Flavour, the Nigerian singer, recently reflected on his journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Africa's most celebrated artists. 
During an interview on the In My Opinion podcast, released on Sunday, August 18, Flavour opened up about his early struggles and a pivotal moment that shaped his career. He detailed how he started as a choir conductor and drummer in the church before joining a music band that trained young boys, where he spent 13 years honing his craft.
However, after deciding to leave the band and pursue a solo career, Flavour faced harsh realities. The comfort of the structured musical environment was gone, and he found himself in the streets, hustling for recognition. He explained how difficult life became after stepping out on his own, noting that he was suddenly thrust into a more challenging world where survival meant hustling in various clubs and joints.
"Things started changing when I started seeing some artistes," Flavour recounted. "When I left the band, I went into the streets. That was when the game became hard. All this time, I was in a good place; the music had procedures and all, but now I was in the streets." Despite the hardships, Flavour's determination didn't wane. He described how he became a regular performer at City Centre in Enugu, playing from 8 PM until 3 AM, gradually building a small fan base. His performances were relentless, playing covers of popular songs—up to 5,000 in total—to keep the crowd entertained.
However, Flavour noticed that when bigger artists came to perform, their presence captivated the audience more, even though they performed for much shorter periods. "We play from 8 PM until 3 AM, but then I see these artistes; they play for like 30 minutes, and everybody is happy, clapping for them and hailing them. And I’m wondering, 'what is going on? Are we not the same artistes?'"
One particularly defining moment occurred when P-Square, the now-defunct duo, visited the venue to promote their single "Temptation." Recalling the incident, Flavour shared how he was performing when the manager abruptly asked him to leave the stage. "I was playing, and immediately P-Square came in, the manager said, 'Hello. Off that thing'. I switched off and passed the microphone, went somewhere and sat down."
As P-Square took over the stage, Flavour watched in awe as the fans roared with excitement. The crowd's energy left him stunned as he pondered why their songs received such a passionate response compared to his own performances. "I was like, it’s the same music these people are doing I've been doing with you, and you never shouted like this. I was so cold; I was just watching. When they left, the manager just told me to carry on."
This encounter became a turning point for Flavour. It dawned on him that the difference between him and those more prominent artists wasn't just talent—it was the ability to create something original. While he had been performing covers and playing other people’s music, P-Square had their sound, something they had crafted in the studio and turned into hits.
Flavour realized that to transition from being a "music man" to a true artist, he would need to create his own sound and identity. "Then it started occurring to me that these guys, the difference is that they create their sound, go to the studio, and record. That’s how it’s done. So you are just a music man."
He admitted that the journey toward becoming an artist was not easy. Although he had the skill to sing and play instruments, crafting his unique sound was a different challenge. "So I decided to change from a music man to an artiste, and that was the difficult part of it because I thought it was going to be easy. I could play, I could sing, but to create your own sound, where are you going to start from?"
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