Cobhams Asuquo, a talented multi-dimensional musician, producer and songwriter was born blind. The 36-year- old is boss of his own company, Cobhams Asuquo Music Production (CAMP) and has promoted many Nigerian artistes. He discusses his upcoming album, visual impairment and family among others.
Weekend Magazine: You started ‘Cobhams Top 12,’ a digital radio show in 2016. How long do you hope to run the programme?
Cobhams Asuquo: For the past eight years I’ve wanted to do a countdown show. I am a radio kid and have always loved radio. I’m in the business of exposing great talents and who may not have been heard of. The show will run for as long as I can run it.
WM: You play the piano and guitar, what other instruments do you play and how did you learn to play them, considering your visual challenge?
Asuquo: Besides those two, I play percussion, a little bit of the xylophone, flutes and a couple of others. I went to a primary school with a great music history. When I was at the Pacelli School for the Blind, I would find my way to the music room. I would hang in there, play with everything and just dream. I figured out how to play by myself but along the line, I was mentored and taught by great musicians, among them, Mr John Yekini, my primary school teacher and another one in my secondary school, Mr. Okon. They sowed music in my life and believed in me enough to help me grow my talents.
WM: You also sing jazz and R ‘n’ B. Are you planning on diverting to other genres?
Asuquo: I am a musician and love music generally. Music is a form of expression and I create what is relevant. I usually just create something great.
WM: What do you have in the pipeline for your fans?
Asuquo: I released a single – ‘Empty’ on Valentine’s Day. My first album – ‘For You’ will be out March 12. I have been working on the project for about five years. It is a very strong expression of me. From April to December, we will take a tour through Nigeria, America, the UK and wherever else we are invited. It is music that is very daring, very strong and has a definite expression of my belief and my love.
WM: What is the single ‘Empty’ all about?
Asuquo: It is the acknowledgement of the person in your life without whom your life would be so empty. Certain things or people fill us up, give us joy and keep us going and I do not think we celebrate them enough. I belong to the school of thought that says, “Give them roses when they could smell them.” ‘Empty’ is about the celebration of a beautiful relationship without which our lives will be empty. It could be with God, family or friends.
WM: What inspired you to take music professionally?
Asuquo: I think it is my fascination for sound and all things sound, and that can be linked to the fact that my world is heavily sound-reliant. I have learnt to process and dissect sound in many different ways, and I think that must have influenced my decision to go into music. I found out that sound is very broad and fascinating and there’s pretty much what you can do with it.
WM: CAMP is said to be responsible for Asa’s music going international. What other artistes have you promoted?
Asuquo: CAMP is not responsible for Asa’s music going international. Asa was signed to a record label, Naive Record, in Paris, France. She is a personal and dear friend. As an individual, I have done quite a lot of work with her that we are really proud of. CAMP as a label has played a role in the lives of quite a number of artistes such as Bez and Stan. Having played that role for some time, we are transiting in terms of our interest, so I am spending time now growing Vintage Grey Media, an all- encompassing media space that creates and curates audio-visual content generally.
WM: Why would you describe blindness as a gift?
Asuquo: That is one reason I can be focused on certain things. For instance, you walk into a store and are easily attracted to the bright-coloured things due to their appeal to your sight. But that is one distraction I have the privilege of avoiding. Being blind teaches you to trust. When you have to hold someone’s hands, when they say ‘go up,’ you go, and when they also say ‘go down,’ you have to. That helped with my trust level because I realised that in this world, we are very conscious of man’s innate desperate wickedness that sometimes we do not realise that just a little trust can help us go further. The trust I have has made me gain ground in life. In this light I would say that whatever it is that I have done is just a fraction of what they can do if they set their minds to it. I came from a humble background but I have been able to make something out of my life. That opportunity lies with everyone else, if they can desire it enough. They should start by desiring it, proceed to dream about it, and then do something about it by getting up and working towards it.
WM: How has academic education shaped your success in music?
Asuquo: Pacelli taught me self-dependence on many levels, to look after myself and do my own laundry, wash my own bathroom, and do all those things you would have thought a blind person couldn’t. I then went to the King’s College, Lagos, which reformed me in many ways, by moulding me into a gentleman with self-worth and pride. It also helped me to build a network of trusted loyal friends. I had a brief stint at the University of Lagos and that taught me about surviving in a wider space. It was a place for expression and knowledge. It helped shaped me and also built some of the most enduring relationships in my life. At Unilag, I was studying Law but I opted out in my third year to pursue music. If I were not into music, I’d be a lawyer, politician or preacher. I might still get round to being one of them in future because I started off studying law and I am very interested in politics.
WM: You are from Cross River, grew up in Jos and married a Yoruba lady. How do you both cope with inter-tribal marriage?
Asuquo: It has been beautiful, amazing and it gives the opportunity to get a mix of cultures. Nigeria is a country with good people and good intentions. Experiencing this cultural mix is something I’ve always looked forward to and enjoy in my marriage. Yoruba people are quite literary and artistic, while those of us from the East are quite business-minded, so it is a good combination of our strengths. I guess I enjoyed the best of both worlds.
