Peter Okoye is right, music should come from a place of passion

For the first time in his career, Peter Okoye is putting his foot down and talking about the music process. Where previously his banging interviews have spilled dirt on his brother, and captured his discontent. This time, he is assuming the position of a man who understands the game.

Peter Okoye has put in over two decades of great music as part of the Psquare duo. 20 years of being in the game comes with a lot of experience and insights. And Peter for once has shared a bit of it.

In an interview with HipTV, Peter saw the mic, heard the questions, and went for it. He admitted that he is living the life with “the likes of us living in good houses, buying big cars and whatever…”

Psquare recently just moved into a mega-mansion, where photos shared from the house stunned people on social media. It isn’t just huge, it is palatial. Artists would take one look at this tangible manifestation of his success and will in their hearts think that they have to be as rich as Psquare. And then they chase the wealth as an end in itself.

They lose focus on the essence of music, and reduce it to just a tool to make money. Some people sell plastic, others deal in textiles, and these myopic artists sell music.

And that is what has been the challenge of the Nigerian music industry.

"Music is passion, when we all started up there was no money in the industry, we were doing it for the passion, in fact if you don't pay me, I'm still going to sing, I'm still going to dance, so the real  question for the upcoming musicians  is are you gonna sing if you are not getting paid." Peter said.

The reactions to this was polarized. People sat on both sides of the arguments. Some are tackling Peter because of his wealth, saying if he didn’t chase money would he be rich? To them, Peter is like the classic rich man, who spends his entire life acquiring wealth on all fronts, only to look down on poor people hustling and say: “Money is not everything.”

“Sorry Sir. To that poor man, money is everything.”

Other commenters with a deep understanding of Psquare’s career will support Peter. Psquare began at a level and in a time when money from the art is a myth. The Okoye brothers had insane talents, and they could harmonise to form a group. They did it because they were passionate, and it is that passion that has fueled their career for decades. The money is a reward of that passion. It is not the aim of their music. It came because they did the music right.

It is this mentality and understanding that Nigerian musicians lack. They want the money, hence they sing. This approach strips them of the ability to move past money, and so when they begin to make the money, their drive is halted. And when the money does not come, they feel like failures.

This approach is faulty. It has no long-term gain. Music is an art, and art is passion. The passion for expression should drive the music, and the music will bring in the money. The love for money should never drive the creative process.

Peter Okoye is right, and he has earned the credentials to hold such an opinion. Passion made Psquare what they are. The money only came after the passion led them to the heights of artistry, showmanship, and execution.