GUITARIST AND JAZZ MAESTRO, BRIGHT GAIN SAGBAMAH IS ONE OF THE THOROUGHBRED MUSICIANS HOISTING THE NIGERIAN FLAG EVERYWHERE. GAIN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ACADEMY OF JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC UNDER THE SOCIETY FOR PERFORMING ART IN NIGERIA (SPAN). HE RECOUNTS HIS SOJOURN IN MUSIC WITH LANRE ODUKOYA
How long have you been active in the music industry?
I have been professional for about twenty five years and I am currently working on my fifth album.
Why do you choose to leave so much space between your albums?
I think funding is the major problem. As we all know, especially in this part of Lagos, art music, which is what we call jazz music, is not much appreciated. It costs more to actually record art music than it takes to do commercial music. After recording, we put it out there and the sales just trickles in. Someone has to do an alternative job to raise the funds to record.
I think funding is the major problem. As we all know, especially in this part of Lagos, art music, which is what we call jazz music, is not much appreciated. It costs more to actually record art music than it takes to do commercial music. After recording, we put it out there and the sales just trickles in. Someone has to do an alternative job to raise the funds to record.
So, what has been keeping you in business?
Purpose has kept me going. I was born to do what I am doing right now. This is my purpose on earth. I wouldn’t betray my purpose because of money. Generally in life, some people’s purpose change but mine is constant. What makes me tick is art music as it is done properly. I have also come to a point where definition of creativity and excellence is so subjective. What some people call excellence might not be acceptable by others. I want to see a Nigeria that has space for every form of expression musically.
Purpose has kept me going. I was born to do what I am doing right now. This is my purpose on earth. I wouldn’t betray my purpose because of money. Generally in life, some people’s purpose change but mine is constant. What makes me tick is art music as it is done properly. I have also come to a point where definition of creativity and excellence is so subjective. What some people call excellence might not be acceptable by others. I want to see a Nigeria that has space for every form of expression musically.
How would you describe these past 25 years?
It has been sweet and bitter but in percentage, I would say it has been sweeter because the bitterness itself is like Bitter Kola. After you finish chewing, at the end of the day, it becomes sweet.
It has been sweet and bitter but in percentage, I would say it has been sweeter because the bitterness itself is like Bitter Kola. After you finish chewing, at the end of the day, it becomes sweet.
What are you working on right now?
I just finished making an album in South Africa. It is a six tracker which I titled In The Name Of Jesus. Some people say it is so religious but it is not borne out of religion. It is borne out of practical experience of spirituality. I just had to give it that title because of a near death experience that was reverted through the name of Christ.
I just finished making an album in South Africa. It is a six tracker which I titled In The Name Of Jesus. Some people say it is so religious but it is not borne out of religion. It is borne out of practical experience of spirituality. I just had to give it that title because of a near death experience that was reverted through the name of Christ.
Is it something you would like to share with us?
Of course I would gladly share it. About two years ago, my nephew came to live with me. He was about 26 years old. Three days after he came, I woke up early to pray with my family. I told one of my kids to go and call my nephew. He went inside and didn’t come out. So I shouted from the palour and my son came out to say Japheth is not answering. I sent the others in succession. Somehow, I said Japheth must pray with us before we leave for work so that we will all have that family communion. I decided to go and call him myself. I got to the room to meet him smiling. So when I touched him, I saw that he was stiff. He was already dead. I was afraid because I am Isoko and my fear was that back home, they would say I used him for money rituals. I am describing it in a serene manner now but it was crazy. The whole of my estate was held transfixed. I know when someone was dead and he was dead. He wasn’t in coma. We prayed for over 30 minutes and all of a sudden, he started coming back to life. Unaware to me, a lot of people were in my compound. So we rushed him to the hospital and he became okay. They tested him for typhoid and it was 1,350. That brought me to a different reality of Christ, not the religious Christ but the Christ of relationships who is able to come through for you. That incident could have put me in big trouble. Not every member of my family is a Christian. Some who visit Babalawos would have said I should come and drink water from the shrine and which I would not want to do. Japheth is still alive and he is the evidence of it. The title of my album is not borne out of religion. It is borne out of a practical, experiential power of Christ I have seen.
Of course I would gladly share it. About two years ago, my nephew came to live with me. He was about 26 years old. Three days after he came, I woke up early to pray with my family. I told one of my kids to go and call my nephew. He went inside and didn’t come out. So I shouted from the palour and my son came out to say Japheth is not answering. I sent the others in succession. Somehow, I said Japheth must pray with us before we leave for work so that we will all have that family communion. I decided to go and call him myself. I got to the room to meet him smiling. So when I touched him, I saw that he was stiff. He was already dead. I was afraid because I am Isoko and my fear was that back home, they would say I used him for money rituals. I am describing it in a serene manner now but it was crazy. The whole of my estate was held transfixed. I know when someone was dead and he was dead. He wasn’t in coma. We prayed for over 30 minutes and all of a sudden, he started coming back to life. Unaware to me, a lot of people were in my compound. So we rushed him to the hospital and he became okay. They tested him for typhoid and it was 1,350. That brought me to a different reality of Christ, not the religious Christ but the Christ of relationships who is able to come through for you. That incident could have put me in big trouble. Not every member of my family is a Christian. Some who visit Babalawos would have said I should come and drink water from the shrine and which I would not want to do. Japheth is still alive and he is the evidence of it. The title of my album is not borne out of religion. It is borne out of a practical, experiential power of Christ I have seen.
Do you have any of your children following your footsteps?
My second child is a music genius. He plays drums. He is nine years old. I have a liberal view about life. I don’t force people to do things. I taught my senior son to play bass guitar. He can play it averagely but he is not crazy about music. He is crazy about football. I was a footballer before, but I stopped when I broke my leg.
My second child is a music genius. He plays drums. He is nine years old. I have a liberal view about life. I don’t force people to do things. I taught my senior son to play bass guitar. He can play it averagely but he is not crazy about music. He is crazy about football. I was a footballer before, but I stopped when I broke my leg.
What explains your attraction to bass guitar?
Honestly, I don’t know. I was forced to learn music by the way. The music talent was evident from a young age but I was forced to learn music in my church. I was attending CAC in Delta state, so the Music Director noticed I was very stubborn and he dragged me to learn music. Unfortunately, they were doing audition for those who want to learn how to play instruments. I actually went for guitar and the person teaching it said I should hold the C major chord and he showed me how to do it but nothing sounded so, he said I didn’t have the brain for music. But something had ignited the passion in me so I went to piano and they said it was filled up. I went to drums, it was filled up too. We were nine of us and I was the only one who did not get assigned to any department. I couldn’t go home. I had to watch by the window. They didn’t know I was watching by the window but something happened. God just gave me the grace. While I watched from the window, I understood what they were being taught but the students were not grasping it. So when they were through, I went to where they keep the instruments to practice. They were shocked when they caught me playing one day. I eventually joined the class.
Honestly, I don’t know. I was forced to learn music by the way. The music talent was evident from a young age but I was forced to learn music in my church. I was attending CAC in Delta state, so the Music Director noticed I was very stubborn and he dragged me to learn music. Unfortunately, they were doing audition for those who want to learn how to play instruments. I actually went for guitar and the person teaching it said I should hold the C major chord and he showed me how to do it but nothing sounded so, he said I didn’t have the brain for music. But something had ignited the passion in me so I went to piano and they said it was filled up. I went to drums, it was filled up too. We were nine of us and I was the only one who did not get assigned to any department. I couldn’t go home. I had to watch by the window. They didn’t know I was watching by the window but something happened. God just gave me the grace. While I watched from the window, I understood what they were being taught but the students were not grasping it. So when they were through, I went to where they keep the instruments to practice. They were shocked when they caught me playing one day. I eventually joined the class.
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