we are all one in the house of Fuji.
Let’s get to know how you actually kicked off your Fuji music career?
I started my music career in 1983 at a tender age in my primary school days, although my mum was against it because she felt it wasn’t financially rewarding. My mum would always say ‘your grandfather was a musician, your father was a musician and nothing spectacular came out of their careers, so why do you want to follow the line?’ But then I couldn’t answer and I was crying so I went to my grandmother’s house to explain this to her and my grandmother appealed to my mother to allow me choose my career since I wasn’t forced to go into music against my will. She told my mum to pray for me and my mum accepted on the condition that I won’t return to her saying I won’t do this anymore. My mum prayed for me and Alhamdulilahi, here we are today.
When you released your first album, how did your mum feel?
She was at the launching and she was so happy and same goes for my family members. They were all so happy for me when I launched my first album in 1993.
For someone who kicked off his career in 1983 with a genre of music, Fuji, what is Fuji music?
Fuji music is a brand of music that is better than other genre of music. If you are familiar with music and again familiar with Fuji music, you would know that I’m not saying this because I’m a Fuji artist. You would really learn more from Fuji music. A good Fuji artiste would know how to use his tone, we also have voice pitch in singing Fuji music. Fuji music also educates and as a good Fuji musician, you must know how and when to inject what would enlighten the public in your songs. If I don’t have my inspirations intact, I don’t rush into the studio just because I want to release an album. If and when I decide to go into the studio, I would talk about varieties of issues and things ranging from Government to the people, tradition, environmental awareness, peace and even happenings from the outside world. All these can be seen in my albums from 1993 till date. And we have long minutes to sing, so we always have something tangible, issues to tackle while also giving entertainment with our jibes and slangs. Sometimes, we even do three in one album that can last three or two hours. Fuji music is also a combination of different beats that include Bata, Gangan, Jazz and there is no type of drum that can’t be found in Fuji music and I would say in conclusion that Fuji music is easy for any Fuji artiste that knows his or her onions. So, I’m happy to be one of the frontliners.
What is your take on the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister?
We obviously love him and we miss him but God loves him more. Ina Lahi wa ina li Raji hun (It’s from Thee that we have come to this world and it’s to Thee we shall return), late Barrister was a legendary musician that not only championed a genre but created a pathway for several of us to follow. None of us wanted to him to leave this world that early but what can we do? Who can question God’s decision? Who are we to question his authority? May his soul rest in perfect peace, amen. The Late Barrister has done it all, we are just reaping from all he has created for us, I can say he’s Fuji music. Barrister, Kollignton are the creators of Fuji music, then K1 came in and took it from their point to a more acceptable way that made it easier for us the younger ones and appealing to all and sundry and that is what I am working towards. I want to be viewed and seen as someone who made a serious and notable impact in the world of Fuji music now and even when I’m gone.
Do you see yourself going into politics like several entertainers are currently doing?
Everybody has their own reason for going into politics or whatever they do, so if I have any reason tomorrow to drop music for politics, people would know but as I speak to you now, I’m still and only a Fuji musician. I’m not ruling it out because I strongly believe God’s will and destiny can not be changed but as for now, I’m still singing.
Several things have been said about you and popular Nollywood actress, Sikiratu Sindodo, what actually is going on between you both? Is there a romance?
I don’t have anything to say about those tales and the question. I have been warned and also cautioned myself not to answer that question. I don’t want to talk about it at all. If we have anything like it is being peddled about, it is known to me and her and if not, it is equally known to me
and her, so it’s not something we hide. Whatever people or anyone believe is what is happening.
Lastly, it is believed that Fuji musicians love women and women run after them, how do you cope with all the attention and advances you get from females?
You see, there is something that is known as God’s grace which Yoruba people call ‘Ore Ofe,’ I have that grace and there is no way a musician even those that aren’t Fuji singers won’t have dealings with women but like I have always said, I know perfectly how to professionally deal with those advances and attention when they come and my home would not be affected. I make friends with women a lot but I protect my home.
