Many Nigerian artistes dress poorly because of poverty — John Agoha

The first thing that strikes you about John  Agoha is the feminine air around him.

Even though the texture of his voice and his gesticulations are a bit effeminate, he is a man who is definite and firm about his goals in life. 

In this chat with Showtime Celebrity, he speaks on his career, his crush and Genevieve, and the types of women he likes. 

Excerpts… 

Tell us a bit about your background…

I was born and raised in Benin City, but I’m from Imo State. I started doing music at the age of ten when I began singing in the church choir. Later on, I became a Choir Master, before I got discovered and I went to a music school called BenJos Showbiz Academy. From the music school, I started modeling professionally round Africa. I later travelled, and when I came back, I went for Star Quest, and the competition actually made me to believe in myself because then, I didn’t have the intention of pursuing music as a career. Out of over 5,000 people that attended the audition, I was the only one that was picked in Benin. From there, we came to Lagos and I emerged the first runner-up.

Tell us about some of your songs…

I have ‘Omalicha’ which was a huge success for me. After that, I released ‘Selense’ followed by ‘Chocomilo’ on which I featured Dammy Krane.

What’s the inspiration behind Chocomilo?

I and a producer friend of mine were just playing with the keyboard and the idea came up from there. It’s a love song, and as we were playing the song, Dammy Krane came around and said he wanted to be part of the song. The video will be released soon.

You started singing at an early age, was it due to your parents’ influence?

Not at all. I’ve always had an amazing voice, and I started from the children choir. Actually, my mother wanted me to go to school and have all the degrees in the whole world, and also become a pastor. That’s why I was quite reserved in my childhood; I didn’t do most things other kids did. That’s why I still have a feminine attitude till date because I grew up around women. It has also helped me because I’m not loose.

How would you define your music?

The kind of music that I love is Jazz, but because of the Nigerian setting, I started with Highlife to RnB, and right now, I do Afro-Pop and Carribean.

Most of your songs are about women, would we be right to call you a lover boy?

Yes, I’m a lover boy.

You once said you faced a lot of discrimination when you were in Star Quest, why do you think so?

I was like the stone the builders rejected which later became the cornerstone. Other people watching from home were seeing my ability, but in the house, nobody wanted me in their group and it wasn’t as if I had a bad character. It actually got to a point I told Star I wanted to leave the competition. There was a guy who was like the star in my group and he was the one always bringing out the concepts. However, there was one day that we had the least votes and we were almost being evicted. I then made a suggestion of a song that we should sing, and when we did the song, we went from the least position to the top. That was what actually won me their respect in the group. We were supposed to win that competition, but I don’t know what happened. If we had won, perhaps, we may have been bigger than KC Presh. But right now, all of us in the group are doing well.

In your opinion, as a former singing reality show contestant, why do you think winners of such shows don’t achieve much success?

Some of them are just lazy, and they feel they’re stars already. If Iyanya had waited for MTN, he wouldn’t have gotten to where he is now. The Nigerian music industry is not for lazy people as fans forget people quickly; that’s why you see people like Olamide releasing songs every other month.

Some people will say it’s luck that determines success, but I don’t believe in luck because it’s a magician’s word; I believe in fate and God’s favour.

You once mentioned that you lost a lot of relationships in the past because of your music career, will you be willing to take any of them back in the future?

Hmm…a lot of people actually gave up on me, even my pastor. I can remember my pastor told me that music is not a career for responsible people; that it’s for touts. The only person that did not reject me is Phillip Trimmel of Music Africa and my mom. Nobody out there can say they contributed to my success; it has been God all the way.

You were reported to have said that you can do anything to have Genevieve in your bed, what’s the cause of this obsession?

Genevieve is my crush. When we were together at an event recently, I told her that. I like petite woman who I can ‘possess.’   However, I know I can’t get her because there are some political issues involved, but if she’s willing to be mine, I’ll drop anything for her.

Even your music career?

No, I won’t drop that, and she’ll understand. She’ll even be the one encouraging me. If she agrees to marry me today, we’ll do the wedding tomorrow in a quiet way, because I don’t like elaborate weddings. It’s supposed to be a quiet affair.

What does fashion mean to you?

It means so much to me because I believe that the way you look gives you an edge. I’ve discovered that looking good opens doors for me. I still have plans to establish a workshop where I’ll design my own clothes.

Which fashion blunder do you think most Nigerian artistes commit?

They wear busy on busy, and I think it’s because of their background. A lot of them were hit hard by poverty so it’s hard for them to know the right combination of attire to put on. We don’t have more than four artistes that dress well in Nigeria, and they are: D’banj, Ice Prince, Darey, Sexy Steel.

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