Eva D’Diva is an artist you absolutely need to pay attention to.
Born Evaezi Ogoro to Delta Parents in Nigeria, Eva was blessed with a beautiful voice that she would in turn share with the world, someday. At an early age, she took an affinity to music like a fish takes to water, finally earning a spot on the family’s owned gospel band called Emonena Gospellers. Just when she was settling to her new role as an alto singer on the band, in 1997 she was involved in a car accident that destroyed her voicebox, narrowed her trachea and fractured a number of cervical bones in her spinal cord, leaving her unable to speak and paralyzed. Miraculously she recovered and was even more inspired to continue her passion for music and to share her musical talents with many.
By 2006, the musician who earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English released her first single ‘No Cry.’ ‘No Cry’ was a hit and got many around the nation noticing her. Inspired by the response by thousands to her music, Eva set out on a path to conquer Nigeria’s music industry. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. In 2007 and 2008, she received awards from the Nigerian Music Video Awards. Last year, she emerged winner in the category of “Best Female Vocal Performance” at the prestigious Hip-Hop World Awards. The same year, she bagged ‘Best Soul/Neo Soul Act of the Year ‘and ‘Most Promising Act to Watch’ at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
Multi-faceted and talented, Eva also works in radio doing voice-overs and in her spare time, loves to connect with youths. Highly impressive has also been Eva’s determination to contribute to keeping the Jos crisis at the forefront of the minds of Nigerians and the world through her music. To that end, ‘Echoes’ is one of Eva’s newest songs she authored which focuses on highlighting the plight of the people of Jos. Ladybrille Magazine caught up with Eva to narrow our attention to the Jos crisis.
Ladybrillemag.com: Why did you decide to write a song that touches on the Jos Crisis?
Eva: ECHOES was a song originally written for the Niger Delta crisis because I am a Deltan and it was causing me so much pain at the time; and then JOS just seemed to have erupted from nowhere with so much venom and devastation. I read of a medical student who was killed in the crossfire. His body was mutilated. I didn’t know him but I wept. He was a close friend of a dear friend of mine. My friend became filled with hate and bitterness. I could see the pattern. Death will lead to bitterness and hatred and then more deaths. The cycle would never stop. It would go throughout generations. Someone needed to say something. The song thus evolved from the cry of a Deltan to the cry of a Nigerian. I still feel sadness when I listen to the song.
Ladybrillemag.com: Women marched in Jos protesting and crying over the death of their children and husbands. What were your thoughts as you observed that?
Eva: I feel the pain of these widows and mothers. I am based in Lagos but I grieve with them. It is almost as if my loss was as tangible as their’s. In a sense, it is. No one really knows why they are fighting and killing themselves anymore. People are losing their lives and they don’t even know WHY anymore. It’s been so long this madness and brutality has been going on. So people are dying for no good reason. (It’s time to protest and even do more) Since the men have lost their minds, the women should be the voice of reason.
Ladybrillemag.com: I know you are no politician. But, what changes do you think is most needed in Jos right now?
Eva: Hmmmmm. . . That’s a tough one. People say that it will be better if the Christians move out of the state and leave it to the Muslims. But, the truth is that if these barbarians (whoever they are) are not stopped, nothing prevents them from sipping into the Southern and Western states to wreak the same kind of havoc. I really don’t know how to answer the question. Prayer is a part of the solution NOT the whole but a part. Patience and tolerance is another. We need to stop seeing ourselves as tribes or religious demographics but brothers and sisters.
Ladybrillemag.com: How do you believe your music is making a difference within and outside Jos?
Eva: My song speaks to one’s conscience. Music is the only type of influence that needs no permission to take effect. The song also is a consolation kind of song. I have had people tell me how they lost one person or the other and the song has helped them grieve properly. If they didn’t, it probably would have festered into some kind of destructive emotion. The song also has awoken the consciousness of people as to how much the nation needs our attention. You sitting quietly in your pretty, comfortable little home and think you’ve kept the horrors of the world out is not gonna actually stop it from coming to knock on your door one faithful day. Our nation needs us to survive. So, the song is a call to duty as well (to all Nigerian citizens).
Ladybrillemag.com: What next for you as an artist?
Eva: My album “THE CORE OF ME” is in the works and will be out (soon). The album shows the many weird and unexpected sides to Eva. (Laughs) People who have had fixed impressions about me will go mad listening to this album. I promise you. (Laughs) I have some weird collaborations and weird songs in it. I’m very much excited about the project.
Ladybrillemag.com: Best wishes and best of luck with your music and helping change the mindset of many through music.
Eva: Thank you for the opportunity to feature on your magazine. [Y]ou all are doing a great job.
LISTEN TO EVA’S ECHOES
[audio:https://ladybrille.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ECHOES-by-EVA-DDIVA.mp3|titles=ECHOES by EVA D’DIVA]
For more information on Eva, click here.
~Uduak Oduok
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
