In a candid interview that challenges long-standing stereotypes about artistic inspiration, veteran Nigerian highlife legend Bright Chimezie has firmly rejected the widely held belief that substance use enhances musical creativity, calling such notions categorically false.
The 64-year-old creator of the iconic “Because of English”—recently thrust back into the spotlight after being sampled by Afrobeats superstar Davido—made his stance clear during a recent appearance on the CreativTea Podcast, where he dismissed claims that smoking or drinking alcohol can boost artistic output.
Known throughout his four-decade career as “The Duke of African Music” for his pioneering Zigima Sound that blends traditional Nigerian music with Igbo highlife and chanted vocals, Chimezie’s words carry particular weight in an industry where substance use has often been romanticized as a pathway to artistic enlightenment.
“The claim that you need to drink or smoke to get music inspiration is false,” the Abia State-born musician stated emphatically. “If you are drinking or smoking, you are just having fun. That doesn’t mean it will boost your creativity.”
His comments come at a time when the music industry continues to grapple with substance abuse issues, particularly among younger artists who may view such behavior as integral to the creative process. Chimezie’s perspective offers a counternarrative to the oft-perpetuated myth that artistic brilliance requires chemical enhancement.
The timing of his remarks is particularly poignant given his recent resurgence in popular culture. Earlier this year, his classic hit “Because of English” was sampled by Davido in the chart-topping collaboration “With You,” featuring Omah Lay, introducing Chimezie’s music to a new generation of listeners. The original song, which served as a “witty yet incisive social critique” about his experience of being punished in school for speaking Igbo rather than English, has found renewed relevance in contemporary discussions about cultural identity.
For Chimezie, whose career spans from the early 1980s through the present day, musical inspiration flows from a more organic source. According to the veteran artist, true creativity emerges naturally rather than through artificial stimulation, a philosophy that has evidently served him well throughout his enduring career.
His stance adds a seasoned voice to ongoing conversations about creative processes in the entertainment industry, offering younger artists an alternative perspective on how to nurture their artistic gifts without relying on substances that may ultimately prove more hindrance than help.
The CreativTea Podcast appearance represents part of Chimezie’s continued engagement with contemporary music discourse, as the veteran musician remains active in sharing his insights with both established and emerging artists navigating the complex landscape of creative expression in modern Nigeria.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Veteran Nigerian musician Bright Chimezie, whose classic hit “Because of English” was recently sampled by Davido, has debunked the popular myth that smoking or drinking enhances musical creativity.
The 64-year-old highlife legend firmly stated that artists who use substances are “just having fun” rather than boosting their creative abilities, emphasizing that true musical inspiration comes naturally.
