Reggae legend, Ekeleke Elumelu, popularly known as Ras Kimono,
is dead.
The singer reportedly died on Sunday in a Lagos hospital after a
brief illness.
In a recent chat with PUNCH, the reggae star said, he had been a
vegetarian for over 37 years and neither smoked nor drank alcohol.
He said, “I have never smoked and I don’t drink alcohol. I tell
people I have been a vegetarian for 37 years. Even when my friends were having
sex with two girls at the same time in those days, I didn’t join them. I have
never done what these girls and boys call threesome despite being famous and I
am sure there are other people who have never done that too.
“When people attribute recklessness to youthful exuberance, I
get worried because I once passed through that stage too. I believe it is all
about your upbringing. The fact that you are young doesn’t mean you should be
wayward.”
Speaking about his unwillingness to change his music to appeal
to a younger audience, Kimono stated, “I have been playing reggae music for
years and I don’t plan to change my style or dilute it. Those who want to
listen will surely do. The truth is that you can force a horse to the river,
but you can’t force it to drink from it. We still have a lot of youths who know
my value. I don’t believe that all the youths are senseless.
“I believe
two million youths out of five million youths know the difference between good
and bad. If I had changed my style, I would probably not be here talking to
you. I am certain the media would have crucified me that I did it for the love
of money. My brand of music has kept me alive and still makes me relevant.” –
THE PUNCH
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