THE EXPERIENCES OF KEMI THE SINGER

The first time Kemi listened to her song on the radio, she fainted nearly. It was on a saturday morning and she was preparing plantain in the small kitchen when a broadcaster from Faaji FM said “Next, we have an amazing new artist who is bringing Nigeria to its knees, Kemi Blaze with her first single, Shine!!!"

The frying spoon dropped out of her hand and the hot oil sprayed across the counter. Her mother came in because she thought Kemi has burnt herself with hot oil but Kemi stood still with her mouth wide opened.

"My song! my song!" she shouted in joy, her mother blinked and replied “Ehn? Which song?”, she replied "The one I sang at Lekan's studio, mummy that’s my voice!”

Mother and daughter stood quietly and listened for the next three minutes. The voice of Kemi was soft and strong, full of dreams and confidence. Her mother was amazed and with joy she hugged her saying "My daughter, you will go far".

Surprisingly within a year, Shine became a national hit. It was played by DJs in weddings, night clubs and in school parties. Kemi Blaze became the name on everyone's lips, she was called by different brands to be interviewed, photographed and get music awards. Her face was in demand on their billboards.

She left her one room apartment with her family members to a luxurious mini flat in Surulere. The number of the followers she has on Instagram also expanded to 200,000. Her pink braids became a fashion amongst teenage girls. It was good life, a better life than she could have imagined.

Her previous friends who used to mock her with her nonsense of music were now interested in visiting her again, people would call her phone at night and during the day requesting assistance. Lekan, her friend who produced her song began to behave as if he owned her career, her mother became afraid too. One evening she visited Kemi and said "Kemi, remember the God who assisted you, fame is sweet but never be proud". Kemi smiled and shook the head but there in her heart, she was too elated by triumph to be able to listen to the warning.

Unfortunately, the crash came. It started with a misunderstanding that was a little quarrel between her and Lekan over money. He claimed that he own half of Shine's money since it was recorded in his studio, however he had received full payment after the song was done. He then wrote something on social media accusing her of cheating him.

Fans took sides and comments flew like bullets, some said she was proud while rest claimed that Lekan was jealous. Kemi was attempting to do nothing about it, yet the internet does not forgive easily. People became more focused on the issue than the piece of music when her second single was released.

This was to be followed by the actual blow as her record label dropped her on a bad press. Sponsors pulled out, her alleged friends even ceased to pick her calls. In less than a year, the once trending girl in magazines was on the list of the most discussed topics, which was not good at all.

Kemi had to sing in small lounges only to survive as she went down from performing in big stages. Her savings ran dry and she was forced to leave her apartment in Surulere and go back to Mushin.

On one night, Kemi was sitting on the balcony of her mother's house and she as looked down the street at food resellers screaming out their prices and children running about on bare feet, she felt empty.

She said lost in thought "I failed big time", her mother looked at her, shaking her head and smiling sweetly, she replied “No my daughter, you only fell there is a difference”. Kemi kept thinking of those words in her heart.

The following morning, she rose early in the morning, cleaned up the kitchen and took her old guitar, which she used when she started singing. She began writing again, her lyrics were different this time around, there was pain and hope as they were raw and true.

Several months after, she uploaded a basic acoustic video on Tik Tok no makeup, no backdrop, just her guitar and voice. The title of the song was Rise Again, it is a narration of a girl who lost it all and discovered herself.

The internet loved it and people were attached to her weakness. Her song became viral not due to some costly promotions but because it moved hearts. After a couple of weeks, she received an invitation to play live shows once again. However, this time Kemi was different. She no longer chased fame, she sang to the wellness of herself and others, she began a small organization that was free in teaching street kids music. She reunited with her origin, her religion and her mother.

She no longer chased fame. She sang to be wellness, hers and others. She began a small organization that was free in teaching street kids music. She re-united with her origin, with her religion, with her mother.

Several years later, she won an award as the Best Inspirational Song and she was standing on the stage with the golden plaque and tears in her eyes. The audience shouted, calling her name. However, this time she was not overwhelmed.

At that point Kemi smiled, not the celebrity smile but a sincere smile. She had seen the highs, endured the lows and in it she had learnt the pace of endurance, she understood that humility was the music which kept her soul in harmony.

Thank you for staying with me this far, I hope you had a good read, see you next time 🤗

Note: All pictures are generated on Meta AI