But as long as some people continue with this habit of let’s see that person or this person before and after the awards, we will keep going in circles. So long as organizers of an award fail to bring forth the major criteria that are used in the nomination or selection process, then we all have no right to complain. And begin to see that conscious efforts are made in getting the music industry standardized. That can only be done when we as musicians realize that pretence will take us no where. How in your own words can we return standards and credibility to our awards` systems? The realization that I have achieved the goal that brought me into Nigerian music by getting people to play and listen to Nigerian music gives me a deeper satisfaction than any award. I know when I am probably dead and gone, may be in my life time some young peo ple will be shown my contributions to the Nigerian music industry. The first CD ever released in Nigeria was “plenty nonsense” followed by 2shots` “pirated copy.” When I look at things like this, I am happy. This compact disc (CD) format that we are selling and buying Nigerian music today and the whole Alaba format, will any body remember that Eldee started it? Way back, when we had association of tape sellers in Yaba, I walked up to Tee Joe and told him look, we can do this thing like this and get our music to our DJ’s and today, look at were we are.
Because there are bigger things I have done for the Nigerian music industry today that no one remembers. I am not comparing myself to Fela, rather I am trying to let you understand that all these awards mean very little to me. Look at the greatest musician Nigeria and Africa ever produced, Fela, did he get any award in his life time? But today, from Ajegunle to the Broadway show in Hollywood he is being celebrated. These are achievements that matter to me not awards. But when it comes to the music they listened to before crafting their own unique Nigerian sound except the person is not honest, they’ll tell you they listened to Eldee’s Trybesmen before bringing forth their own sound. I make bold to say this, ask every Nigerian contemporary act today about their early influence in Music yes, they will tell you about listening to Michael Jackson, Whitney Huston, Fela, Bob Marley and all the legends. It wasn’t easy but we had to do it and years down the line I can say we (Nigerians) majorly listen to Nigerian music today. When I started this whole Nigerian music thing, I had one goal in mind and that is to get Nigerians listening to Nigerians` music. What is responsible for your constant omission from various award nomination lists, and how do you feel about this?