Celebrated reggae act and Chairman MCSN, Orits Wiliki, undoubtedly came from music induced back drop. This is why it was easy for the good-looking act to fit into the many and sensitive capacities of contributing immensely in the making of hits of top rated reggae acts like Victor Essiet (Mandators), late Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono and few other pop stars, including Alex O, Chris Mba and Defunct Cloud 7 Band led by Cliff David. This could be confirmed in their album sleeve credits where Wiliki’s name appeared either as Co- producer, Arranger or Backup Vocalist, etc. Hence, his first album, “Tribulations,” became an instant hit since its release till date, years after.

In this indepth close up with our Contributing Editor IFECHI OKOH, the Koolman Revolutionniare talked about his evolution as a child and music enthusiast, composer and producer. It was a serious interactive session, which touched on sensitive and interesting life experiences of Wiliki and his musical career.

Enjoy it!

Beyond the stage, who is Orits Wiliki?

My name is Orits Wiliki. But my teeming fans call me Pupar Orits Wiliki, De Koolman Revolutionaire. I am a music author, writer, producer, performer of music, actor of music and T.V content creator.

How was your childhood days like?

My childhood days were normal like that of a child growing up, I mean I was stubborn and sometimes over-bearing, naturally.

What were your childhood fantasies?

They were simply three: firstly to become a movie star; secondly, a music star and thirdly, a super military personnel. But interestingly, it was my second choice, that is becoming a music star that came to pass. I thank God for that, anyway.

What factors lured you into music?

It all started with my late father who was my mentor. He was well gifted in music making. I still remember how we, as children, used to gather around him, watching him play his music as a Reverend Minister of the Word of God, he was just a very good musician then in my own estimation. Then, he used to play the accordion and sang as well, while the children, who loved what he was doing, simply provided the chorus unsolicited. This forum undoubted prepared the ground for me to join the choir which I did subsequently, fitting in well. That was when I was eight years old.

What then prompted you to embrace reggae music of all the genres?

My natural love for the kind of music my late father was into before his death did not have much grip on me any longer when I began to grow older. By that time, I was older to have known better. That was when it dawned on me that reggae music had a better spiritual spring board or platform for me to express myself easier and better too.

How would you describe the road to the top?

My road to the top actually started from a humble beginning. I did not start out recording and releasing songs, rather, I began making others start by working assiduously behind the scenes, either as a co-producer, arranger, percussionist, or backup vocalist. It was at this time that the Mandators band led by Victor Essiet, late Majek Fashek band, late Ras Kimono’s band and other pop stars’ bands like Alex O, Chris Mba and Cloud 7 band led by Cliff David came into the picture. Hence, I can say categorically today that the hit albums of Mandators, Majek Fashek and Ras Kimono have my signature. In fact, I can say categorically today, beating my chest, that no artist worthy of note in Nigeria in the 1980s through the 1990s to the 2000 that doesn’t have a piece of me. All you need to do is to check album slips of front-liners like the Mandators, Majek Fashek and Ras Kimono to confirm my claim.

Youths of today love energy-sapping music which appears to have swallowed reggae music. What is your take on this?

When you say swallowed, I wouldn’t know what you mean. However, I can tell you categorically that reggae has since evolved strongly to other sides and patterns of music. For instance, today’s hip-hop is obviously an off shoot of the reggae idiom of music. Discerning followers of music know this and they will say it severally to those who care to know. What anybody who knows what is obtainable for now can say is that the traditional roots rock reggae is no longer popular in the airwaves like before. This could be seen in the fact that reggae has evolved, that it is no longer as it used to be. If you are a keen reggae watcher, you can see that the music of the Late Legendary Bob Marley was already changing in tempo before his death as far as May 1981.

You were once a PMAN national officer, how would you describe your administrations tenure?

This is simply like asking me to be a judge in my own case. It is of good source that we brought back respect to the union; PMAN became a shining bride to both individual and the corporate community. Our achievements were simply obvious and you can attest to them, oh yes!!

What were your major challenges then?

The main one was that the people did not believe that it was possible to bring PMAN to its glorious days. It was quite unfortunate, but we proved them wrong by pulling the association out from the abyss. We took many drastic decisions which the past executives were scared of taking.

Is PMAN still in existence in your own view?

PMAN today is just as it was when we decided to come with different person of passions posing illegally and calling themselves President. The major problem of the union is that the true or real musicians have no interest in it, because they strongly believe that they can get whatever they want. After all, their fame have been doing it for them before the arrival of PMAN, so what’s the positive impact of the union on their lives?

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