Fancy Gadam
A euphoric crowd, including thousands of motorbike riders, trooped to the Tamale Airport Monday afternoon to give a heroic welcome to Fancy Gadam, the promising musician who won the category of ‘Best New Artiste’ at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) held over the weekend.
They formed a long convoy of over 300 cars and drove Fancy Gadam from the airport into the Tamale Township. When Fancy entered Tamale, he was greeted by an even larger crowd that welcomed him amidst drumming, dancing and merry-making from the evening into late night.
The crowd that welcomed Fancy Gadam was a large one, and the joyous mood was reminiscent of the Black Stars having won a World Cup. It was a free-for-all carnival and jamboree attended by Tamale residents of all ages and social class.
Fancy Gadam is undoubtedly a celebrated hero in Tamale and his fans proved this beyond all doubt on Monday when he arrived with his victory plaque from Accra.
The newly-crowned best new artiste opened up to NEWS-ONE in an exclusive interview in Accra just before he left for the airport to join his flight to Tamale:
Fancy, congratulations.
Thank you boss.
Were you really expecting to win that category?
Yes sir. I was full of positivity and high hopes I would win. I have worked hard, I believe in Allah’s blessings and I really went out there to campaign for votes from my fans and I dedicate the award to them. My fans actually voted for me. It was a competition and if I had not won, I still would have taken it cool. But I thank God I won.
What was your campaign strategy?
You see, my category had about seven nominees. Nii Funny, Article Wan, Ebony, Medical, Feli Nuna are all based in Accra with a core of their voters down south. I am based in the up north with by fan base mainly in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. My competitors down south are most likely to split their votes. By the grace of God, I have a massive support and loyal fan base up north so I was sure if I solidify my northern fan base, I would win.
Mind you, I also have some support in the south else, I could not have filled the National Theatre when I hosted my own show there last year.
Why have you limited your focus to the Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions?
I have not limited myself. It just so happen that is where I stay. I stay in the Northern Region and it is difficult for gain recognition in Accra when you are staying up north.
Fancy, Accra recognises Wiyalaa, Ayisoba, Sherifa, all from up north.
Sir, the difference is that the names you have mentioned are from up north but they stay and work in the south. In my case, I was born in Tamale and I still stay and work in Tamale. You see, I am a pure Zongo boy based in the Northern Region, so penetrating the Accra market would be more challenging than someone based in Accra. You understand?
My team and I decided that we should solidify our support base and conquer where we come from before we start to look at new markets. I believe God has blessed our hard work so far and we have been successful in the north, so we would not start to expand our territory gradually towards the south and other parts of the country. You understand?
Your songs are not on mainstream radio and television. How does that make you feel?
Not good at all. It does not make me feel good. I feel we are all musicians from Ghana and we deserve some airplay but to focus on few acts by playing their songs on radio and leave the rest of us is not good enough.
I have heard some say the radio stations do not play my songs because they do not understand the language. That is not an excuse because music should not have a language barrier. You should just go by the rhythm and the melody and not the language. You understand? Sometimes, I hear on Ghanaian radio stations, songs from other parts of Africa and the language they sing in is not understood by anyone in Ghana, yet we play their songs.
Do you actually make an effort to get your songs on radio or you are just laid back and expecting the stations to play your songs?
Hahahaha. Sir, I do my best to push my songs on all platforms. Some people have just decided not to play because they feel I am not there yet. I agree I have not sent my CD to every single station in Ghana but I have sent to some who still have not played. But I am working hard to get that recognition so that the radio stations would have no choice but to recognise my works. Brand recognition is my focus now and one of the reasons we did the National Theatre show.
Fancy, even with that show, I do not see why you used your local dialect to communicate through out. It made it difficult for many of us to understand what was happening.
You are right sir, we are still learning and we have taken note of that.
Have you done some collaboration?
Yes, several collaborations. I have collaborations with some of the big boys like Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Mzvee and I also have one with Rudebwoy Ranking. All are recorded and ready to be released. Just wait and see.
What is it about you that makes the north support you this way?
It is Allah’s blessings. And I am grateful to my fans. It has been a five-year journey and has not been an easy journey. I have played many shows all over the north and even sometimes travelled to Accra just to build fans by playing shows for people. God’s blessings have met hard work. You understand?
I also believe my fans are the best and I show them a lot of respect and love everywhere I go. I have been there for my fans for the last five years. I try to show them I am for them. See, I am very down-to-earth and I always respond to my fans when they need me so we have built some connection. Humility has been very part of my relationship with my fans.
Is it real in-born humility or you are faking it for your brand?
Sir, anyone who knows Fancy Gadam knows my upbringing. I am Ahmed Mujahid Bello. Muhajid means warrior. I have been on the streets with the very people supporting me now and they know me and connect with me. They know I am not faking my attitude and that I am just like one of them.
Tell us about your family and background.
Oh okay. As I said, I am Ahmed Mujahid Bello, born and trained in Hausa Zongo, Tamale. I grew up as a dancer even before I started music. My parents wanted me to focus on school because I was very intelligent and doing well in school. But my passion for music took me away from school when I was in JSS.
My parents did their best to make me get back to school but when they realised I had music on my heart, they started to support me with prayers and advice on how to maintain a good reputation. I am very grateful to my parents and family.
Fancy Gadam, are you dating anyone?
Oh boss. Everyone is dating someone these days.
What does this award mean to you?
It means a lot to me and the entire Northern Region. It is a symbol of recognition, inspiration and reward for hard work. It brings some excitement and the fan base can’t wait to see and have a feel of their award. The award is for the fans and not for Fancy Gadam.
What should we expect from Gadam Nation for the rest of the year?
They should expect a lot of hard work and energetic performances. I also want to do several concerts. I would so do a ‘thank you’ concert in the north, then we move to Kumasi to do our own concert there and I am sure it would be packed because I have fans in Kumasi as well. Then, we come to Accra to do an even bigger concert all this year, insha Allah.
Is there anything you would want to add?
Yes. I am hungry and passionate to succeed as a big musician from Ghana to the world, but I need support to do that. I can’t do that without the support from the Ghanaian media. That is one critical support I really need to grow bigger than I am now and it is my prayer that the Ghanaian media and music fraternity would support me and my fans to make everyone happy and proud.
It has been great talking to you.
Thank you also for the opportunity.
By Halifax Ansah-Addo