Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s former saxophonist, Rilwan Fagbemi, aka Showboy, has a firm belief that his forthcoming Extended Play album will resonate with music lovers across the world.

In a statement sent to Sunday Scoop, Showboy noted that it was time for him to introduce himself as an artist to the world. He added that he will also be rebrand himself and his music through Sambol Productions Company.

He said, “I am overripe (to become a solo artiste). The people I trained in Fela’s band have created their own bands, but I still stayed because of the promise I made to Fela on the day he was being buried. I said I would stay by his son, Seun, till he was mature to the point of being able to control everything himself; and I have achieved that.

“I stayed there (band) for 27 years after Fela’s death. And, I contributed to his (Seun) development. That’s why two or three of his albums contain my tracks. It is time for me to come out as an artiste. I am doing this now, so as to bring out some things for myself, and some things from my former boss— Fela— who I spent the better part of my life with. I have been around the Kutis for the last 50 years.”

Reflecting on one of the songs on the album, Showboy noted, African Soldiers is a song I wrote that was released by Seun Kuti. But now, I have made a remix which is titled, African Leaders. I had to do a remix to reflect what is happening now. I initially wrote the song during a military regime, but now we have democracy. However, a lot of African leaders are not speaking the truth. They keep deceiving the people. They have also bastardised our culture and tradition.”