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ω Story of a pauper who sings his way to his dream
By MUSA JIBRIL
To call Hunpe Abraham Mauton a pauper is not farfetched. A statement by the SS3 student of Government Senior College, Ajara, in Badagry, Lagos State is a clear indication. “I am poor but I hustle. I sometimes stay away from school to join bricklayers to work so I can make some money because we have financial challenges at home,” he says. If his assertion is anything to go by, it is an indication he is familiar with the hard knock life. Being second of an all-male six children of a peasant family, where the father is a tailor and mother a petty trader, one can imagine how rough life can be for the young boy.
In his last year of secondary education, the teenager was old enough to discern that the trajectory of his life leads to no great future, and this son of proletarian parents always wondered if he was ever going to fare any better in life than his tailor father. For Mauton, the future has never looked colourful, not even in his wildest imagination. That was why he always rounded off his private musings with a silent supplication: “God, Please bless my way.”
Who says God doesn’t hear silent prayers. The lad’s life took a positive turnaround in April when 138 schools, under the Lagos Education District 5––comprising Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ojo and Badagry––came together in Festac for a three-day talent show as part of the Lagos at 50 celebration. Against all odds, he clinched the top prize in the hip-hop category with his single track titled (ironically) “Bless My Way.”
As God would have it, Samson Adebiaye, music manager of the famous Peter King Music Workshop was at the event to scout for talents. “Bless My Way” caught his ear and bingo! Mauton earned himself a scholarship to the Peter King academy to learn the rudiment of music for 12 months.
On Wednesday, May 17, 2017, when he was formally presented his scholarship certificate for the 12-month training, students and staff of the institution as well as teaching staff from his school led by the principal, Mr. Olatunde Bolarinwa, applauded Mauton.
“I feel so happy I still can’t believe I have earned this scholarship,” gushes the elated youngster, who adds: “Aside from singing in the church, I do not have any education about music. But I had wanted to be an artiste, a well-known artiste––that has been my dream.”
Mauton’s feat lend credence to the maxim that anything worth doing is worth doing well. The effort he put into the exercise belied his capability as an amateur singer.
“When the talent hunt was announced, I knew I had to raise some money to do a recording. With the little money I realised from bricklaying jobs, I begged everyone I know for some contribution––my father, mother, neighbour, friends. From them, I able to raise N10, 000 in two weeks to go to the studio and record,” he recounts.
The rest, as they say, is history. His two-verse song titled “Bless my way” indeed became a blessing unto him.
Victory, as they say, has a hundred fathers. Even his principal, Olatunji Bolarinwa, declares the development very satisfactory, saying, “it shows that the school is working hard to develop talents of children.”
The boy who lives at Tozunkanme, Ajara, Badagry, shares an insight about his life. “I always have the belief that some day things are going to be okay. Instead of focusing on the challenges I encountered on a daily basis, especially the financial difficulties, I usually use the experience to write songs. Sometimes, I stayed away from school to hustle by joining bricklayers to make money. I knew I need help. But there is no one I could turn to. After thinking about my situation, I usually end it with a prayer to God to bless my way.”
The legendary Peter King who presented the certificate to him, admonished Mauton to strive to “excel like King.”
The youngster affirms his “aim is to move higher, and I want the school to be proud of me at the end of the day.”
So, at Peter King School of Music Workshop, Hunpe Abraham Mauton, will be learning the bolts and nuts of music for the next 12 months. He has high hopes. He hopes to walk in the steps of the academy’s biggest alumni, Asa––as long as God continuously blesses my way, he adds.
