Tayo congaTayo Conga is one of the best percussionist in Nigeria,
he plays virtually all kind of
instrument but specilzes in a drum called Conga or Tumbadora drum, according to
him his decision to settle for conga drum is not only to be unique but to the the world best in the Afro Caribbean eat and promote African culture and tradition. Tayo
Conga has done beats for several notable artistes in Nigeria like Iyanya,
Davido, Wizkid and several others.
How do you come about
Tayo Conga
I came up with conga drum because of the name conga, Conga
is a percussive instrument made from the maccota drum, its an afro Caribbean
instrument whereby you can use for salsa
dance and any kind of music so I
decided to add my name to that of the drum for people to identify me
with the drum and understand the essence of the name. Another name for conga is
Tumbadora, it is a Spanish name for conga drum
At what point did decide to go into drum
beating
I was born into drumming I started drumming at the age of 4
, I developed an idea by my experience
of years of playing akuba or agbamole drum so in 1998n I advance into
Conga drum when I noticed that there are
some certain music that Agbamole cannot be used and Conga drum can flow into
any kind of genre of music so I started
by developing a passion for it and later learn about the technique of playing
the drum so I watch some video, it inspire me more,
And how has it been ?
It has been very fantastic, very OK and I learn everyday
because no man is an island of knowledge, soed to I decided to learn about percussion to create
different sounds I decided to go into African
drumming in order to promote our culture because I see conga drum as an
African instrument which we should not allow the western world to take away
from us, sound itself has its origin in Africa they speak African language so I
speak and communicate in Africa
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| tayo conga and Iyanya |
But conga is alien to
Nigeria so many people do not like it
Yes it is possible because some people seen a professional
conga player performing , and the reason is that we are just few in Nigeria
today because people are scared of the hardness of the surface of the word and skin, conga drum is made of different
type of skin , we have the one of fiber, kangaroo and others so people
are always scare of the drum because they don’t want their palm to be
hurt but for me I care less about that
because as professional I must not look
at those things what I considered before
taking up conga as my instrument was the fact that I saw everybody playing lead
guitar, keyboard, drums and others and I ask myself why wont I do something special something uncommon and I know Conga drum is not common and I
told myself I want to be the best and make it know to the world,
represent my country and promote my culture
and to the glory of God it has been
good I am gradually making impact and achieving my target
Some people said
Conga drum is being used during festival and rituals, is it true?
Not at all, conga
drum is also been play in the church and any where as well so it is not, the
beat or sound may be familiar but Conga drum is for music and anywhere good
music is being , yeah Conga drum is a traditional instrument but that doesn’t
limit it to traditional activities or occultism
What is the future of Conga drum in Nigeria?
If you listen to the music our producers are producing now they
cannot do without conga tunes, you will
surely have percussive sounds listen to
the sound like they have been using conga since the days of
Orlando Owo, Sir, Victor Olaiya,, conga drum still exists if you listen to all this circular
musician as well they uses conga beat in
order to nourish their tunes, people like wizkid cannot do without conga,
people like Banky sings R and B and he cant do without conga sound so Konga
has a very bright future in Nigeria
entertainment industry.
Have you release any
album?
I am working on my project , I am working on an album
Do you look forward to collaborate with any of
the reigning arts in Nigeria now
Yes I look forward for more collaboration
Have you done anyone
before?
I have worked with different artists, I have worked with
BankyW, Wizkid, Nyanya, praise, Waje and so many of them including gospel
artists like midnight crew, mikeAremu, I have worked with Tosin Martins, Soji Isreal Big Bolaji, tosin Sars, patricia
kings and many of them
How do you maintained the band in term of
loyalty
I maintained my band and we are cordial , always tell them
that it is not every show you go that you will make money but irrespective of
what happen at the show be a good ambassador of the group, be able to do well,
be able to just do your ting let people see the originality in you, its not about you playing it without happiness, be happy , have passion
for what you are doing and at the end of it you will enjoy your labour and they are complying because the policy is working out fine.
Can you tell us one of the memorable events?
Ha 2015 felabration,
I was opportune to perform at the grand
finale of the felabration 2015, and
after my performance the atmosphere was hot and everybody was happy so to keep
the tempo on they called 2face idibia on
stage immediately after my performance , it’s a day I can never forger, it was a great privileged for me
sharing a stage with 2face idibia, I’ve always been playing at felabration but
with different artists but I coming there with my band is a great privileged
and platform for me
Lets have an insight into your background
I was born in Ajegunle, in Aj City most young guys like
doing some crazy things with their talent and that stands them out in whatever
they are doing so as a young boy, myself
and some of my neigbhour in the hood
use to set up a stage at the
front of our house or open arena and be playing music with different funny
instrument such as Milk tin, bottle, open tray bucket and other things that
bring sounds so I always lead and direct what sound to play and lead the music
and that was how it all started in Ajegunle, while we play some people will be
dancing and it gradually developed into a gyrational thing when people will come around to watch our
performances on Friday and Sunday we get
some instruments and later when I moved
to Ibadan , I started wit Akuba, I went back to Lagos we have a vibrato things,
from school we have a group and after graduation we form a group called The
Vibrator which I was the PRO we were
able to move well, later spitted because some of us got corporate job and some
of us decided not to go into corporate world but to continue with the music
Did your parent support
you going into music?
I am an orphan, I lost my dad in 1989 and my mum in 1993 so
ever since then I have been trying to work hard I belief in myself I am a
superstar because that spirit that everything will be possible in this country,
it has not been easy becoming a conga player, for people to accept that drum
you have to just work, it has been very challenging in convincing Nigerians
about the drum conga but we are making headway.
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Tope Eluyefa
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