From the bustling streets of Lagos to the quiet corners of the mission house, every great artist has a story, a journey, and a calling. Jesse King, popularly known as “Buga” in a chat on Channels Television’s Entertainment News talked about his journey from being a church boy to a musical sensation.
Buga’s musical career began in the church’s choir stands, where his father was a clergyman and pianist. His sound, like many other Nigerian artists, transcended the confines of worship to become something more complex, something deeply rooted in identity and culture.
He embraced his distinctive Afrocentric sound by blending traditional rhythms with contemporary influences to create timeless hits through defiance and perseverance. From “Bolanle” to “Buga”, his music became a voice for the streets, a rhythm for the people, and a celebration of the Nigerian spirit.
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Read the full chat below:
Tell us about your journey, how has it been so far?
I started as a church boy you know, my dad is a clergyman, and from the mission house, I got inspired by music. Through the choir and everything else, I felt a connection to music. From there, I began to work on myself.
Somehow, I got to an age where I realized that culturally, I had something inside me that spoke volumes about my roots. From there, I started putting songs together that reflected my culture.
I later met Ahmed Ogunbanwo, who signed me in 2006. Even before then, I had started with jingle, backing up other artists. I gained knowledge in studio production from that experience, and I soon began working on “BUGA,” my own production.
Of course, Buga wasn’t even the first song I recorded. I actually started with “Bolanle (Igbadi Aro),” which was the song that predominated over the rest. “BUGA” was the last track I recorded, but thank God, it blew up everywhere by His grace. From then on, people started calling me “Buga, Buga, Buga”, and that’s how my name became Jesse King Buga.
When it comes to your dream, nothing should stop you. Of course, a lot of people might have said, “Omo baba pastor” and all that, but at the same time, God deposited something inside me that no one could explain.
Standing up for what was most important to me. I never gave in, and I was certain that this was what I wanted to do. Today, I’m still doing it, and I thank God that everything worked out for me.
Considering your background, being a church boy and the son of a clergyman, what was your immediate family’s reaction when you ventured into music?
My brothers and dad both enjoy music, and I actually come from a musical family. In fact, my younger brother is my producer. I’m a producer myself, but he produced “Mr. Wole” and many other songs on my album.
We’re attempting to make music that our own people can relate to and enjoy, while also attempting to make it relevant. My family has been very supportive. My younger brother, my parents—everyone supported me. Although some people initially had doubts about me, now that music makes things clear, I knew it was the right course.
Most of us started with passion, not money or fame. Although the title comes later, I still enjoy doing this. It’s something that’s inside of me.
When you have passion, you don’t think about anything else. You just keep working until you’re ready to share your skills with the world. My main source of inspiration has always been people’s feedback.
When people see me and say, “Ah Buga, we love your song! It blesses our soul”, I feel good. That encourages me to persevere.
Tell us about your album “Mr. Wole,” How have you been able to continue providing highlife music in contrast to the now-famous afrobeats subgenre?
The album chronicles a typical man walking the streets of Lagos. “Mr. Wole” is just a random guy who loves having fun—going to shows, being introduced on stage as “Mr. Wole”, and enjoying life.
At the same time, he’s a family man, having fun with his wife. On the other hand, he’s also a guy with a girlfriend, trying to enjoy Valentine’s Day and all that.
The whole idea is about having fun, connecting emotionally, and making the world a better place to live in.
Nineteen years ago, I produced “Jennifer”. For me, Jennifer was a beautiful damsel, representing the beauty of women. The song was intended to honor the brave women who exist. Jennifer, as a name, carries an aura of inner and outer beauty.
I was honored to be a part of such a beautiful project when Funke Akindele requested the song to be used in her film “Jenifa.” I was reminded of how much can still be done.
Jenifa is a beautiful woman who represents the people, which is the central theme of the film. The movie and the song both celebrate women who hustle, strive, and make a name for themselves.
Today, “Jennifer” is so big. She’s a household name, both as a movie character and as a song.
I’m so proud of Funke Akindele, who is doing amazingly well. We started this journey over a decade ago, and today, “Jenifa” is one of the biggest brands out there.
Listen to the full chat below:  ,
Source: Channels TV
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