Obidi Nnedu: Musicians and politics cannot and should not be separated

This musician from Nigeria, who now lives under regular shelling in Kharkov, considers Ukraine his home and actively helps Ukrainians affected by the war. As Obidi Nnedu says, music heals, music brings emotions, music unites and separates, and it is a big part of our lives. That is why musicians should not be out of politics, especially in times such as Ukraine is experiencing now. We spoke with Obidi Nnedu in an exclusive interview exclusively for ZVEZDY.

Why did you choose Ukraine as your second homeland?

In one of my songs, I sang about “Home Is Where The Heart Is”. I came to Ukraine in 2008 to study medicine and as fate would have it, I stayed back after my studies. I don’t really like changes in general and if I am used to something, I would rather have it remain as it is. Having spent my academic years in Ukraine and getting used to the culture and the people, I fell in love with the country and have adopted it as my second home, as my heart feels like it belongs here.

Is it difficult for a Nigerian student to live in Ukraine? What were the challenges and what did you like?

I think for different people it’s different, but for it to be less difficult to adapt to a new environment, it’s important to try to assimilate as much as possible, by learning the language, the culture and being part of the society as a whole. Of course, it’s usually not easy and it wasn’t quite easy for me to adapt to the new environment when I arrived in 2018, as everything was totally different from what I had been used to back home in Nigeria. But like they say, time takes care of everything, and I think in the 15 years I’ve been in Ukraine, having not travelled to my home country during this time for once, I can say I’ve assimilated quite well. 

How did the war in Ukraine affect you, your life and creativity? Why did you decide to stay in the country?

Unfortunately, for most people, this conflict came as a huge shock with difficult realities. It’s been quite difficult for me, I must say, but I always try to find the positive in every situation. Before the war, I had just started playing concerts, live shows and small gigs, putting my art out there and building some real audience. Unfortunately, everything came to an abrupt stop with the beginning of the conflict, and as a result of the conflict,  it hasn’t been possible to do what I love. I stay in Kharkov, and it can get quite loud and stressful, but I am consoled by the fact that I am not alone, and if others can endure and remain here, so can I. I decided to remain here because I believe that it doesn’t matter where you are, what matters is where you feel at home. My heart is in this city (Kharkov) and I feel at home here, despite the difficulties. 

How did you start playing music?

I’ve always loved music since my childhood, but coming to Ukraine and having the opportunity and possibility to realise myself and my talent (at my university – KHNMU), by performing at concerts, representing my university at different art competitions around Ukraine, became a propelling force of self realization for me. Buying my first guitar in 2013 opened a new world of songwriting for me, and that was when I realised, music, for me, wasn’t just a hobby, but a calling, and I have never looked back since then.

What is your album and your song Dreaming On about?

“Obidi Nnedu” is my debut album, and, in selecting the songs for the album, there were a lot of things on my mind which I wanted to talk about. The album speaks on my childhood memories, growing up in a traditional large family; about believing in one’s self no matter what people might say; about finding love and believing in love; about children and how they are affected in times of conflicts; about the realities of our world and the importance or proper leadership in realising true prosperity amongst the led. The album is generally my view on life and how I see myself in it.

“Dreaming On” is a song of despair, a kind of a letter of desperation to anyone who finds themself in any position of leadership. Our world is in a state of disarray and heightened tension, and unfortunately, the people who suffer this reality are people who have no say in the decision-making resulting in the nemesis they face. When a leader makes the right choices, the people rejoice, and when a leader makes bad choices, people suffer. So, “Dreaming On” is basically a message to all leaders to make the right choices, else, ordinary people would simply keep dreaming on, hoping for better days that may never come.

Are there any particular Nigerian or Ukrainian or world musical influences that you draw inspiration from?

I’m a meloman, and as an artist, I listen to practically every thing, no matter the genre. Being an old soul, I’m mostly influenced by music of older years, and I draw great inspiration to write my songs from listening to them. In no particular order, they include but not limited to – Tracy Chapman, Bob Marley, Don Williams, Kenny G, R. Kelly, Chris Rea, Phil Collins, Okean Elzi, 2face Idibia.

What role do you see for music during the war in Ukraine? And what mission do you see for yourself? Can musicians be out of politics?

Music is an integral part of life, and no matter what we do or where we find ourselves, its role in our lives can never be overemphasized. The overall influence of the conflict on the Psyche of the Ukrainian is enormous, and worse still, when there is nothing you can do to change the situation. For me, personally, music is a war to relax, calm my nerves, think and analyse situations in life. I love listening to songs on the radio, and when I do this, it  gives me the feeling of being in control in any situation. I remember when the war had just started and when I turned on the radio, all I heard were updates on the war without any music, I felt helpless and hopeless, as though life was over. This made living through the war extremely difficult. Thank God that music was brought back on air. I’m sure this has made the situation a little bit bearable, not just for me, but for millions of people in the country as well.

I see music as a strong tool to live through different situations. I remember visiting a city (Zmeev) during the war, to play music for the internally displaced people who had moved to the city for safety. I could see the happiness in their eyes, especially the children, and I was very happy to have taken their minds away from the destruction around them, even if it was just for a short moment – an hour. Through my music, I wish to bring to people, a message of hope. Things may be bad but nothing lasts forever.

It takes a lot of courage to talk about things that people avoid because they don’t want to be put on the spot. I understand this and I understand that not everyone is strong enough for it, and people must do what they are comfortable with. But in my view, politics is a part of our life and we can’t run away from it whether we, as musicians, sing about it or not. Everything we sing about today, had been sung about in the past, but if these things keep happening till, then, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, we must keep talking about them, and music, is a great vehicle for this. People must always remain socially conscious. It’s important for our survival. Some may say “I don’t like getting involved in politics, it’s a very dirty game”, but whether we want to get involved in politics or not, everything that happens around us depends on it. That’s why I think that musicians who truly want to see some real changes around them, must sing about things that matter, and everything that truly matters in life is directly or indirectly affected by politics. So music/musicians and politics cannot and should not be separated.

How do you see your future career – medical or musical? And who do you see yourself in 1 year, 5 years and 10 years from now?

To give your ultimate best in any thing you do in life, it’s very important to be passionate about it. I loved studying medicine and I love medicine in general, but,  unfortunately, I’m not passionate enough about it to practice it, because my love for music supersedes my love for medicine, and so, unfortunately, I don’t see my future in medicine.

To me, it doesn’t really matter the amount of time – one, five, ten or fifteen years. The most important thing for me is remaining focused on my goal, which is to become better and better in what I do (music). I believe that everyone is subject to growth and you only quit growing or improving yourself when you are gone. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be, while leaving behind a legacy that will last more than a lifetime. The goal remains the same, and years are only but numbers.

You had your own group, but now you sing solo. What makes this experience different?

Yes, I used to be in a band (The VECKS) while still studying at medical school, but it disbanded following my graduation, and so I moved on singing solo. A lot of world renowned artists started off in bands, and I think it’s an important step in realising what works best for you before finding yourself and your path. To be a part of a bank entails lots of compromise, which sometimes, goes against your preferences and what you’d like to do. It was fun and a great experience for me, but going solo has given me more control and flexibility over my art, and that is the most important factor in being a standalone artist. Of course, there are shortcomings as well. Sometimes, to give the best experience with your performance, you need a full sound, and unfortunately, one man can’t play several instruments at once and also sing:) 

How do you use your creative process in music to overcome stress and adversity?

First of all, music is therapeutic for me. I love the feeling of satisfaction I get when I hear beautiful music. This feeling quadruples when  this beautiful music is made by me, especially when I imagine how much it could affect other listeners of this song. Music is a powerful tool, and I strongly believe that I have become whom I am because of the music I have been exposed to all through life. But, at the same time, music is a way for me to relay some messages I may not be open to talking about freely. Music is a tool, it’s a vehicle, and it uses are limitless. I don’t like speaking much, so music helps me to speak more on what’s on my mind.