Shamma Melody towering over 6-foot tall with an enviable physique that sends shivers down the spines of many young women, is really a delight to behold especially when he is in concert.
With a distinctive voice that separates Shamma from the rest of the pack, the multi-talented artiste whose name came to lights after releasing his first album entitled ‘Motor Mixture,’ which incidentally became an instant hit in Nigeria four years ago. And since then, he has been prolific.
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The imaginative Shamma Melody, who hails from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria precisely Imo State is one of the very few Higlife musicians that has broken both ethnic and international barriers with his genre of music.
Apparently, Shamma’s style of music transcends entertainment and this he confirmed, when People & Polity’s MarkAnthony Nze met with him after his terrific live performance in Manhattan, New York.
“In as much as music ought to be entertaining, it shouldn’t just end there. For me, music goes beyond gyrating and dancing.
There should be something in every song for people to learn.”
Shamma Melody who had come on a tour to the United States with the media consultant of Veemost Productions Incorporated, Dr Thelma Opara explained.
The whimsical artiste who recently released an album, ‘Akpuola Gi,’ which has been enjoying a lot of air plays in Africa generally, and discussions among many Nigerians particularly due to the satirical ingenuity and lyrical expression, he infused in it, had this to say when asked if he wasn’t scared ridiculing the administration of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha:
“An artiste is the mirror of the society. Everyday, we humans take a look at ourselves in the mirror to remind us about our appearance, and this knowledge determines our confidence a lot of times. And just like the mirror, which reports exactly whatever appears in it , that’s a succinct definition of an artiste.
Your mirror doesn’t show you a different thing from what it sees in it. I am an artiste, it’s what I see and hear about the society I live in that I sing about.”
Shamma Melody, an intrepid artiste that merges Highlife, and African Cultural Music to create melliflous songs, a rare style that only a small number of his colleagues in Africa can actually come up with, added :
‘”Akpuola Gi’ literally means, ‘Have you been sculpted?”
As a song, it comes from a constructive critical perspective in a satirical manner. And this is so because, despite the fact that the former South African president, Jacob Zuma who even in his exalted position was facing corruption charges, and very notorious in his home country had to be honoured in my state, with such an expensive statue while our own heroes like Dr Sam Mbakwe, Chinua Achebe and many other illustrious sons, and daughters were not deemed fit for such honour, I came to the conclusion that the government have lost it since they now go about sculpting just anybody.”
The renowned musician who is the pioneer artiste from Africa to be signed by Veemost Productions Incorporated, a multimillion dollar, American based record label and multimedia firm added :
“I am not scared one bit to tell the truth in my music. An artiste is like a social crusader against the ills in the society, and that’s the exact thing I do with my type of music. I expect a responsible and responsive government to look into the critique ‘Akpuola Gi’ has made about them, and make amends and not to harass or intimidate me.”
Also, speaking about Shamma’s extraordinary talent, and success of ‘Akpuola Gi’ Mr Melvin Ejiogu, the president of Veemost Productions Incorporated, and a highly respected entrepreneur in Jersey City, New Jersey, said,
“When it comes to music, Shamma Melody is a virtuoso. He is a first-rate artiste, that is in a class of his own. We placed a lot of premium on the standards of an artiste that we wanted a contract with, and of all them that we checked out, he was the Only one that emerged successfully both in creativity and character.”
Explaining further about the album, ‘Akpulagi’ Mr Melvin said:
” The entire album of ‘Akpuola Gi’ is just legendary. It’s something worth listening. Our multi-media team led by the innovative and diligent Dr Thelma Opara is currently working with Shamma for the production of an avant-garde video, and once we are done, it would be made available worldwide for purchase.