ABSTRACT
Ikwunga Wonodi is not a new face among Afrobeat music followers in Nigeria and elsewhere; years ago, while a university student in Nigeria, he was a member of the “What?” collective, which was an underground campus music hit in Nigeria. As a young medical doctor, Ikwunga was a regular opening act for Femi Kuti at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos. Since the release of several of his albums, Ikwunga has been the center of attention among the African community in the United States and Britain. I recently spoke to Ikwunga via telephone and we both decided to set a date for this interview. His poetry is a blend of talking and rapping in pidgin English. His message expresses deep concerns for the plight of the poor in the world, Africans, and the African diaspora. His father, Okogbule Wonodi, was a first-generation African poet and traditional chief in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In this interview, he reflects on his university days in Nigeria, his formative years a musician/poet, and his development as an artist. Ikwunga growth in the music industry is directly linked to his passion for African culture/literature, and the exposure that gained from performing at Fela Kuti's Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
