Carol Arhere
17 August 2008
interview
Delectable vocalist, song writer, producer and actress, Chief Gift Owame popularly known as Muma Gee, is one of the famous female musicians in the Nigerian entertainment industry. She released her debut 'Kade' in 2006 but before then, Muma Gee has been nurturing her dream of becoming an international artiste. This controversial fashionista who dresses to express her feelings, recently delved into the clothing line known as MGee Confidence because of her flair for fashion. Her line of clothing is not the usual. Hers is strictly under wears for men. In this interview, Muma Gee talks about her eclectic dress sense, her N.G.O. and what she would have been if she were not a singer.
Most of us know you as Muma Gee. What is your real name and where are you from?
My name is Chief Gift Owame. I'm a native of Odiabidi, an Epkeye tribe in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. I am from a family of six and I'm the fourth child. My father wanted me to be a medical doctor but I chose music because of my passion for music. Music is what I know would make me happy in life and I have always known that I have talent in music that God created me with so, delving into it is to live my dream. Also, I realize that the society has given me a lot hence, I decided through my NGO (Muma Gee Kare Foundation) to do some humanitarian service, with the little I have, to give back to the society.
How long have you been in music?
I have been in music for more than ten years now but I have not really practiced it professionally. My first album was released in 2006. That is not because I didn't want to release but because my kind of music is a different genre of music; a new one and I'm pioneering it. We have been doing a lot of research since 1998; doing recording, shooting of videos and sending to people to critic and back to the studio to work on it or to do another track. I have been doing a lot of this for so many years. In between these years, I took four years out to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt; a course which involves music, drama and literature - not so much of music but, it goes with music. I chose music as a profession since 2004; not like other professions that you wake up in the morning, go to work and back and front. Music is your life - you eat it, bathe it, sleep in it and all that. It's so indulging.
Who influenced your choice?
My mum. My mum influenced me tremendously. She sings a lot and she sings in the church choir till date. Music is something that runs in my family but I'm the only one doing it professionally. Though, initially they disapproved of it now, I have their full support of my family.
Which of your songs brought you to the limelight?
I have done a couple of songs so, I wouldn't really know which of them now but, there was this particular video I did that was directed by Sam Dede. That was a niche for me and it really gave me that exposure. Also, 'Kade' was really nice. I have a new one now titled 'Amebo'. Though, the video is not out yet; we are still working on it. There's another one that is meant to be out later this year. Presently, I'm working on an event that I tagged "An evening with Muma Gee". (It's a) Kind of peace conference, where the youth will have the opportunity to talk to me on some of the issues like what we are having in the Niger Delta now. Coming from the Niger Delta myself, it's a thing of much concern to me. I want to use my music during the meeting as a vehicle to drive my message across.
What are the challenges you face as a female artiste, in the music industry?
Well, I would say we are not given equal opportunity; the societal influence as well considering our culture. You know, culture relegates women to the background so, we grew up with that and still have that notion. But, civilization is taking over gradually though, the instinct is already in us; it's inborn so, it's difficult to change.
Even most of us, women, still relegate ourselves to do certain duties because we believe women are not meant to do a lot of things - all in the name of being women. So, that alone is a kind of pulling force, dragging us behind in the society; especially in the entertainment world. Most people see women in showbiz as wayward; useless in the society. And, that is why most of us took it as a challenge to go to school. That notion (initially) slowed me down but thank God, I had a starting point. I might look small but I'm rated as A-list in the entertainment industry and I'm working had to stay there.
How do you handle male fans?
My male fans are there. I love them and they have no negative influence. Though sometimes, you get funny calls, funny text messages and I just delete them. No problem. I just move on because it's a field that I have chosen.
If you had not been a singer, what would you have been?
If I weren't a musician, probably I would have been a full time housewife (laughs heartily). Maybe, I would have been a doctor because, initially, I wanted to be a doctor but that wouldn't have worked out because I can't stand the sight of a hospital. Probably, I would have delved into fashion which, of course, I'm into now because I love colours and the inspiration keeps coming and getting higher and higher as the day goes by.
So, categorically I would have been anything God wants me to be. We all, here on earth, are for a purpose and that purpose can only be achieved if we add our own effort to ensure that that purpose works. As for me, I still don't know God's purpose for me; I'm still working on it.
How was growing up like?
Growing up was strict, very strict. I will stop there because there are some children that are still experiencing such things in the society right now. In my family, there was nothing like party and all that; no going out and no keeping of friends. It really affected me because up till this moment, I still can't keep friends. I try to keep regular kind of relationships because I know there are a lot of people that want to be close to me and I would have loved to be close to as well but, I can't because of my kind of upbringing.
My upbringing did not give room for that. After school, it's home work on home work so, there was really no time for me to keep friends that I would have loved to keep. I remember when I was growing up, I was in charge of all the domestic work because my older sister was so much older than me that I even called her 'aunty'. She was so busy with other things so, basically I was the only girl in the midst of the boys, handling the domestic affairs of the home.
Ironically, that has really helped me in managing my home. I run my home as if I were a married woman. If you look around, you will see how well organized my office is and that is true of the biblical saying: "honour your father and mother so that your days will be long"; not being long on earth and be foolish but to be wise. So, growing up for me was tough but to my own advantage. For instance, my mother was a very industrious woman and that has influenced me too in delving into fashion as business because of the entrepreneurship skills I had acquired over the years
Talking about fashion brings me to the next question. You wore a very controversial outfit to the Nigerian Music Award (NMA)? What was the concept behind that dress?
Oh my God, that dress! The truth about that dress is that, first and foremost, I was crowned the African Queen of the NMA. As a queen, I needed to appear in a royal regalia to befit my personality and that was the expression in that dress. There were loads of material put together into that dress and it was really heavy so, for me to pull my self and move with the dress freely, I had to slit it from the mid-section to bottom on one side; showing my leg. People thought that I was just trying to expose myself sexually but, that wasn't the case. I slit my dress sometimes, (depending) on how heavy the dress is and sometimes the character that I want to portray. Basically, I would say the NMA dress was very dramatic, so heavy, energy-consuming and very expensive too.
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