Ghariokwu Lemis’s first claim to fame was being Fela Anikulapo’s musical album sleeve designer.
After an association spanning about five years, he expanded his services to the entire Nigerian music industry, where he designed more than 2,000 album covers for local artistes.
This prolific output earned Ghariokwu the sobriquet, “King of covers”. The slim-built, bantam weight, patently shy multi-talented Lemi is a bundle of talents. Creative, mild-mannered, and, by all standards, a super nice guy, he has taken his skill as a painter around global capitals, where he’s also distinguished.
Lemi, in this interview with Ladi Ayodeji, spoke about his sojourn in Fela’s kingdom, art, musical recordings, and philosophy.
Question: You are a veteran of the music industry. Are you still active in any segment of it?
Answer: As a veteran of the music industry I’m still active in the ancillary services segment of it. As you may know, I have made a career out of designing album covers in the last 47 years.
I have continued in that tradition and my career has gone global. My most recent album cover art was done just last month for an Afro b afrobeat band in South America Chile specifically. The band is called Newen Afrobeats.
Question: What is unique about the industry that you miss now?
Answer: You ask what is unique about the industry that I miss now. Well I mean you know the organic vibes of live band performances, live music. You know the vibe that you get from a live recording also I miss those vinyl record players and album covers.
You know, you get to read the lyrics of the songs and credits of personnel and their role in the recording. It is a pure document you can reference anytime!
Question: You waxed an album yourself. What’s the title, what inspired this, and how well did it do in the market?
Answer: Hey haha I recorded an album and that was way back in 1986. I never got to wax it though, so I wouldn’t know how well it would have done in the market! Lol.
I did record a song with Daniel Wilson Mr ragamuffin. That was in 1992. It was a hit song titled ‘Omolakeji’ It did very well in the market. Guess you like to hear that! I’m most likely to work on some music anytime soon.
Question: You were popular as Fela’s album designer, and later this industry’s graphic artist. How did you get to working with Fela?
Answer: Oh yes I was popular as Fela’s album designer and I’m still very popular even more than ever before as Fela’s primary record sleeve designer.
Now I’m recognized globally as the king of covers because I’ve made a career spanning almost 50 years designing album covers for numerous musicians across the globe. Over 2000 album covers in my kitty!
My path crossed with Fela Kuti in 1974 and my first cover art for Fela was Alagbon Close. My art struck a chord with him and there was no looking back. So that is how I got to work with Fela.
Question: What kind of man was Fela and what do you consider to be his greatest legacy?
Answer: What kind of man is Fela? Wow, that’s a deep question. Uhmm Fela was a very complex man you know. Musical genius, Rebel, Rockster, and Socio-Political activist. His greatest legacy is Afrobeat music.
Question: There was something unique about your Fela artworks, it has this Afrocentric look. What is the thing about this style?
Answer: My fella’s artworks were very unique. They had the Afrocentric look, very true indeed. The thing about my style is that I’m an African a very conscious African at that. So I have to do works that relate and reflect my immediate environment, my culture, my tradition, and my own reality. That is just who I was made to be and I am that I am!
Question: Can Lemi be called a Pan Africanist? Given your lifestyle and etc?
Answer: Oh yes and surely indeed, Lemi as a very conscious African must be seen as a Pan-Africanist with no apologies.
My lifestyle and philosophy continually reflect my strong inalienable belief in Pan-Africanism as the veritable platform for our cultural rebirth and African renaissance.
Question: Of all your album designs which do consider the best for Fela, and the best for the other Artistes?
Answer: Of all my album designs for Fela, it’s very difficult to choose only one I consider the best. I have a dozen of them that I look at the same way.
So applies my cover art to numerous other artists too. Sorry I’ll have to pass on this question.
Question: Now, about your art. What sort of artist are you?
Answer: My Art is very contemporary. I am a Socio-conscious artist. I do not do art for art’s sake. My art has a heartbeat and it’s African in its contemporaneity. I have labeled it as ‘Afro heartbeat
Question: What is your philosophy, generally, because you obviously a kind of non-conformist?
Answer: My philosophy generally is non-conformist. I am easy-going, simple, very humble, and strong in principle. I live my reality in truth and integrity. I can be very uncompromising in my gentle but resolute ways. I don’t follow the crowd of public opinion. Love to walk uncharted territory!
Discussion about this post