- Title: Meet a blind teenage boy in Nigeria with a gift for 'Fuji' music
- Date: 24th April 2018
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) MARKET TRADER, MAURUF KHALIFAT, SAYING: "He plays good music. He is singing a song meant to encourage people and to let them know that disabled people can also contribute something, they are not useless." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHAKING BASIT'S HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) BASIT RAHEEM, MUSICIAN, SAYING: "Whenever I play music, I am always happy when people call my name and I always wish I could see those people calling me but now that I don't have the power to make myself see, I pray to God to have mercy on me and lift my spirits." VARIOUS OF BASIT DRUMMING BASIT'S FEET MOVING TO BEAT BASIT DRUMMING MAN RECORDING BASIT USING PHONE IMAGES OF BASIT DRUMMING ON PHONE SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) BASIT RAHEEM, MUSICIAN, SAYING: "I heard drumming so one day I picked up these plastic bottles and I started drumming with them and I discovered that everything was just perfect. So this is the gift that God has given to me." JAMES ARIYO, STUDIO MANAGER LEADING BASIT INTO STUDIO BASIT WEARING HEADPHONES TECHNICIAN CHECKING MACHINES
- Embargoed: 8th May 2018 16:32
- Keywords: Music Fuji Basit Raheem recycled bottles
- Location: IBADAN, NIGERIA
- City: IBADAN, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0028CSHMJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Basit Raheem is a popular entertainer in the markets of Ibadan, western Nigeria, captivating crowds with his version of Fuji music played on improvised instruments.
Fuji is a genre of music in Nigeria which borrows from Islamic music among the country's Yoruba people that was traditionally used to wake Muslims for fasting during Ramadan.
Over the years, many young artists have come up with various versions of the music style.
Basit became blind when he was a young boy, his parents say he gradually lost his sight and even after seeking medical help, doctors were not able to restore his vision.
But that has not prevented the 14-year-old from pursuing his love for music.
"He plays good music. He is singing a song meant to encourage people and to let them know that disabled people can also contribute something, they are not useless," said Mauruf Khalifat, a market trader.
"Whenever I play music, I am always happy when people call my name and I always wish I could see those people calling me but now that I don't have the power to make myself see, I pray to God to have mercy on me and lift my spirits," said Basit.
Basit can play drums but mostly performs on the streets using his bottles.
He entertains people in exchange for small tokens which go towards supporting his family.
Basit has five siblings and his father works as a mason.
The artist says he wants to develop his talent after a video of him singing, recently got 30,000 views across various social media platforms.
He has been featured in various magazines since.
Basit says he taught himself to play the drums by listening to music.
"I heard drumming so one day I picked up these plastic bottles and I started drumming with them and I discovered that everything was just perfect. So this is the gift that God has given to me," he said.
James Ariyo, a talent manager who spotted Basit is now working with the rising star on his first single "no compromise'.
Basit plans to release an album by the end of the year.
"Anytime he is singing people used to consider with his disability they used to be happy for him and when it comes to his music everyone there used to enjoy, they used to be happy for him even some have pay and some are giving him money," said Ariyo.
The artist is also planning to collaborate with more established artists in the country. Basit says he hopes he can save up enough money to pay for his education at a special school for the blind. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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