At 56, I still go to disco – Ayo Balogun

President of Association of Juju Musicians, Queen Ayo Balogun, tells ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo about her career as a juju artiste

Has anybody told you that you look younger than your age?

As a matter of fact, many people tell me that almost on a daily basis. I owe it to God, it is not my making. I thank Him for that. Age is just a number. In my mind, I still do things my normal way. I don’t feel that I am old for some stuff. I go dancing. I go to disco. I boogie once in a while when I have the time. I still do stuff like a young person.

You said ‘when I have the time,’ does it mean you still have tight work schedule?

Oh yes. I am still very busy. On the average, I have two or three shows in a week. It has reduced considerably. We have done 11 days nonstop before; we have done 15 days nonstop. And this is usually during festive periods. We wouldn’t notice when it is Monday or Tuesdays. There were times I did five parties in a week. Now that I am doing just two or three weekly, I think I am still active.

Are you not getting set to retire?

I am not tired yet. I am not planning to retire any time soon.

Your last album was the fifth album. One would have thought you would have churned out more albums given the number of years you have put in the industry.

I agree with you. I understand you perfectly. But the problem is that you can’t be this busy and have time to settle down and compose songs and get into the studio to record. But I am on one album now. It should have been out this December but due to our busy schedule, it might not be possible. We are now looking at Easter period next year.

How do you cope in an industry that is dominated by men?

When I started, there weren’t so many women. In fact, I was about the only one that people knew about. But now, more women have come into the juju music industry. There are up and coming ones and they are doing very well.

And how has it been being the president of  the Association of Juju Musicians?

It has been somehow tough. You would need to attend to all issues. Everything is sent to my table and you have to attend to it.

How did you become ‘Queen’?

Surprisingly, nobody has ever asked me this. Anyway, it happened so many years ago. The title was first given to me by the City People Media Group. Thereafter, AJUM also gave me the title and even gave me a certificate for it. Right now, I am not even known as the Queen of Jjuju Music only. I am now known as Queen of Music. I can do any kind of music.

Are you doing other genres now because juju music is gradually fading  while others are taking over the music industry?

You are wrong there. Before now, Juju music was on the low side. But that is not the case now. if you go to any party around the South West, you would notice the number of juju musicians that are performing at parties. How many of the other musicians do they invite to perform at parties? It is juju musicians that get invited most of the time. It is primarily because the music is calm and decent. I can do all kinds of music, including hip hop and R and B.

Some of your colleagues are collaborating with younger artistes in the other genre, have you considered doing that?

I have done some. I did one with K Solo. I am willing to do more by next year or thereabout.

Juju music is about praise singing where the singer can even praise somebody who is generally believed to be dubious…

When you play in a party, you may not know what the person dancing to your music does for a living. You wouldn’t know if the person is an armed robber or prostitute. If the person tells you he is a clearing agent, you would praise-sing him based on the profession he told you. I cannot, because I want to praise somebody, go and find out what that person does or try to find out if he is of good character. I am doing my job to make my money.

How easy has it been taking care of your home and still managing your career?

When I started, it wasn’t easy at all. The kids were just growing up then. I needed to give them attention and play my role as a mother. I had to play my role as a house wife. I thank God for good kids and understanding husband. We were able to cope. Now, it is much easier. The kids are grown up, they don’t need my attention as they used to.

And how easy was it to convince your husband to allow you remain in the profession?

It wasn’t easy. I had to reassure him that my career would not affect the home and it wouldn’t come in between my family. At times, he comes to where I am performing and goes back home later.

He must have been very understanding because female artistes are seen as being promiscuous; didn’t he have some kind of reservations about your career?

By the time I started music, I was already mature, I knew what I wanted. I wanted a family and I wanted my family to be around me. I didn’t want to lose my marriage just for entertainment industry. Oh yes, female musicians are wayward but it is not all of them. We had a seminar some time ago and we addressed all the females in the industry; we told them that they have to take care of their homes no matter their career.

Were you already married before you became an artiste?

Yes. I started juju music in 1995. Before then, I was a secretary to a medical director. Then I went into trading, I was selling casual wears. Later on, I went into music and I have not had any regret so far.

How did you choose to become a juju musician?

I was a gospel musician. I eventually decided to deviate to juju music.

Why?

In my church, I didn’t want to be seen as if I was competing with the church choir. I didn’t want such competition. I realised I had the talent to go into another area. The talent was burning inside of me so I had to make a total deviation from the gospel to juju music. I tried to make people understand that doing juju music would not take you away from God. You are only doing it to make a living. I am happy people have seen it that my being a juju musician hasn’t affected my relationship with God. They are happy and I am happy. My first album was a gospel album. There is no way I would go to the studio that I wouldn’t record a gospel song.

When you got into music, did you know that you would ever become this established?

Sincerely speaking, I never had it in mind. The first time I performed, it was at a friend’s father’s burial. We wanted to reduce cost and she said I should be the one to perform. I did it that day and at that event, people started asking for my complimentary card. I didn’t have. I started writing my contact for them in a piece of paper. Before I knew what was happening, I started getting shows everyday. I didn’t know I would become this big. It was music that made me popular. I was very shy before I became a musician. I am a naturally shy person off stage. I don’t think I would have been popular if I weren’t a musician.

So when you get on the stage, the cloak of shyness is removed from your face?

Absolutely! Immediately I hear the sound of the drums, I become charged. But once I am done, I withdraw back into my shell. I dance as well. I am a very good dancer. It is not all musicians that can dance.

How do you cope with the boys in your band?

I am lucky to have level-headed boys in my band and they are lucky to have somebody like me. We treat one another as brothers and sisters.

There is always rivalry among juju musicians…

That was in those days. Before we started AJUM, juju musicians could not come together, they would be afraid of one another, thinking that one would harm them. But it has changed. We now move together. Last week, during my birthday celebration, it was fun. One would finish singing and another would take the microphone and start singing. It never used to happen in the past. Things have changed.

You must love fashion to have a tattoo in your chest region…

I love fashion. Looking good is good business. Fashion and music go together. As for the tattoo, I had it many years ago. It was a white man that tattooed it many years ago and that was even before it became the fad. I was surprised when it eventually became the trend. Now, everybody wants to get a tattoo. I feel like scraping off this one on my chest.

You also like wearing cropped hair…

It is very easy for me to maintain. I cannot have a show and I will go and sit down in the salon. You dress for occasion. I can’t maintain long hair.

How was growing up?

I had a wonderful childhood. My mother was a sewing mistress. This fashion thing of mine came from my mother. She always made sure we dressed well. We had everything. I didn’t come from a rich home anyway, I come from a humble home. We cut our coat according to our cloth. We did everything in moderation.  My father gave us wonderful childhood.

How did you meet your husband?

We lived in the same area at Papa Ajao in Mushin (Lagos). We moved to Lagos from Ibadan around 1978. That was when I met my husband. Like they say, one thing led to the other.