Bunmi Fapohunda, massively addressed as Asa Gangali on the big scene, doesn’t believe in unnecessary hype. Rather, the director in Musical Society of Nigeria (MCSN), and a top member of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), settles strongly for the magic of professional musicianship which actually shot him into stardom. In this close-up with our Contributing Editor IFECHI OKOH, Gangali elaborates on this and how he used his Rock Da Mic show to expose the likes of Timaya and Wande Coal, among. Enjoy it!

Can we know how the journey started for you?

I am Bunmi Fapohunda a.k.a Asa Gangali from Ondo State. I am an R&B/Hip Hop act. I grew up in Nigeria but I lived the better part of my younger years in the United States of America. I started my music career in 1998, and I have worked with a lot of major acts in the United States before I decided to come home.

I decided to come home with a view to establishing my career in Nigeria. To God be the glory that I did as far back as 2005 with the release of my first single “Nike” and later “Dami”. They were both successful. After that, I decided to stay back in the background because of the situation of the market at that time. However, I have since engaged myself in the promotion of upcoming and talented acts through my platform, Roc Da Mic. I must confess that the platform has been instrumental to the discovery and grooming of big acts like Timaya, Wande Coal, Soul E, Konga and many others. All of them used to come to Roc Da Mic before they became what they are now. I wrote the celebrated “Ninja Bike” song which I featured with Charly Boy. After that, I stormed out with my own single “EFCC”. Since then, I have been working on my own albums. I mean going solo which I must confess that I have been enjoying. For now, Roc Da Mic has been facing so many challenges and so has to be rebranded with a view to make it more promising and appealing too. You understand? Good!

You at a time backed out of the beats scene because of what you see as disturbing marketing situation in Nigeria. How can you compare the situation then and now? Does it mean that things have improved, encouraging you to wanting to come back?

No quite! I must confess here that the marketing structure is yet to be better. Honestly! However, the industry is still pretty vibrant from the goings in which can no doubt encourage any creative person to help himself without any hindrance. That’s one not only making money from albums, but also shows, especially big time ones. Oh yeah!

As an active participant and a veteran who has been around for so long, what have been the pitiable challenges you have been braving till this moment?

From an active participant point of view, not having proper financial backing has always been an issue of serious concern and contention till date and as a result, always a pain in the arse. If you can’t do what you want to do at a point in time, it could be killing quietly and too badly, too. It could be worsened and frustrating if you can’t bring out just an album over the years. How do you justify your being a musician who claims to be still relevant? No way!

Which celebrated acts has Roc Da Mic shot into focus?

Konga is no one among others like Timaya, Wande Coal and others that I can’t remember for now. However, I want to state categorically here that Roc Da Mic was that strong platform for all talented acts to climb into stardom right from oblivion. So Roc Da Mic has been able identify the needs of the average upcoming act and as a result created this necessary platform for all the talented acts to get to the next level.

At what point in your life did you decide to do music?

That was in 1998 after discovering my talent, although, this was after I had spoken to God for formal permission.

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