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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
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 Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 01:30 |
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Sola talks about HIV/AIDS - March 2006 interview
I conducted this interview for a website of mine that was shortlived (money and time cut it, but 2008 it'll be back). I am putting it here incase anyone hasn't read it, but also because I need to reference this thread for something else 
1. You were born in Nigeria, but moved to the UK when you were very young. Although Africa possesses beauty and culture, many people think of it as a poverty/AIDS stricken continent. Can you tell me about where you come from and what you think about the current AIDS crisis in your native land?
Yes, I was born in Oregun, just outside Lagos Nigeria. Like in other countries in Africa, the coverage of AIDS in Nigeria has been kept rather low on the priority list because of the social stigma. As far as I could see during my last visit (Feb 8th-16th 2006) the same continues to be the case. However, from some reports that I’ve read, AIDS is a seriously growing problem in Nigeria:
HIV/AIDS in Nigeria Today
HIV Population: 3,918,334
New AIDS Cases: 44,448
AIDS Deaths this Year: 37,462
Nigeria has the biggest population in Africa with 1 in 6 Africans being Nigerian. Although HIV prevalence rates are much lower in Nigeria than in other African countries such as South Africa and Zambia, the size of Nigeria's population meant that by the end of 2003, there were an estimated 3,600,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. This is the largest number in the world after South Africa and India. Nigeria has a great deal of influence in West Africa. It is an important member of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and plays a central role in ECOMOG's (the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) peacekeeping operation. HIV/AIDS has already badly affected Nigeria society and its economy. If the epidemic continues at its current rate, or worsens, there could be knock on effects in other West African countries and the whole region could be affected. I know that there are Nigerian scientists working on developing female controlled anti-viral methods, like vaginal pessaries, for example, that give women the power to protect themselves from AIDS because one of the most tragic statistics is that of monogamous women who are being infected by their husbands who are not faithful to them. Just as in the rest of Africa, poverty and all it’s associations are rife in Nigeria, this and men’s attitude towards women has to change significantly for any effective change to take root with regards to reproductive health.
2. Looking back on your life, can you recall the first time you heard of HIV/AIDS?
The first time I became aware of AIDS was around 1984-85 deep in London clubland. The club was called “White Trash”. The Gay community was beginning to grow in confidence, in terms of coming out i.e. being seen in the predominantly heterosexual, funky, clubs, where their difference was easily accepted. This is the first place that I heard about a new disease killing gay people in New York, so although it was shocking it felt pretty far removed from me in London.
3. You were a DJ for a number of years before becoming a percussionist and joining Jamiroquai in 1995, so I know you have seen "groupies" at various concerts across the world - what is your impression of them and any man/woman that seek out entertainers for purely sexual experiences?
Actually I was more of a dancer than a DJ, but I know what you mean - where there are entertainers and creative people there will always be sexual attraction from the audience and vice versa. The problem arises when so-called ‘groupies’ have nothing else to do but to get used by musicians for sex – this is scary because usually these are people with seriously low self esteem who will do anything to get laid by a famous person! They can also be predators – which is what the security is for - but if two consenting adults are going to get it on it is up to the individuals to work out whose responsibility it is to reach for the condom – ain’t no security guard taking that job on!
4. Jamiroquai has been a representation of world issues since the release of the first album, Emergency on Planet Earth in 1993 and continuing on the latest album in 2005, Dynamite. As a musician, do you feel responsible for using music as a communication for issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, racism, etc?
I don’t really feel any responsibility. We musicians are human beings with a particular perspective on the world. Yes, we try to communicate and workout how we feel about various issues through music but it is about what moves us rather than what we feel obliged to talk about. What’s great is that for every perspective there is always someone to disagree or who has a different angle. Take the Live 8 concerts, for example, I was deeply worried not only about the lack of African representation among the artists but more importantly about whether or not the initiative was going to make any difference in the absence of genuine dialogue and strategy about African corruption.
5. From you honest point of view, what are some things going on in the world today that really get under your skin, and things you feel world leaders should pay more attention to?
Well, I’ve just returned from Nigeria with my father. It was a wonderful trip, invigorating and revealing in so many ways. It was also very frustrating to see how the infrastructure is so far from where it should be. Poverty, lack of investment in the people and a lack of genuine leadership are some of the things that wind me up. What a waste of potential when people who should know better fail to act in the appropriate manner. So called intelligent, educated people behaving as if they don’t know what to do and acting only in their own self-interest! Or even worse people who know what to do, but simply can’t be bothered to do anything - incompetent or wicked or both! In a nutshell what drives me mad is when I travel the world and see that despite all the riches in the world there are still people for whom poverty, education and health – the right to a basic standard of living – is a distant dream.
6. Can you recall an experience that helped shaped who you are today and your view of the world?
When I was a wee boy – about five years old - in Ladbroke Grove, London, I had four Nigerian friends of the same age who all lived on the same street. We were inseparable. One day I went to knock for them and they weren’t there anymore – they had all upped and left with their families for Nigeria. Nobody told me that they were going or that they wouldn’t be coming back and after that I felt very alone, without Nigerian friends to make me feel at home in the UK. This story reveals something though, about the African attitude to children, that children are a blessing and are treasured but they are treated as if they know nothing about anything and as if their opinion counts for nothing at all until they are adults. No one bothered to tell the children what was going on and it didn’t occur to them to consider how the children would feel.
I don’t think I ever really felt the same connection with my Nigerian peers until I met a very good friend of mine Mr. Lekan Babalola in my college days, but I think I have been chasing that connection to Nigeria ever since through music and the consistent study of the Yoruba culture. Funnily enough my friends return to Nigeria triggered an inward journey for me making me the person I am today.
7. What advice do you have for young men that are growing up in the world today regarding sexual health and self-discovery in this chaotic world?
Self discovery takes time and patience and it depends on the cultivation of self-esteem. If you haven’t been given that by caring and devoted parents then you have to find the courage to go out into the world and work out what it means for yourself. This can be a long and painful process for some young people especially if they are also growing up in deprived neighborhoods and attending schools which don’t meet the grade. I think from a sexual point of view that any young man who doesn’t feel loved will look for sex as an anesthetic wherever it is to be found, and then finding that it doesn’t touch that deep soul feeling which is about looking for genuine human connection. My advice would be to cultivate simple habits that make you feel truly good about yourself everyday whether you feel like it or not. Learn to respect yourself and you will work out what it means to respect others – especially women – nothing makes me sadder than to see women disrespected by men and worse to see women allow men to disrespect them. Boys and girls - find out what makes your soul soar! Once you find it, hold it protect it for dear life! Once you start looking after mind, body and soul, sexual health will come under that umbrella - in my humble opinion!
8. Okay, enough heavy stuff. Gotta have at least 2 fun questions - you look so at home when performing - What is going on in your head when you are vibing out on the instruments?
Most of the time, I’m grooving and enjoying the band but also always thinking “I wish you would stop making so many mistakes Sola! I told you to keep your practicing up, practice more, more, more, more!”
9. Tell me a little bit about what is going on with Jamiroquai and your individual projects with Tank Tribe, etc. and what are some things we can look forward to this year?
More live shows from Jamiroquai in Latin America and then summer festivals, possibly a greatest hits album. From me, another track is on the way this week from Tank Tribe and I’m working on a new project based on my recent trip to Nigeria. Looking forward to some rocking shows in the sunshine in South America, and……… gosh! So much to be getting on with!!
Last edited by deesh on Tue Dec 11, 2007 18:57; edited 1 time in total |
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jamirokaki
Expert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 3472
Location: basque country
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 02:02 |
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it's a very interesting reading. would appreciatte a longer interview.
is great what he says to the boys and the girls and also he says this week he will put the new tank tribe track (hope this time is true)
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***STONED AGAIN*** |
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CosmicMouse
Jamirotalk mum
Joined: 10 Feb 2002
Posts: 4821
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 08:17 |
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Congrats and big respect for your work deesha!!
Amazing interview - it's interesting to learn other sides of our percussion-man!
Thanks, Deesha and Sola!! 
Mouse
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~ I look up to Heaven, every star I see is mine.
I'm walking on air and every cloud is Cloud 9. ~ |
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VirtuallyInsane
Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 868
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 18:46 |
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Impressive interview Deesha. It's nice to see Sola really put in the time & effort to give such heartfelt & intelligent answers...  |
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Gonza-Arg
Joined: 27 Mar 2005
Posts: 1680
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 19:13 |
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Congrats for your work  .
Nice interview, I really like it. |
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 22:06 |
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thanks. i was quite nervous about the reception from fans. not only because sola completely put his feelings out there, but because it isn't a 'jay' interview and didn't concern the band and the band's music. it concerns a topic that the normal person doesn't think about daily.
but i went with my gut, and am satisfied. happy you all dig it.
thanks, deesh |
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VirtuallyInsane
Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 868
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| Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 22:17 |
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That's what makes it good Deesha: it's real. It's an intelligent interview about a real subject & it's great to see Sola in that light. After all there's more to the guy than simply being a musician. It's a real breath of fresh air to read something that's broken away from the normal questions simply about the band & the music... |
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 05:14 |
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^thank you sunshine. |
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