Disability Does Not Make You Useless

Nigerian Steve wonder “Godspower
Ikharehon  a.k.a BOJ “ who won the SOO
Live The Dream Project sponsored by  Hon.
Sergius Ogun took time to speak with Madamaproko, about his disability
and how he has been coping…
 

How do
you get inspirations to write your music?
I love singing so much. I do listen to gospel music a lot; I enjoy gospel
artistes like Sinach, Frank Edwards and they inspire me a lot.

How old
are you and how was growing up?
I am 18 years old and I grew up in a family
that was very religious.

What
inspire you to start singing?

Whenever I go to church and listen to people sing I feel very happy. In fact,
inside me I would wish I was the one doing the songs.  There were times I
felt hopeless at such moments especially with my condition. I used to say
people can walk, sing, see and here I am not being able to see; I felt that was
how my life would be wasted but one day I took a decision and made a step to
start singing. That decision helped me to get over self-pity and built my
confidence that music is for me. Since then, I have never looked back and I
must say that immediately I took that first step, God took it up from there.

Did you
ever think you would be the winner in that talent-hunt?
While I was at home I usually believed that
I would win but when the auditions started and I started hearing some of the
contestants sing, I was afraid that I had lost it all.
My condition helped me to be serious in the
sense that when I hear the performances of the other contestants, I would be
spurred to work harder. The fact that I don’t see their faces is an advantage
to me and I worked hard.

If you had not been declared the winner of the
show would have felt indifferent?
I will feel bad but will also be happy for the
winner.

One
artistes in Nigeria, Cobhams Asuquo, is also visually impaired but have made a
name for himself in the Nigeria and African music scene, does he inspired you?
I do listen to his music and I love the songs he
produces. I will say he is a role model to me.

Were you born with this condition?
According to my mum, she said that when I was
two years old I had an eye infection but I don’t recall that I have ever seen
anything.

How have
you been coping with your education?
I attend the school of the blind and they
have specialized materials for us, braille and also, there is software we
install in the laptop that makes it the system to be talking, I also have it on
my cell phone so through that means it is easy for us to learn. I am coping
very well with my education.