Afro highlife artiste UJ, sets the internet on fire with new song.

An Imo State born music maker who just dropped his smash hit single has given an insight about his music career and his new single which is enjoying a widespread airplay from radio stations across the country especially in the South East. Mr. Theodore Ujunwa Ndubuoke who goes by the stage name UJ hails from Amurie Omanze in Isu LGA Imo State. According to UJ who described himself as someone who is inseparable with music, he did not chose music as a career but rather, music chose him. UJ went into music in 2005 and has been performing in hotels, event centres and high profile occasions around the entire South East Nigeria. The afro highlife artiste while answering questions from Umuaka Times local affairs correspondents confirmed that “Music has been my talent since my little age. My father saw it and took me to studio the first time and told me to learn music production and sound engineering. That was in 2005. Since that time, I have been a music producer and sound engineer as well as a performing artiste.”

As someone who is indeed determined to pursue his talent in the showbiz industry, UJ recorded his first CD in 2008 and this happened just 3 years after he professionally went into music. After the single, some other good tracks were recorded by UJ which gave him the opportunity to collaborate with some artistes on some tracks like Chope My Money featuring Mr Flavour Nabania, Ifensoli by late MC Loph ft Mr UJ. There was also Osho by DJ Recodo featuring Mr UJ. After the 2008 song, came the release of his first album in 2020.

Talking about his music and the impact it makes in the society UJ confirmed to Umuaka Times thus: “My music sends positive massage like prophetic, inspirational, motivational and more of reality music.”

Talking about the state of music in Nigeria today, UJ regrets that the music industry has been hijacked by businessmen who have nothing to do with music. The artiste described such businessmen as “the unknown and unverified billionaires.”

Asked to explain what he really meant, he simply lamented that “Before now, if you are talented, with hard work your creativity speaks for you. Unlike now, some unknown people will make sure that your song is not played on radio stations. Reason best known to them.”

In further revelations, Mr UJ further went on and explained that he did a song titled Shayo and the song was making waves in the Southeastern states of the country, an Owerri based businessman and socialite who happened to be the owner of Ibari Ogwa exclusive restaurant, the late Mr. Ofoha called for the video of the song and sponsored the video production. This happened after UJ had already spent a lot to promote the song. On a certain day according to him, the late businessman called him and informed him that the song had been banned by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC. In an emotionally laden voice, UJ disclosed to Umuaka Times that the bad news from the late businessman was like an end of the world to him.

In a few days’ time, the struggle continued. The music ban posed a deep setback for the new artiste but he still went on and embraced music fully, even in a more advanced manner. Describing the experience to Umuaka Times, UJ hinted that he had to spend more money to ensure that the song was played on many digital platforms. “At that stage there was nothing I could do after money had been spent,” he concluded. UJ described Shayo as a very joyful song.

Still talking about the tragedy that befell the music industry, UJ confirmed that the killings in Nigeria today have not only affected the growth of the music industry but it has also subjected the young talents into other faces of life especially internet fraud otherwise known as yahoo-yahoo and make them believe it is the only way of life in Nigeria.

UJ also told Umuaka Times about the human rights and advocacy side of him. He is a strong critic of irresponsible governments at all levels as well as a pro- democracy activist.

As time goes on, UJ, the Amurie Omanze born songwriter, composer and music engineer will one day have the world in his pocket.