Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika, known to his fans and friends all over the world as Alayeluwa, Madiba, Jagaban Fuji, Ike Anobi, KS1 D Pride etc, hails from Ago Owu, in Abeokuta North Local Government area of Ogun State.
Born and bred in Lagos, he grew up living at various times in Mushin, Oshodi, Bariga and was educated at Oyewole Primary School and Yewa High School, both in Agege, Lagos.
A devout Muslim, he performed the Hajj in 1999 and later in 2005, thereby fulfilling one of the injunctions of the holy Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W).
Sulaimon Alao Adekunle Malaika is one Fuji artiste that has carved a niche for him. The Ogun State born Fuji Musician opened in this interview with City People Gbolahan Adetayo about his new album titled Original, his immediate past album Iya mi and his newly acquired Range Rover wich is worth over 16 million naira. He also addressed the rumour that he’s having feud with his fellow fuji counterpart, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and why Wasiu Ayinde K1 endorsed his new album.
We congratulate you on your new album titled Original, please tell us why you titled it Original?
Thank you very much, I think Original in this context means that one should allow people know his worth. Music should be used to preach to people,many people are not aware of this and that is what I really want to prove to them. It also serves as a warning to people that they should try to be original at every point in time.
How long did it take you to come up with this album?
I really took my time to come up with this album, the message in this one is very rich, it took me time because I really dedicated my time to it. After this work I have decided to go back to my normal routine of not working on Mondays. I only consider working on Mondays around December period because workload is normally much by then.
How long does it take you to script a song?
It does not take time at all, what I do is dedicate my time to it, this is my gift and I have to appreciate it.I compose my music myself.
Did you conduct research on your latest work or you recorded as it came?
As a musician one has to conduct and make findings all the time, you don’t have to neccessasrily wait till when you have a job.if I get to hear any new thing from a young chap I would want to know the meaning.That is how it works.
Some people believe that you chosen the title Original because you bear the same name with another Fuji musician?
That is not true at all, I chose the title because it suits my album,people are of the habit of calling fuji artistes with their album titles. I use this medium to correct that impression.
Some are of the opinion that sometimes you use your music to throw tantrums at your rivals in the industry?
No , I sing as I get inspirations, I can never direct it to anybody. I do not use my music to abuse anybody. We are all good friends in the industry , infact we promote each other.
Why do you always give your album to KWAM 1 for endorsement?
If he, Kwam 1 could give his CD to Sunny Ade for endorsement who am I not to? He is like a father figure to me. He has always acted like that. I am also a force in the industry but then I must show respect to whom it is due.One thing he does is that he gets to buy my CD even before he is informed by me that it is out.
Can the relationship be attributed to the fact that you both use the same marketer Babalaje records?
Well, Babalaje is the father of both of us, the two of them relate well too, but I must say that we are connected in many ways.
We learnt that Babalaje used to contribute to your records, but now he has been made a king does he still perform that duty?
Since I have been doing my albums I do it alone, all I do is take it to him for appraisal, and sometimes he adds to it.
How active is he now?
He is still very active, but I do not really like to stress him these days, because he is aging and now he is a king.
Apart from Original , you also released another album earlier in the year titled “ Iya mi”, what really inspired that title?
Truth is I appreciate the good things my mum has done for me, I also know that same applies to other persons, so I decided to come up with a song for mothers. I was in New York when I scripted the track.All our mothers should be appreciated for the good deeds they have done.
I learnt you are presently building a house for your mum?
My brother, I do not like sharing stories like this, it should not be for public consumption, what I do in my private life my business.
What plans are on ground to ensure your album is not pirated?
It is God that we pray to on this one, when I released superstar I was called then that someone was caught trying to pirate 10,000 copies, I was abroad then, so I called the police to follow up on the case but I noticed even the police was not willing to cooperate. So it is government we are begging to help us.
It is speculated that the people that started from Jiwere music are better fuji artiste than those who didn’t ,please shed more light on this.
In time past , if you didn’t attend Arabic school you cant Jiwere and by extension cant sing fuji, we were told that jiwere was modernized to fuji. So it is believed that if you didn’t attend Arabic school you will not learn how to jiwere , but situation is now no longer the same.
Some Fuji artiste have gone into oblivion, what could possibly be the reason?
That is not correct at all, there is no Fuji musician that came up and disappeared ,except he has not arrived.
You just bought a new Range Rover, and you aren’t making noise about it , why do you keep silent about good things like this?
I do not like making noise about certain things, that has been my personality and I think you shouldn’t blame me for that. A fan bought a car sometimes ago and customized the number plate with my name, he went on social media platforms to showcase it and I started receiving calls concerning the car, immediately I went on social media to debunk it and I told that fan to desist from it. Truth is he might have good intentions of doing that but it does not go down well with me at all. I bought my car because it is a necessity not for show off.
You are one of the few devout muslims in the industry and you don’t drink too, is this as a result of your upbringing?
Part of it is my upbringing, it is also by the grace of God too. I was properly brought up but I also chose to live my life that way.
There has been a big speculation that you and Pasuma wonder are beefing each other, please we like to hear from you?
Due to the nature of the job, things like this is expected .Some persons will say good things about you,some will say bad things too. We are good friends and there is no beef between us whatsoever. We don’t have course to fight at all, it is an erroneous belief.
What message do you have for your fans?
They should not relent in their prayers ,without them we are nobody. I appreciate them and pray that God will continue to be with them
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