AZEEZAT LAWAL

Popular Islamic musician, Alhaja Azeezat Lawal, aka Otibiya, was crowned as the Beauty of Islam recently. She shares her journey to stardom with Adetutu Audu.

USICALLY, how did you start?

I started when I was little, back then in our mosque. I did lead when there was any occasion or activity in our mosque and whenever we went out for competition with other mosques. We relocated to Sango where I met my boss, Sakiru Sarunmi. I joined his band.

How many albums have you released so far?

My first album was in 2010, which was Otibiya, but it didn’t make me popular; in fact, people who bought it were not more than nine. It didn’t sell well.  In 2012, I released Yababa – this is the song that gave me fame. It was then people knew me well.

Before 2012, what were the challenges you faced?

There were so many challenges, you know it is not easy to stand up. Sometimes when they called us to play with small money, we would even go there and not be able to perform. Sometimes we went to play and were not given money. We went to play and some people would even seize the instruments for us not to perform. I was discouraged at a point, but Allihamudulilahi, I have a good leader that kept encouraging me.

What prompted you to singing song?

Whenever we went for a stage party with my boss and seniors, I was not allowed to sing and I always felt bad about that. So the experience I had with my boss prompted me to sing. When my boss planned to go to Abuja for a show, he informed everyone and he told us about the date. I was so excited because Abuja then was like London to me. We agreed to meet somewhere at seven in the morning, but due to the anxiety in my body I got there around 6am. Unfortunately for me, when I got there, I was told they had gone. It sounded like a lie and looked like a dream. I cried so much that day. Since then, I said I will be singing by myself with no boss; and I will manage till I make it.

What inspires you?

Situation gives me inspiration. I get inspiration whenever a bad thing is happening around me. Whenever I am sad, I do use songs to relieve myself. I do sing new songs that I haven’t sang before, so let me just say bad things give me inspiration.

Who shaped you into who you are?

Firstly, Almighty Allah shaped me into who I am and then my parents who sent me to Islamic schools.

What were your parents’ initial reactions?

My parents supported me. My dad used to be a singer too during his youth; he encouraged me and he was even happy about it .He was the one who gave me money for instrument for my first performance on stage at my sister’s wedding.

How would you describe your first time on stage?

My first time on stage was so hard, I performed at my sister’s wedding. I was so shy but had to put that aside because as a singer you have to be bold. First experience is always scary anyway.

Can you remember the amount you made on your first performance?

My first money was okay, because it was at a family party that I performed. People wanted to encourage me by spraying me money, so back then I made N15,000, and shared N8,000 among my band and I went with the remaining N7,000.

You were crowned you the Beauty of Islam, how did you feel when you were informed?

It is not my first award though; my first award was Imole Adinni. I was so happy because I began to think ‘so I now have fame like this’; that was in 2012 when everything started booming. I went there with a lot of people in uniform.

What are you working on currently?

I am planning to release my song but I cannot say when it will be out.

In the industry you are, there are a lot of people in it, but what makes you unique?

I am unique in so many ways; my music style, my mode of dressing, and I do not go from one place to another in search of parties that I am not invited to. My lyrics do speak reasonable words to people. I know I am not the best but one of the best.

What is the Otibiya Islamic Foundation all about?

It all started when I started receiving calls from different people saying they are my fans and that they even have fans club. So, I decided to meet with them one day. On getting there, I saw more than 50 youths and I said, the fans club won’t be okay but we should set up a foundation where we would be helping people; the youths should be part of the foundation while the old should continue with the fans club. Every December, the O.I.F holds three-day programme. On the first day, we pay visits to hospitals and orphanages, while on the second day we hold audition for upcoming musicians. Then, finally, on the third day we present gifts to winners of a competition like plots of land, free trip to South Africa and so on.

Where do you get fund to execute this?

It’s by God’s grace. I do not spend a dime from my pocket to finance any of these, but we approach personalities that are wealthy and well known for assistance. We get help from different angles.

Many take different substances to get high. In your own case, what do you do to get high?

I do take malt and milk or tom-tom and bitter cola, sometimes hot water.

There was even a time one of my colleagues saw me at a studio and he asked what happened and I said I was tired; the person laughed and said they use tramadol for strength. I was to perform that night, but couldn’t as I woke up 10 am the next day; since then, I stayed on my malt and milk with hot water.

What else do you do apart from music?

I have a unisex salon and a shop where I do sell CDs in bulk, but I relocated from the area not quite long, so I will be opening another one very soon.

We heard you poisoned yourself because who were jilted by your lover

Nothing of such; I never poisoned myself.