Ras Kimono kept Telling the Ibusa People to Support Me, Nigerian Reggae Veteran, Yellow Man Denny

 Ras Kimono kept Telling the Ibusa People to Support Me, Nigerian Reggae Veteran, Yellow Man Denny

*Dennis Onyeachomam Umunna, popularly known as Yellow Man Denny, is one of the names associated with the golden era of Nigerian reggae music. He rose to prominence in the 1990s, when reggae enjoyed enormous popularity across the country, establishing himself in a music scene driven by conscious messages, powerful rhythms and socially relevant storytelling.* 

 *In the course of his musical journey, Yellow Man Denny worked closely with some of the notable figures in Nigerian reggae, including the late legendary Ras Kimono. Through these associations and his own artistic pursuits, he became part of a vibrant musical movement that captured the imagination of reggae lovers and made the genre a major force in Nigeria's entertainment landscape.* 

 *Like many artistes whose careers have witnessed different seasons, Yellow Man Denny has had his moments away from the limelight. But the passion for music has endured. Now, he is making a determined return to the industry he once helped enliven, with renewed enthusiasm and a desire to reconnect with his audience while introducing his music to a new generation.* 

 *In this interview with Media Personality PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE), the Nigerian reggae veteran reflects on his musical journey, his rise to prominence in the 1990s, his relationship with fellow reggae artistes, the memories of an unforgettable era in Nigerian music and his plans for a return to the spotlight. He also shares his thoughts on the changing face of the Nigerian music industry and the enduring relevance of reggae music.* 

 *Pen Master: Alright, I have heard so much about you but I will still want you to introduce yourself to our readers.* 

Yellow Man: My name is Mr. Dennis Onyeachonam Umunna. I am from Umuodafe, Umuodaukwu Ibusa, Delta State. 

 *Pen Master: We know you are a famous reggae musician and you are from here, in Ibusa. First and foremost, I want to thank you for taking the Ibusa name far, in your career. Now, at a point, you were based in Lagos but after some time, you relocated to Ibusa, your hometown. What was the problem, Mr. Umunna?* 

Yellow Man: Well, at that point, there were ups and downs of life but I thank God for today. 

 *Pen Master: Yellow Man, how’s the situation now?* 

Yellow Man: Of recent, now, somebody came on board. His name is Chief Rexson Okolie. He is the Ezeudo. He did not know me before and I only just heard of him. I came across him in June. After our discussion, he assisted me with a large sum of money. Even now, I am done with the recording. I am done with the mastering and only left with the promo. I only need to get a manager and a promoter; I will be fine. 

 *Pen Master: …but what else would you need from the Ibusa people because you have this help now?* 

Yellow Man: I should need somebody to assist me to do the video and promo. When the video is done, I can think of a promo. But like I said, the major thing has been done by this my guy and I am thanking and praying for him. 

 *Pen Master: Looking at the situation you paint, would you advise the young ones to take to music?* 

Yellow Man: (cuts in) …you mean the young ones that are coming?

 *Pen Master: …Yes!* 

Yellow Man: You cannot deviate from your talent. Your talent is your talent. I cannot because Ibusa people did not support me, leave music. There is nothing again I do other than music. I am fully confident that I will accomplish the promises in me. But you know, they often say that “charity begins at home,” you are supposed to be recommended from home. 

 *Pen Master: Earlier, you mentioned to me that you were the first Ibusa musician with the reggae genre…* 

Yellow Man: …Yeah! Check the ‘Ibusa Guinness Book of Records.’ I remain the first to come to the limelight fully.

 *Pen Master: Tell us how the journey started.* 

Yellow Man: It was about my childhood friend. Even at that time, I did not know he was my brother. We grew up together. He grew up in Umuehea. We schooled at Umejei Primary School and I was a band boy then. So, everybody knew it was something I wanted to do. I could act and I could sing. When I see King Yellow Man of Jamaica, he gives me more confidence. Knowing fully well, I can do better, I work harder. When I was in school, I always took my time to rehearse. 

 *Pen Master: So, tell us about your return* 

Yellow Man: You mean my song? I have ten tracks. Yes, ten tracks and they are excellent. I did a song about politicians. I have one with me here. They call it “inwe kwe ofe?” It is here. There is food but no soup. You see, if you don’t have soup, you can’t eat that food. 

 *Pen Master: So, let me ask you this particular question: why haven’t we been seeing musical concerts and other forms of entertainment in Ibusa as close as the community is to Asaba, the state capital even with the caliber of people the community has?* 

Yellow Man: Yeah! Thank you. It’s a good question. You know why? It is because these people, probably they call themselves elites or personalities in Ibusa, always like to promote nonentities. 

 *Pen Master: …because you talented musicians of Ibusa extraction should come together to have concerts…* 

Yellow Man: They like to promote the nobody. They promoted the less-talented or nobody. They rather prefer the thug or cultist to the intelligent. They will rather promote them to mess up the whole thing. 

 *Pen Master: …is that the reason?* 

Yellow Man: Again, there is no peace in the community. When we were young, we did not know anything like a cult. (looks at his friend sitting beside him). Dienyi, when we were young, were we in a cult? When there was an issue, we just fought and maybe, you just beat me up. When we were going to woo girlfriends, I just tried to speak pure English and whether she agreed to follow me or not, it did not matter but I would be sure I rehearsed the English ahead of time. Even if I failed to win her over, I would be happy with the brilliant grammar I put out. But this time around, the reverse is the case. This is why we lack progress. Yes, what you said is true. What we needed to do was to promote the talented people. If you fail to promote the talented people, we will be stuck and not move forward. Okay, look at the situation in the country. Okonkwo will kill Okafor. Scores! What are they struggling for? Nothing! Just nothing! Now, these politicians, because of their selfish interest sponsor these kinds of people. Now, because elections are coming up, they are politicking with thugs. 

 *Pen Master: Yellow Man, but…* 

Yellow Man… Pen 

Master, you can imagine a politician, their children are abroad, schooling and they are asking the poor children to help you get what you want and, in the end, you pull them away. Yeah! For instance, they are now going everywhere for four years. As soon as you put them there, they won’t take your call. You can’t even see them because they have gotten what they want. 

 *Pen Master: Okay, Yellow Man, I know you have done some good music in the past.* 

Yellow Man: …these ones I have now are better than those of the past.

 *Pen Master: Alright! But let’s talk about the past. Do you receive royalties for them?* 

Yellow Man: No, no, no. I did not receive anything because the thing just happened somehow. You know, I do not know what to say. I cannot just say what happened. My late brother (points to a grave). That’s his grave. He so much believed in me. We were working assiduously to get it right but after the 1996 launching or thereabout, I decided to go for a remix at Harry Mosco Studio. On arriving there with my producer, as I was in the studio singing, somebody said he had a recording studio. That was Pelumi Jay. He said he had a recording company to take over the music but as I later discovered, the capacity was less. He was to promote the music because it was out there with everybody playing it. That was the failure. 

 *Pen Master: Let us talk about your connection with your colleagues in the industry.* 

Yellow Man: Ras Kimono was my friend. He believed in me and everything that concerned me. There was no show he went without me while he was around. He kept telling my community people that this guy was a talent. Push this guy and he will not fail. He was my friend and wherever, I will liked to call him up to enter the stage with me because he knew what to do. 

 *Pen Master: Why do our people appear to prefer traditional musicians in their time of celebrations and not upcoming musicians from the town?* 

Yellow Man: …because we are not praise singers, giving people the kind of names, they don’t have just to make them spray them. In our own kind of music, once you pay me, I don’t want to know who you are. Their own kind of music is localized?   

 *Pen Master: I asked you this question because in other places, we see couples who are wedding and other celebrants invite upcoming musicians from their places to entertain them* 

Yellow Man: That was the reason I did that one. Let them not think we can’s do without them. It is basically an Ibusa thin. I am trying to praise them and to tell them, we need peace and unity and calling on Diokpa Ibusa and the Obuzo. 

 *Pen Master: You did a song like that?* 

Yellow Man: Yes. This is general praise. If I am on stage, I can do a general praise but I can’t go the studio and do. 

 *Pen Master: You mentioned peace and unity just now.* 

Yellow Man: Look at what the youth are doing. I every community, it is the youth who will portray the future or identity of the community but when the youth go begging, there is problem. We must get it right by coming together. Many Ibusa personalities are doing all they can do quietly to better the lives of others. It is not by making noise. I will like to thank the likes of Ike Nwabuoku; my special thanks to every Ibusa person. Let us love ourselves and do things right. 

 *Pen Master: Thank you very much, Yellow Man Denny. It was nice speaking with you.* 

Yellow Man: Pen Master, You are here now. Let us hope we get it right. Thank you too for your time.

Ras Kimono kept Telling the Ibusa People to Support Me, Nigerian Reggae Veteran, Yellow Man Denny