Jagaban Ft. Selina Tested – Episode 14

“I knew if I was ever to do this, I would have to hide my face,” says 20-year-old Midas the Jagaban in a low-toned, pensive voice that guides most of our conversation. As she speaks, she picks her words with the intention of not giving away too much, but just enough to leave you with even more questions. Cameras are off on our zoom chat to respect her privacy, which I soon learn is of paramount importance to her now. For a Gen-zer, anonymity is quite an interesting stance to take. We are, after all, at a time when relatability, utter transparency, and vulnerability are the new markers of stardom for young people thanks to social media (cue Lil Nas X). But Midas is selective with the attention she allows and prefers the public eye to rest on her art. One might say that she has so far managed to do a great job at that.

The elusive British-Nigerian artist stepped on the scene last year with music reminiscent of the good ol’ days of blaring speakers and drunken nights out with friends. In a year when we were all confined to our couches, this was a bold move. Her debut EP, Midas Touch, delivered a selection of heavy-hitting anthems peppered with her native Yoruba and Pidgin English from “Party with a Jagaban” — a TikTok Favorite and one of the UK’s biggest Afrobeats songs of 2020 — to the Hollaback Girl Inspired “Wuje”. By the end of the year, she gained enough street cred to be named one of the hottest new stars in the Afrobeats pool. Not stopping there, she is set to headline the 2021 edition of the Homecoming Festival alongside golden boy Rema at the Manchester International Festival in July. It’s safe to say Midas the Jagaban is deep in her zone. “When I’m outside, I don’t feel like much has changed,” she says with a mischievous chuckle, almost thankful for the luxury her masks bring her.

Music has always been a compass of sorts guiding the young artist in the right directions through life. It was how she navigated studying in a predominantly white secondary school and what steered her closer to her Nigerian roots. “Music was an escape.” Through it, “I was able to find a group of people who were similar to me.” She cheerfully recalls those fateful days; the group of friends would bond over the latest hits from Nigerian Afrobeats stars like Wizkid, Davido, and Wande Coal. Freestyling on the school steps during breaks was also a staple. “We were just like playing about. We would write bars and stuff just for bants.” And come 2019, one of such freestyles eventually became the hook for Paigons, the Amapiano tune on her EP starring South Africa’s Sho Madjozi.

Download and enjoy below