An exclusive interview with Jeremiah Abiola Fasipe
Sheffield is preparing to host ABIOLA Live, a multicultural celebration of music, dance, and spoken word. At the heart of the event is its organiser, Jeremiah Abiola Fasipe—a former Sheffield Hallam University Student Union president, polyglot, fashion designer, artist, and philanthropist. In this candid interview, Fasipe speaks about his personal journey, the challenges of organising his first major event, and the dream that drives him forward.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, the event, and your journey into organizing this event?
A: My name is Jeremiah Abiola Fasipe, I was the former student union president for Sheffield Hallam University and president of Jeremiah Abiola Health and Community Development Foundation, a registered charity organisation in Nigeria that’s committed to transforming lives, breaking circle of hardship, and building a stronger community, and an Inspirational Award winner. I’m a polyglot, fashion designer, artist, and musical artist.
Abiola Live in Sheffield is more than just a music event. It’s an event that celebrates diversity and passion for music in Hindi, Igbo, Yoruba, and French. The event incorporates dance and spoken word.
During the course of the event, the work of my charity organisation will be displayed on a screen to show the audience what I have been able to achieve so far and also to request donations to kidney patients through a GoFundMe account. The primary aim of showing the work of the organisation is to strengthen my passion for registering a charity organisation in the UK. I will be performing songs from other artists as well as my own, and there will also be artists and dancers from India.
“As an immigrant, it’s easy to abandon your dream because of bills. But you must be passionate enough to make the sacrifice.”
My journey into organising this multifaceted event is not a bed of roses. It requires a lot of courage, being desperate, and the belief in one’s potential. Being an upcoming artist, I have to face the challenges alone. It’s very difficult to have people that believe in what you want to do. Also, people are busy with their jobs and won’t have time to work with me unless they are paid. The ticket sales for the event is really low due to the fact that it’s my first event.
“Abiola Live in Sheffield” is more than just a music event. It’s a dream to me.”
Q: What keeps you going despite the challenges?
A: Nothing great comes easy. If gold must be gold, it must pass through fire; diamonds are formed under pressure. So it’s a normal thing—no pain, no gain. In order for me to achieve greater dreams, I need to achieve today’s own. They are steps to greater accomplishments.
I have the dream to empower many people with free vocational skills, so when I am going through difficulties, I always remind myself that I need to overcome them to strengthen and shape my personal journey for the bigger dreams.
“If gold must be gold, it must pass through fire; diamonds are formed under pressure.”
Q: What does ABIOLA Live mean to you personally?
A: Abiola Live in Sheffield means more than an event to me. It’s a dream to me.
Why did you choose Sheffield as the host city—does it have a personal or emotional significance for you?
Sheffield is rich in diversity. It’s where I learned Hindi and other languages. I have some level of popularity and fame here as a former student union president and also because of my skills. So it’s expected to organise the event in Sheffield, though I look forward to organising some in other cities.
Q: Who were the key people that supported you on this journey? How has your family, friends, or community reacted to you putting this together?
A: My aunt, cousins, and a few friends are the key people for me. They react positively to it. Though the ticket sales is low, that’s not as important as organising the event.
Q: What should your fans look out for at the event?
My fans should expect a glamorous, spectacular, and memorable event. I love spending money; I have spent a huge amount of money because I want the best.
“My fans should expect a glamorous, spectacular, and memorable event.”
Q: What’s your advice for other people, especially immigrants planning to organize similar events?
Fasipe: They have to be very strong in heart and might. You know it’s very easy to abandon one’s dream as an immigrant because you have loads of bills to pay, and your bills may not wait for you to start building a business from the start. That’s why most people quickly take up shifts so they can pay for their immediate needs and relinquish upon the main dream. They have to be passionate about organising an event because you have to lose money over and over again until the right time. That’s the sacrifice most people won’t want to pay.
