NIGERIA-COBHAMS ASUQUO Blind musician challenges stereotypes to become one of Nigeria's leading producers

Record ID: 138043

  • Title: NIGERIA-COBHAMS ASUQUO Blind musician challenges stereotypes to become one of Nigeria's leading producers
  • Date: 28th September 2015
  • Summary: COBHAMS PLAYING PIANO REFLECTION OF COBHAMS' FACE ON PIANO COBHAMS' HANDS PLAYING PIANO COBHAMS' FACE MORE OF COBHAMS PLAYING PIANO
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA644STWKC5MUCF4DBIJR5QPO3B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: ===PLEASE NOTE EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL===
    Cobhams Asuquo is one of Nigeria's most talented music producers and songwriters. Cobhams is visually-impaired. He was born blind but says that never stopped him from pursuing his goal to become a musician.
    Still, he says it was hard going when he first started and he's had to overcome many challenges.
    Not only did people doubt his skills because of his youth and disability but he didn't have any money.
    "Like any other success story, you know, I've had moments where I had to fail forward, where I had to learn you know, where I had to do all kinds of things you know. I would go to people's studios you know, and just hang out and listen to them work and you know, I would hope that one day, I'd be lucky to get on the console, or you know, get on the system and you know, do my own thing you know, and then eventually when I started to do that there were times when you know, I would sleep on many studio floors and I would dream of owning my own studio you know, and there was a time in my life, a time I describe as poor, broke and homeless when I just went from studio to studio and I just made music and it didn't matter what I got paid," he says.
    Cobhams had a passion for music from a young age. As a child, he would puff his cheeks and blow to play the 12-bar blues. Later, he quit university where he was studying law to embark on a career as a professional musician.
    At 34 years old, the artist says he is much more sure of himself. His work is a fusion of different genres including, RnB, Jazz, classical music and various African rhythms.
    "Inspiration comes to me mid-flight, so I like to fly, I fly a lot, and mid-flight or generally where there is motion, I find myself, you know, being inspired. So sometimes I pace up and down my room or I pace up and down in my writing room and, you know, it just, it just helps me find inspiration. I love to sit behind the piano you know, that helps me find inspiration. I love the bathroom because, you know, like I like to say to people that's the one place where you get to be an astronaut, a physicist, a soldier, a preacher, or whatever you want to be, that's a great place for me to also find inspiration. So I think one of the most important things for me is finding inspiration so that the work that I create you know, whatever form of art is true and is divine and is inspired and is not as a result of deadlines," he adds.
    In 2005, Cobhams was signed on to Sony ATV in London as a songwriter. A year later, he set up his record label which he called CAMP or Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions.
    "I think I am just someone who is, you know, ambitious to a certain degree and I've just sort of pushed myself and because I've done that, you know, and I've sort of, you know, walked a mile, you know, I've made mistakes, I've learnt, you know, and I can say that it is possible, you know. So I would imagine that anyone who's listening to me should have ten times the boldness that I have, ten times the strength, ten times the support and the knowing that it can be done," he explains.
    Cobhams has worked with many popular artists including Nigerian singer/songwriter Asa. He produced Asa's critically acclaimed 2007 debut album, "ASA," which catapulted her to international stardom.
    Working with young, upcoming artists is another of Cobhams' passions. He believes African artists should create music that is not just entertaining but also addresses social issues.
    "We are a people who always have something to say and something is always said through our music. When you think of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, we remember him not just for the beautiful afro-rhythms but for the strong message, you know, for you know, being able to deal with you know very sensitive topical issues, you know, be it you know corruption in government, be it our identity as Africans, you know whatever it is and it's so for all the great musicians we have even instrumentalists like Hugh Masekela, to ... just name it you know," Cobhams adds.
    Despite growing up in a poor community and with a disability, Cobhams was determined to make his dreams come true. His life and music are a reflection of the optimism and drive that propelled him to the top of Nigeria's music industry.
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