B.O.U.Q.U.I’s Gospel Truth

As one of Nigeria’s leading female rappers, B.O.U.Q.U.I, real name Bukola Folayan isn’t ashamed to profess her faith and belief in God. Not quite a fan of the gospel music tag, her journey to fame began during her undergraduate days at the University of Ife with an all girls group called G-Vibes. With two albums to her credit and yet another round of touring in London, the United States and Canada due in a month, she tells us more about the B.O.U.Q.U.I brand.

What has B.O.U.Q.U.I been up to lately?

A lot and it has been hectic, joyful, time constraining but it has been just enjoyable. I just came back from a five month tour of the US and I shot a couple of videos; one in Chicago and the other in London because I featured some guys in London. I was having concerts in Brooklyn, Hollywood, California, Los Angeles, Texas, Indianapolis, Chicago; I went to 15 states in a period of five months. It was like I was everywhere every weekend. I think working hard makes me happy, I feel sick just sitting. Hard work makes me happy.

What’s the reception like outside the country?

They say a prophet is not honourable in his town because there is the tendency to take yours for granted. I would go to Dallas and because they have never seen a female rapper doing gospel music, they would come out and the concert would be packed full and then I would wanna leave but they will beg me not to go but you have to (laughs) but you can imagine here in Nigeria you want to buy something at Mr. Biggs and there is someone behind you staring at you; there is a tendency to say ‘Man, B.O.U.Q.U.I na my friend.’ It’s like that when you are too available.

How is your last album, The Redefinition doing?

In Nigeria, I have people who appreciate and love it because I didn’t make them sound too foreign. You have love songs and songs any one can identify with essence of my music. I am not just doing rap or music for the heck of it, I have a positive message I want to pass across. I love God with all of my heart and I use any platform I have to talk about him. I am using rap and my music as a tool so I think anyone who has a passion for God or appreciates craft will appreciate me, so locally and internationally, I have people who appreciate me and love my music constantly building me up.

What challenges do you face as a Nigerian female gospel rapper?

I will have to answer this by redefining to you. I tell a lot of people that I am really not doing gospel for gospel sake. A lot of people do gospel music for gospel sake and then when you check the quality of their lives, it has nothing to do with gospel dictates and principles.

I am using my talent and skill to tell people that you can achieve everything you want and still be good, loved and show love in God’s way. We should be able to take the gospel tag of an artist away and still see the Christ-like traits. I don’t see finance or boys as a challenge, it’s just within me, however, I am getting to that point where I am totally convinced that this is not about me but what I have to say about God. So I fall down on my feet everyday to tell God that it is not about me and to remind myself that it is about Him.

What is your assessment of the Nigerian gospel music scene?

I am not into cliques. I remember back in the day when they said that ‘B.O.U.Q.U.I doesn’t want to be called gospel artist’. It’s not like I don’t wanna be called a gospel artist but what I was explaining to that person is that it is not about being really labelled gospel, a lot of people who teach morals live better lives than a lot of gospel artists.

I was watching the Grammys a couple of days ago and they were saying I dedicate this to Jesus but if you listen to their lyrics, there ain’t no glorification of Jesus in it. It’s not about being in cliques, it’s not about doing gospel, it’s about dedicating your life and mic to Christ; that way you would realise that your sufficiency is from him alone. When you talk about gospel music, it is a total walk with Christ.

In the midst of all the work and tours, is there any space for romance somewhere?

(Laughs) Romance is a state of the mind. I travel a lot and I am really trying to find time to settle down for proper romance. When B.O.U.Q.U.I is getting married is coming, keep your ears to the track.

Are you also involved in any form of charity?

Yes. We (my brother and I) are also trying to give back to the society. We realised that your life is too small to be the essence of your [living]. I just started my record label B.O.U.Q.U.I’S Place Entertainment and my brother started his studio. What we’re doing is to try to build up a lot of people and make them achieve their dreams at a very affordable rate.

It is going to be an avenue for upcoming gospel artists to showcase their talents and skills. There are people like me who don’t wanna enter the industry but still want to do what they do and have fun and probably make some money so we are here to help them.