It is crazy how we look at CREATIVE minds in our community, I have been interviewing music makers lately and I am amazed to discover how beautifully intelligent they are, yet our society label them as thugs and all sorts of bad names. Manizy has had enough struggles in life, if he rode in expensive cars and uses expensive "shits" now, he has paid his dues. I will allow him take us into his world of music by himself. Enjoy!
CAN WE MEET YOU?
My names are Israel Oluwatunmishe Onyenze, but they call me Manizy.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR NAME MANIZY?
I got Man-izy from my name Israel, when you abbreviate it. And I am a man who like to take things easy, so I put it together and I got the name Manizy.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND CHILDHOOD
My background wasn't that nice, I was born to the family of late Mr and Mrs James and Patience Onyenze, we were five boys and a girl. Daddy rode okada, mummy was a fashion designer, born and brought up here in Lagos, Surulere, Lawanson to be precise. No silver spoon, in fact no spoon at all, but we thank God at least we had something to eat, at least we had something little.
YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
I started at Akanji Primary School and finished at Community Primary School, Eleja, at Pako Eleja, Mushin. I proceeded to Community Secondary School Worksyard, Ilasamaja, Mushin. I also had diploma in Beauty, Events Management and Consultancy online. That's about my educational background.
HOW DID YOU START DOING MUSIC?
I can not really remember how I started music but I know I started very young, I would just move mouth and say whatever comes out that sounded like music, I did not really know what I was saying.
As I grew up, I developed interest in it and in my secondary school days I began writing, rhyming and composing. I had a group in my secondary school days with some friends.
WHY CHOOSE MUSIC?
I chose music because music chose me first. So I had no other choice than to do it. I have to return the love back to music.
WHAT DO YOU DO ASIDES FROM MUSIC?
Apart from music, I am a beautician, event planner and photographer, I do general entertainment hustle. I am also an entertainment consultant, actor and activist.
But I derive joy doing music than any other thing.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEST AND WORSE PERFORMANCES
My worse performance was in my hood Lawanson, in 2007. My fans were expecting a lot from me but I had issues with my friends, we fought, we argued and I lost my voice. Coming on stage to perform, it was messed up because my voice was already gone.
I was ashamed of my self because I let my people down.
My best performance, I have had lots of great performances but I will pick the one with my former group Soul Fellas at Felabration some years back. When we graced the stage people saw something else entirely, it was such a blessing, I thank God.
WHICH PERFORMANCE DO YOU THINK MADE PEOPLE START BELIEVING IN YOU?
I will say it's the performance that made Swagga Records signed me, the competition was at D'Yard, Lawanson, it was a talent hunt and me and my crew Soul Fellas won the competition.
WHO IS YOUR MENTOR?
My mentor is Fela Anikulapo Kuti, he motivated me a lot. Listening to Fela's ginger for Africa and his believe in his mother land Nigeria, it's unfortunate that a lot of our parents didn't really understand him but thank God for this generation all over the world celebrating him, he is a mentor and a hero indeed. I will also pick Plantation Boiz and kudos to Olamide for his hard work, dropping hits back to back no relenting, it makes me want to work.
WHO IS YOUR MENTOR IN THE FOREIGN SCENE?
I will say 2pac and Biggie. And when I listen to The Game, I fell in love with him. I also like Nas, and Lil Wayne for making us think hip-hop is easy.
WHAT LESSON HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT LIFE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC HUSTLE?
Through my music I have learned never to give up. I remember sometimes ago I was very frustrated. So frustrated that I was walking around to just find where to die, I washing go commit suicide. As I was walking on a street called Cole Street, I saw some people celebrating, dancing and drinking. I wanted to know what was making them happy while I am not happy, when I moved closer to them I realized that they were listening to one of my old songs, they put it on replay. I don't know these people and they don't know me as the owner of the song. So I said to myself, why do I have to die when I have what to make people happy, if I had died these people will still enjoy my songs. So I have learned to appreciate myself and to get strong and never give up. As long as you are doing a good job, or making good music, whether you've made it or not as long as you put it online and somebody has downloaded it, it can be somebody's best song or ringtone somewhere.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SONG SO FAR?
My biggest song is Ankara. The song is doing well and it has a very positive message promoting African culture, food, fashion and tradition. Its a big song, motivational and inspiring. It's a song that teaches us to be proud of who we are as blacks.
ANY COLLABORATION SO FAR?
Yeah, I had a collaboration with Minjin titled "Challenge Me" with my group Soul Fellas, and also did a song with Joel Amadi.
WHICH ARTISTE WILL YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?
I will like to work with every good artistes, I will like to work with 2baba, Olamide, Burna Boy, Phyno, Sheyi Shay, Timaya, Tiwa Savage and Simi. Music is a combination of sound.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCER?
Don Jazzy is my man, I like his work. I also admire and work with Towns Beats.
WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU WORKING ON PRESENTLY?
I am working on my album, it's going to be classic. The title is "Ancient and Modern", combination of old tunes and new tunes together, watch out.
WHEN ARE YOU DROPPING AN ALBUM?
I am dropping my album next year, 2018, anticipate.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE
I am in love, I am in deep, deep and very deep love with my music. Loving a girl and I don't have enough time and money for the girl, every finance I have I invest in my music, the girl will not like it. So I decided to fall in love with my music.
TELL US YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS
My social media contacts are : Instagram and twitter @managermanizy and on Facebook @ Israel Onyenze.
MESSAGE TO YOUR FANS AND LOVED ONES.
To my fans and loved ones, I love you all. I'm not going to fall your hands, I always gat you just like you gat me.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NIGERIA?
Nigeria is blessed. We just pray for good mechanism and good governance. Nigeria has a great role to play in this part of the world called Africa. I believe things are gradually change for better.
WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA?
If I became the president of Nigeria, I will tighten up the weak links, because Nigeria is only as strong as its weak links. All the weak links are there to see. Let every weak path be strong and every weak area be strengthened.
There will be good road, water, food and house. The social amenities.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT QUADOOWEAR?
I do not just know about Quadoowear, I know about Quadoo himself. Quadoowear is all about fashion, originality and swag. It's a good brand everybody should patronize. I have one advice for Quadoowear, they should infuse African fashion in their designs.
ADVICE TO YOUNGER ARTISTES
To younger artistes , giving up is a sin. Quitters are losers, and winners don't quit. No matter how bad it gets just keep going. Let nothing stop you. At a point I sold my blood just to record songs, that is to say that money cannot stop me. Work hard and pray and never give up.
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