I DON’T SMOKE WEED, I EAT IT - PRINCE WADADA

Source: nigeriafilms.com
PRINCE WADADA
PRINCE WADADA

Prince Wadada has grown overtime to carve a niche for himself in the music circle, especially reggae. Wadada, who wears a natural dread lock, once informed Weekend Ride that he had a vow not to sleep with women but had to shun the vow to allow him bear children. He is an artiste who could be referred to as the last man standing in the reggae music genre. He speaks with TOPE OLUKOLE on his plan and the future of reggae music.

What would you say you have gained since you became a musician?
I thank God. I am okay. I have my own house and a place like Africa Shrine, which I call Reggae Embassy. Though it's not yet completed, work is still going on progressively on the site. I am enjoying the stuff. I give thanks to the Most High Jah.

I am building the Embassy in Ibafo, on the outskirts of Lagos. It is going to be the first of its kind in the music industry.

Don't you think that the place is too far for people to come and worship?
I have a branch at Akute.

What is the Embassy going to look like?
It's a place where everybody can come from different parts of the world and do music too.

There is this talk that Wadada, though a gospel singer, is too much into weed. How do you reconcile weed and Christian gospel?
Weed…..we are spiritual people, you know, like me. I don't believe in weed, I am a natural man. I live by nature, a vegetarian. I don't eat food cooked by women; I eat fruits. I don't smoke weed, but I live by nature. Maybe the correct thing to say is that you eat weed. Weed is a natural thing, you know. I don't smoke weed; I eat weed. It's fruit, green plant. I don't know why these people like to fight the truth. Weed is a natural plant, and it heals a lot of diseases. It cures asthma; even pimples. It makes one think well and makes you do the right thing at the right time. But it's not good for one to smoke it; which is why the Babylon people are against it. It should be prepared like Ugwu vegetable. That is how God wants it used, because it is medicinal.

Since you did Holy, Holy, little has been heard from you. What has been happening?
After Holy, Holy, I did If Men Were God in 2003. I did the work for Emma Ideal Music. Then this latest effort called Freedom, which will be released next month.

Do you have any link with South Africa?
Yes, I have a friend there who has a record label in the United Kingdom. He also has a branch in South Africa. The label was actually supposed to release my record, but they said I must not sing about God; that I should limit my songs to love songs. They also offered 35,000 dollars, but I rejected the offer because I have to sing about God.

Why do you think they don't want you to sing about God?
Well, I can't really say, but they watched me perform. They listened to my voice and they loved it and said they wanted me to use my voice and style to render love songs. Unfortunately, I am not that type of artiste; I have a mission.

What quarrel did they tell you they had with God?
I don't know; maybe they believe that will fetch them more money. But I could not have given in for that stuff because I have a mission – which is to spread God's greatness across the whole world.

What about your visit to South Africa last year?
I went for a concert last year, which featured Lucky Dube, Majek Fashek and others.