Maye Hunta Tackles 15 Questions of Fame

By Chiagoziem Onyekwena

This is the type of stuff neighbourhood gossips feed fat on all day long. So, the neighbour’s adolescent house-help has officially grown ‘wings’. Nowadays, the young lady simply refuses to do anything around the house, even going as far as publicly challenging her madam’s authority as if to say – if I can share your husband’s bed with you, why can’t I share his whole house as well?

 Alas the truth can’t be a secret for long, the dear help starts adding weight in all the wrong places. Ole girl is preggers, and unless her first name starts with an ‘M’, the baby couldn’t possibly have been immaculately conceived. So who’s responsible? Well don’t ask me, I’m just an innocent journalist. Although, I do admit to knowing one man who might know a thing or two about Ekaette’s pregnancy, and you’re about to meet him.

 Having worked closely with famed Channel O DJ, DJ Waxxy and KORA Award winning singer, Kunle Ayo in South Africa, Maye Hunta succeeded in making a decent name for himself within the Nigerian music community in SA over the years. His first singles Gbedu and the Igho-featured I-V put Maye’s name on the radar but it wasn’t until he moved back home and released his epic story about Ekaette in late ’09, that Nigerians really began to take notice of the ‘crowned hunter’ (as his surname, Odejimi, translates to in English).Ekaette generated so much interest in the media that in no time it incurred the wrath of the National Broadcasting Corporation which recently placed a broadcast ban on the song for what the regulatory body called ‘vulgar lyrics’, but more on that later.

In this edition of 15 Questions of Fame, singer, actor and guitarist, Maye Hunta, joins me as we talk about April Fools jokes, what some Cross River girls have to say about his music and his thoughts on the NBC ban on Ekaette.

1.      Where do you live now?

Lagos, Nigeria 

 2.      How would you compare the Nigerian Music Industry and the South African Music Industry?

Men, they both have their pluses and minuses. South Africa has a proper structure but fewer talents and it’s the other way round in Nigeria.

 3.      Did your first album ‘Introduction’ eventually get released over here?

Nah.

 4.      Between your most popular songs Gbedu, I-V and now Ekaette, would I be right to say Maye loves to have himself a very good time?

Most definitely, this is what I do and I love my job die! And I won’t trade it for anything else in the world.

 5.      The name ‘Ekaette’ stereotypically refers to house helps. Have you gotten any backlash from any female fans of the same name for (for lack of a better word) ‘disrespecting’ the name?

Yeah, I have gotten a few criticisms for the use of the name, but like I keep saying to folks out there that it could have being Chioma, Risika or even Amina. The name Ekaette just works better for the song. If you listen to the lyrics, you’ll see that we placed a lot of emphasis on the fact that she “Ekaette” is a great cook and she knows how t o cater to the man. Correct me if I’m wrong the ‘Calabrites’ are about the only ones who have the culture of sending their girls to fattening house to learn this. So if anything it wasn’t meant to be derogatory in any way, you dig? I love me some Calabar delicacy any day. It’s just a song.

 6.      Are you surprised Ekaette is doing as well as it is today? 

Well, when I was writing the song, I knew it was special but Jah does have a way of surprising you if you believe in him. I must say that I thought it would be big but not this big. Now I have fans everywhere and I feel very blessed.

 7.      Tell us a bit about your new album ‘Mayefication’ (features, producers etc)

Mayefestation is a 14 track album and the bulk of the songs were produced by Shizzi, real names Sheyi Akerele, my partner in crime. I.D Cabassa also produced a couple. I feature artistes like Sound Sultan, I.D Cabassa, Vector, Igho, and a beautiful singer from Swaziland called Malle.

 8.      When I first broke the news to you that NBC had banned Ekaette, you thought I was playing a wicked April fool’s Day joke on you. So tell me Maye, how did you later find out it wasn’t a prank?

Well afterwards I started receiving calls from media people, and then I knew it was for real. No comments on the ban, though. All I can say is the song and video is clean as far as I’m concerned so let the fans decide.

 9.      Are you married? Engaged? In a relationship?

I’m ‘happily involved.’

 10.  What would you do if hypothetically, you were married and you ‘accidentally’ got the house help pregnant? 

I’ll sing a song. (Laughs heartily) On a more serious note though, that was just a song. I don’t hope to find myself in such a tight spot.

 11.  The festive season is usually a good time for artistes, so tell me Maye was the smile on your face wider around Christmas last year or at Easter this year?

Both periods were the bomb. I was enjoying myself doing what I love to do and getting paid for it.

 12.  What’s the one thing in life you are most scared of?

Dying an unfulfilled man

 13.  What made you get rid of your braids?

New look, new style, new crew and new brand

 14.  Few people know this, but you’re also into movies as well… So, in terms of financial reward system, how do you compare music to movies in Africa?

I’m still exploring. It won’t be fair to judge right now. I’m giving one more attention than the other at the moment.

 15.  Where does Maye see his music, his art and his brand in the next few years?

To become a major force to reckon with in Nigerian, African and hopefully world music by Gods grace.

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