Go for excellence always, be professional at every level and maintain a high level of balance. Words from Nigerian born, international musician, poet, music executive and event promoter, Mad Mo. On his exclusive chat interview with www.nGospelmedia.net star reporter, Sammy Sas.
Sammy Sas: Pls can we meet you?
Mad mo: I go by the stage name Madmo. A business entrepreneur and music artiste and promoter.
Sammy Sas: Tell us about your early days in life growing up?
Mad mo: Hmmmm… It’s crazy growing. Its was hard growing up especially in the barracks. But fair enough had opportunity to take responsibility for myself, siblings and others around me. If the questions are narrowed it will help better because I’m wondering what aspect of my growing up life do I talk about because I was engaged with several stuff. Education, business, family, friends, music, church etc
Sammy Sas: At what point in your life did you discovered your passion for music?
Mad mo: Have always loved music since I came to know my self hmmm… funny!!! But guess in 1998/99 I paid a different attention to music.
Sammy Sas: So tell us what type of music do you do?
Mad mo: All genres. Hip hop, RnB, local naija style and the in between…
Sammy Sas: So you do Gospel?
Mad mo: Absolutely!!! What I do is good news. I sing about love, Life, beauty, essence, power, grace and change etc it all gospel, just won’t call it because of what religious people have done to it. But essentially that’s what it is. Gospel is much more than what religion has done to it. The limitations and constraint gospel tagged artistes have been a serious problem because it places a narrow view or perspective on what Jesus came to do or did.
Sammy Sas: Tell us about little of your achievement and major moment, since the inception of your professional career?
Mad mo: Started professionally in 2000. With 4 Albums so far aside individual singles. Albums include 1. M.A.D acronym for make a difference. 2007. (2) Shakabulla 2008. (3) Be the change 2010. (4) 4 life 2011. With few . AWARDS which include : 1. Pneumatic Award 2004, Kano – Nigeria . best performing overall Act. (2) Award of Recognition & excellence and contribution to growth in African gospel music 2014 Cyprus Northern Turkey. (3) Awards of Excellence in music ministry 2016. Abuja – Nigeria. Other are not what I want to include. However let me put up my musical profile as well. With that it will give clear indication and ROADMAP to what my musical journey has been
Mad mo: PROFILE OF MADMO. MADMO aka MO aka Moses Ogidi Paul Is a Nigerian based artiste, prolific Song writer and music producer, a PhD student with a master’s degree in environmental resource planning. He is the President of M.A.D MO Records based in Abuja, Nigeria. Mo’s passion and purpose is to provoke change in his generation by making a difference using the tool of music, media & motivation. His work has taken him to South Africa several times on different platforms Where he has performed and shared the stage with Da TRUTH, Vicky Vilakazi, Lionel Peterson, Berty Cleote, and others. Mo has also been to Rwanda, Malawi and Namibia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cyprus etc with the message of Hope and change. He has 4 albums to his credit. M.A.D an acronym for Making A Difference. SHAKABULLA, Be the change and 4 lives. Videos to his credit include Lost in love, Be the change, Kolebaje and Shine Your light. He is a resource person on the Heroes 217 project in which leaders in the fields of entrepreneurship, politics and governance as diverse facilitators have carried a message of change. His songs from “Be the Change Album.” is a collaboration of various artists like “Area Fada”Charly boy, Samsong, Poly G, Aheeday, Bemser, Six-foot plus and several new but excellent acts. He is the CEO MADMO records and concepts and Host of the most acclaimed. International HIP HOP concert The MOVE tour 2012 and the LOVE, HOPE and WAR tour 2013. He also hosted the prestigious jammed power-packed light concert of December 2013 and collaborated with Rough Diamond Projects South Africa to host Sho Baraka and S.O the kid for the first time in Nigeria in 2014. In addition to many other events MadMo concepts in partnership with Afriscope Publishing Nig Ltd produced the first sold out spoken word event in Abuja “NIGHT OF THE SPOKEN WORD 5” in September 2015.
Madmo is currently the creative director of the Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria.
Sammy Sas: So with your experience so far, tell us what you think is the major challenge in the Gospel industry in Nigeria?
Mad mo: Our challenges are Basically categorized into major spectrum of structure, organization, ignorance and capital or funding.
Sammy Sas: Hmmm
Sammy Sas: Do you think there is a way out?
Mad mo: Absolutely. Everything I mention above even though I didn’t explain in detail showing how they have taken the gospel music nearly 50years behind other genres and nations, all without exception can be changed. Ignorance can be healed just as structures can be put in place to up hold framework that can give maximum support to the ministry and industry of gospel music. So yes there is more than a way out.
Sammy Sas: Nice
Sammy Sas: If you were asked to do a collaboration with three secular musicians, local or international who would you pick?
Mad mo: Well, locally I have already done with the ones I wanted. Charly boy and Zaaki Azzay. Was working on one with tuface but that was 7years ago. International maybe Bono and Lauren Hill
Sammy Sas: So on a scale of 1-10 how well do you know your culture and traditions?
Mad mo: 8/10
Sammy Sas: What enthic group/state?
Mad mo: Really don’t like talking about it as its one of the setbacks we have especially in Nigeria. I’d rather be Nigerian and African if I’m out there. However because you ask I’m Idoma. We are generally shallow therefore define people by their vacation and ethnic groups.
Sammy Sas: So which local meal can you prepare very well?
Mad mo: It’s called okoho… Lol ? guess you never heard of it. It’s the most fantastic soup in traditional and modern Africa.
Sammy Sas: ?me never heard of it ke?
Sammy Sas: Is it not that white soup that draw’s?
Mad mo: Yeah could draw like crazy but not white… Everything is old lift off the plate of the right technique is not applied. Lol ? ? ?
Sammy Sas: Have eating like 3 times or so ??
Sammy Sas: So is that your favourite?
Mad mo: Hmmm… I’m afraid to say you might have been eating the fake one cos the original one… I reserve my comment??it’s really cultural that only those from that area could go more than once…. Lol
Mad mo: Definitely not…
Sammy Sas: Which?
Sammy Sas: Your favourite?
Mad mo: Hmmm it’s crazy because it changes. I have no one time favorite for anything it’s in constant motion. Dynamic and fluid motion. Right now okro is on the throne
Sammy Sas: Do you have a favorite colour?
Mad mo: No. It’s dynamic and purpose driven…
Sammy Sas: Apart from Jesus, who is your favourite character, in the Bible?
Mad mo: Apostle Paul definitely…
Sammy Sas: Your favourite Bible verse is?
Mad mo: Rom 8 verse 23
Sammy Sas: If you were to be an animal, which would you be?
Mad mo: Never thought about it lol Maybe the Lion.
Sammy Sas: So what’s your advice to aspiring musicians and poet?
Mad mo: Define your message, stay focus. Work hard, travel and read wide. Gain perspective and experience. Be dedicated, Disciplined and committed having define your vision and mission. Let your music and art be driven by your message, guided by your skills and maintained by tenacity. Remember purpose is the hallmark… Go for excellence always, be professional at every level and maintain a high level of balance.
Sammy Sas: Where do you see your career in five years time?
Mad mo: In 5years. We should have Grown broader extending into Europe with our influence like we did in Southern Africa years back. Back home we should be able to affect and cause a change via our platform that will change the thinking and action of a minimum of 1M Nigerians. Detail of how carry this out is all pend down in our mission and vision document.
Sammy Sas: So how can your fans reach you on social media?
Mad mo: @madmoofficial Instagram n Twitter. Mo Madmo Paul on Facebook
Sammy Sas: Final words to your fans in diaspora?
Mad mo: Make the change you want to see.
Sammy Sas: Thank you for your time
Mad mo: Same here. The pleasure is all mine. And you keep up the amazing work. ??????
Sammy Sas: I know you must have enjoyed Our Celebrity interview Of the Week, Therefore make it a date with me next week on your No1 Urban Gospel blog www.nGospelmedia.net for participation and inquiries call/whatsapp +2347068211976 Facebook Sammy SAS. Twitter @RealSammySAS. have a glorious week ahead. You will be fine. Deuces You can Support Us here, by sharing this Celebrity Interview, to your Social Media Profiles, Through our Social Media Buttons Below the Articles. Remain Blessed.