Lagos — Multi-talented, visually impaired producer and the CEO of COMP (Cobhams Asuquo Productions), is not your every day person. He has been able to prove to us that his sight is not a disadvantage. Born into a humble family in Cross-River State, music has been part of him right from his early days. He makes sounds with everything around him that vibrates as a result of touch. "I produce sounds earlier in life with spoons, forks, knives, tables, my chest and every other thing around me that can produce sounds until I later found musical instruments. It was self taught but I have those who mentored me. My primary and secondary school music teachers were actually part of them. I will rather say I was taught the art of producing by God". Today, he is one of the biggest producers in Nigeria. He won the Hip Hop World Awards for the best producer in 2008.
His challenges are meeting up with everyday sounds and the ever changing demands of people. Contrary to what might be on the minds of people, he doesn't see his lack of sight as a disadvantage. "My sight has never been a disadvantage because I have a fantastic team am working with. Like I always say, most surgeons don't do all the surgery by themselves but they take the glory for it. That is the case here. They are my eyes and my extra ears".
Due to his amazing talents and the different collaborations he has done with other artistes, many would think by now he should be planning to release his own album, but Cobhams is not thinking towards that direction. He is presently into capacity building and he may not release an album until he is 60 years. "Right now, am in the business of developing musical sounds for people and am enjoying it. The challenge of working with new people is actually very huge but I find it interesting".
Commenting on the state of the music industry in Nigeria, he says it is better than what it used to be. "The business is becoming more lucrative but needs more structure to be called an industry. Our artistes are beginning to compete favorably with other international artiste which is a plus on its own", he said.
As popular as Cobhams is among the Nigerian artistes, he still desires to work with some Nigerian artistes but with reference to a particular legend. "There are still some great Nigerian artistes I will love to work with but first is Onyeka Onwenu. I grew up listening to lots of her stuff. She is amazing." Internationally, he will love to work with Don Moen and other 'Integrity Music' artiste.
One of his aspirations is to help develop the music industry and put it on the world map. Funny enough, he doesn't have any regret in life. "Regrets? I can't remember any. Growing up was fantastic". His greatest wish is far different from what we would have expected. "My greatest wish is to make a heaven and that is not even a wish. I need to work towards it. My greatest wish is to keep my happiness. Am not sure I want to go about wishing. Most things in life happen as a result of work or prayer. God has already designed everything the way He wanted it. I just want to live a fulfilled life".
His production outfit, Cobhams Asuquo Productions (COMP), is currently into capacity building. They discover, nurture and expose talents. Once the artiste is good and there is space for him, they will work with him. The few on the list now are Pheel of Star Quest fame, Omolara Ayodeji, Jone of West Africa Idols and others. He didn't fail to tell us what we should expect from them. "Expect some of the best crop of artistes that has ever come out of Nigeria. The new breed of artistes who will do music the way it ought to be done. A new crop of artistes who has sought expression for a very long time and finally found it in an enabling environment to express music for what it is and not necessary for the commercial value but because it is what their heart is inclined to. They will express it and get paid for it. Just expect something extra-ordinary to hit the Nigerian music industry very soon", he said.
Make no mistake about it. Amidst all these, he found a true wife. The lady he got married to have been a recurring decimal in his life for some time and they are a good pair.
As part of the blessings of God in his life, he recently moved into a new house in Ogudu GRA, Lagos which now serves as his home and office. Trust me; one person, whose life never seizes to challenge me, is Cobhamz. Whenever I see him on the screen, I remember I don’t have an excuse; I must fulfill God’s purpose. I hope his story does that to you as well. Have a splendid day.
http://www.camp.com.ng/
Hmmmn! it actually gimme goose pimples!!!! So inspiring!!!!
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