Samson Iroko Interview

Samson Olawale is a mechanical engineer by profession but prefers to be a Percussionist, because this has placed him on a podium for the world to see. This successful instrumentalist in this interview with OLADIPO OLUWATOSIN shares his experiences and how it will enhance National Development. Excerpts.

How long have you been playing this drum and what inspired you?
Actually I started playing this percussion at the age of 12 but did not play professionally until I was18 years old. I did not start from music; I started from a Cherubim and Seraphim Church. With the passion I have for playing drum, a brother who happens to be an electrician but loves music, took me to his brother, Fabulous Fakeye by name, who happens to be a famous Juju singer and I picked my percussion career from there. More so, when I realised money was not forth coming from that angle. Someone invited me to meet Segun Awe, a gospel artiste, for an audition as conga drummer, but then I never had any experience in playing conga but I started working with him from 1989-1993.
What made you to leave Segun Awe for Colour Band now Lagbaja Band led by Bisade Ologunde?
Actually, you need to know that “human beings are insatiable.” I decided to move to Colour band in the year 1995. Lagbaja turned out to be a music genius that values gifts in man. In the area of performance, he is very good on stage than Segun Awe. Awe paid N30, N50. So the first event I went with Lagbaja, he paid me N350 and paid N200 for conga, this motivated me to move away from Segun Awe. I graduated to be the conga percussionist player in Afro-beat Band led by Femi Kuti in 2001 where am enabled to tour the world.
In every profession we have a mentor, so who mentored you into playing percussion or were you born with it?
Actually I don't have a mentor but I think Remi Kabarka is, he played Apala then for Art Alade, but the man is in London now, he is an old man.
Definitely you have a conjunction with Dare Art Alade?
No, but with his father, Dare Art Alade might not know me because he was very young then, I used to go to his father's club because I had passion for the drum. It was inborn, no one thought me. Nobody is my inspiration. I did not go to them to teach me how to play, but I see them while playing. Remi Kabaka was my one source of inspiration, number two Papachico and Samson Ogunlade. These are my three main source of inspiration. If you see the way I play now, it is quite different from theirs, I just liked them but not to be like them since then.
How have you been able to balance your schooling with playing percussion?
Then I just finished my secondary school before that man took me to …, there was no family support to continue my secondary school, so I had to sponsor myself.
What you are trying to say is that this percussion paid your school fee?
This percussion paid my school fee when I finished my secondary school, I realised I was low in education, so I went to Lagos State Polytechnic, where I had my National Diploma (ND)  in mechanical engineering, but I have not practiced the profession, but percussion paid my school fee till now. That is why I love percussion
What are you trying to put in place for people to love percussion, at least the white man loves people who do instrumentation and others?
Actually I have been teaching, like the group I gathered four years ago, I have been teaching them percussion and they have learnt a lot. In South Africa we have a group there called percussion café. I have a friend there and I told him if we can bring this thing to Nigeria, it will improve our percussion skills. I am working on percussion coming to Nigeria as Nigeria drum café.
What are your best sides on stage?
If you look at my conga playing on stage, chanting and my coordination are the best sides of me.
Can you tell us part of the project and programme you were able to feature in and your next project angle for your fans ?
My creative skills as a famous Nigerian percussionist pushed me forward to feature in many festivals and projects within and outside the boundaries of the African continent. I participated in the playboy jazz festival in Califonia, Bonaroon festival in America, Canada Festival, Asia, Africa festival, John Scoffield project to mention but a few. Soon, my album  titled “Igbadun” which comprises of Gospel and Circular concept will blast the market soon. If you actually want to have an experience of our performance, join us every last Sunday of the month at Ayo Bankole Galleria, 37 Yesufu Sanusi off Adeniran Ogunlana drive, Surulere-Lagos.
What brought about the Name “Iroko Percussion”?
Iroko is a big tree in the forest that all smaller trees bow down for, meaning that all other musical concept are still coming to bow down for African music concept. More so, All the percussion drum were carved from the tree called Iroko tree. I directed my passion towards the African rhythm and style construction which projects more of African music vibes. From this experience emerged the creation of THE IROKO PERCUSSION OF AFRICA. It is a vision of bringing the African music and melody that the candle is melting back to the bright light once again. For more inquiry visit: www.samsonirokopercussion.com
What is your advice to the younger generation?
Actually percussion does not pay in Nigeria like in abroad. What I will advice the younger generation, is to do what they lay their hands on now well, and not to look at the economic situation of Nigeria. They should look beyond Nigeria, anything you do now, look out where you are and that someday you will go anywhere and people will appreciate you.