GOOD MORNING & **HAPPY NEW MONTH !!!**
This is a man whose failure would have been excused. He said it himself but, he broke away from the expectations of mediocrity. Today, Cobhams Asuquo is a success here in Nigeria, where there are a lot of legitimate reasons not to succeed. You listen to a man like this and realize that nothing is enough to stop someone from reaching full potential and living the dream.
The Gift Of Blindness
In today’s world, a lot of people ill-judged disability through begging thus being indolent but there are some others though having such formidable illness yet chooses to stay-off the street and uphold productivity.
Such is the like of Cobhams Asuquo who has no such qualms; born blind (blind from birth) born in 1981, the award winning music producer, songwriter and musician (never trained as a musician) is putting his prodigious talent to awesome use, producing and writing for Nigeria’s top musicians like Asa and Darey.
He has allegedly said that his music career began when as a child he used to puff his cheeks to play the 12-bar blues.
He was responsible for Asa's highly acclaimed international album ASA and has graced countless artists sleeve credits as producer and writer.
Truth is, every Nigerian musician would like some Cobham flavour infused in their mix!
In his compelling talk – he says; “One of the things that has fueled my ability to dream has been the gift of blindness”.
Moving on, Cobhams’ talent and love for music was palpable from early childhood. As a young teenager, he organised ‘concerts’ in his neighbourhood, while employing his mother’s water barrels as drums. In another place and another time, Cobhams would have been enrolled in a music class, but he wasn’t, and yet!
Anyways, so persuaded and passionate was our Superstar about making music that he dropped out of school and went for it. Oh yes he did!!! The truly great ones seem to have no use for structured tertiary schooling!!! [Big chuckle]
Of his foray into the music industry, bereft of his mother’s barrels, Cobhams recalls; “(I had to) sleep on studio floors all across Lagos, worked at different studios, worked without pay, I’ve been out on the road, out on the streets, doing my thing. I had to convince people that I could do it — I had sessions that were cancelled because they weren’t sure I could deliver either because they thought I was too young or maybe as a blind person, ‘how do we trust our music which is our future and investment?”
Nurturing talent
Mr Asuquo was studying law at the University of Lagos but decided to leave it and branch into music full-time.
His persistence and passion paid off, and in 2005, Cobhams signed on with Sony ATV London as a songwriter, and a year later, after working as head of audio productions for Nigerian label Questionmark Entertainment, he set up his own recording facility.
He had no capital, just a computer and ideas that he took to different companies offering advertising and begging for work.
He is now the CEO and head of productions of Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions (Camp) which, according to him, is an all-encompassing entertainment firm.
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Many successes, awards and years later, Cobhams stands tall on the African music scene. So tall that the World Economic Forum awarded him ‘Young Global Leader’ in 2013. So tall that CNN, BBC and the like of others interviews him, and he is sought after as a Speaker in high and lofty gatherings like the TEDxEuston conferences. Watch him speak [on Youtube] below
Cobhams was married in 2010 to Yetunde Olukanni and the union has been blessed with a son.
Like his hero Stevie Wonder, the musician has never let his lack of sight hold him back.
"It's assumed there are many things you can't do because you're blind. And so, for me I had to prove that there are many things I can do because I'm blind, and that there are many things I have done because I'm blind," he said.
He is a judge on the Nigerian talent television show Project Fame
Have a great week ahead and … let those talents shine!!!
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Listen to Cobhams Asuquo who was at TEDx EUSTON. He spoke so eloquently and with biting humour. He's got you rolling on the floor before you know it, yet making some major phenomenal sense and leaving you in awe.
In his video, here are 3 vital lessons he pulled out:
1. Do not excuse failure for any reason, on any account.
2. Trust even when you have no reason to. Trust has no expiration date, blindness has taught me to trust, to hope and to believe.
3. Sight sometimes is a distraction. Sight is a precious gift but on your way to your destination what you see can also be a big distraction from your goal. You have to be blind in order to be focused (not literally) because focus is blindness.
“I have drawn some key strength in my life journey. We treat the African continent like a disabled child and excuse failure.”
Watch and be inspired:
Let's talk .........
*Happy New Month to all those Born in July*
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