Nigerian music icon, Sir Victor Uwaifo has lamented the advent of
computer, saying the trend has killed real music and presents
counterfeit to music lovers.
Uwaifo, who is also a writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, was speaking with the Punch.
He added that the musicians no longer had bands but depended on the computer for beats production.
The “Joromi” “Guitar Boy” and “Mummy Water” crooner advised the young musicians to learn how to play instruments.
Uwaifo’s songs made waves in the late 60s and 70s, and the Professor
of Arts at the University of Benin believes that music has evolved to
what we have now.
Comparing music then and now, he said “They are completely two
worlds, you go to the studio and record, when you make a mistake you
repeat all over again but over time they started introducing small
gadgets until we got to the age of computer.
“In computer you don’t need to have a band, one man can record, he
goes to the studio, lay down the track, play the other instrument, get
the other musician to lay down his track differently, just like a tailor
making a shirt.
“He cuts them into pieces and sews them together. So, for our young
ones today, it is not that they understand music but they play music and
the computer is arranging it for them.
“The computer will concise the bad voice and put it in line and shape
and the producer helps a lot. The producer has an idea but the computer
is supposed to be a model to have an idea of what a song should sound
like but it is not music itself.
“You still have musical instrument. People must learn how to play
musical instrument because once you know the rudiments of music, you can
play several instruments.
“I play almost all musical instruments, from piano to sax, to bass
guitar, guitar, clarinet, xylophone and a lot of other instruments. I
didn’t want to play trumpet because I didn’t want any mark on my lips,
that is the only one I avoided.
“So over the years, music has always been revolving. In our days, you
don’t dance anyhow you have to go to a dance school to learn how to
dance Bolo, Quick Step, Foxtrot, Cha Cha, Bolero, Pechanga and classic
but now it is a free for all dance.”
According to him, the style of music and method of production in the
country had provided jobs for many of the youths who would have been
jobless on the streets.
He added, “But all I know is that we allow them to go because who
would have given them jobs. Most of them are self-employed. Whether you
like it or not they are making waves and also making a living out of it
but for how long?”
“We only thank God that most of us who have been there for over 50
years are still there and the young ones are still appreciating us.
“Sometimes they go back into our archives and give it a remix. But I
will still encourage them to learn how to play musical instrument so
that they can also be equipped with that in life.”
He further asserted that the computer thing is killing talents of musicians who would done without it.
He said, “Yes, it kills talents. The computer is a rogue and a thief,
it is like you allow somebody to go into the examination hall with
mobile phone, he knows the answer before the question.
“So music from the computer is known before they are recorded and
that is no music. The person doesn’t know music yet he is playing music.
“The best thing is to encourage them to be playing live music and
learn musical instruments. Instruments are still sold and they are
taught in schools.
“Life is give and take so let’s give them the benefit of doubt, they
are young and if I were born in this era, I probably would have behaved
like them.
“So it is the situation they found themselves and it is the implied
act of their existence. The implied act of my existence was 60 years ago
but I have been able to give new rendition to events of life.
“I have reinvented myself over and over again but some of these
people have one way to go and when that way is blocked they think that
is the end.”