Category: Saturday Magazine

Controversy has since been trailing Hon. Chief (Mrs.) Hajia Oluremi Aminat Dangaji since she emerged three months ago as the new president of the music body in Nigeria known as the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN). But the astute society lady and woman of many parts says she is ready to weather the storm come what may. A Yoruba woman with lineage in Edo State, Hajia Aminat Dangaji speaks Ibibio and Igbo languages and is married to a northerner, which also makes her speak Hausa language fluently. Though she is not new to the politics of PMAN having been an executive member of the Lagos State chapter of the organisation, Hajia confesses that she didn’t know that the problem in PMAN is this enormous. However, in recent times, she has emerged as a rallying point of sort for young artistes and even the old ones like Majek Fashek. The truth is that she’s presently being looked at as the messiah that may save the once vibrant organisation and recover it’s lost glory. But how will she combine that with running her numerous businesses which include a motor transport company across the country and a football academy, among others? She spoke to PAUL UKPABIO. Can you describe yourself? I am a restless woman; I live a-woman-of-the-people lifestyle. Once I sit down somewhere and people know that I am there, they just start coming. I work mostly through my management staff. The football academy is there to expose our football talents. My boys travel out regularly for trials home and abroad to get into football clubs. For me, it is not about the money, but I am after the boys’ future.

How did business start for you?

As a young officer’s wife, my husband’s salary was not enough. We were living in Kaduna then; my mom told me not to run to her again for money, that I have a husband and I should go and manage whatever he has. She pursued me; she said I should go and pray for my husband to have more money. I did that, and my husband received one promotion after another, but the money was still not enough. That was when I started a waste-clean-up business. I liked being free. It was that same reason that made me not to go out seeking to be employed. I didn’t want somebody to tie me down. We were living in a decent neighbourhood where the challenge was disposal of waste. I looked for a place to rent wheel barrows for N200 a day. I got boys to do the job and that was it. I personally moved around to publicise it.

I began making money. Soon I was able to buy my own wheelbarrows. From there, I bought land at the Mammy Market and opened a big bar. On week days, I made N30,000 and on weekends, I made N50,000. People used to come to the bar all the way from Abuja and neighbouring towns. When I left that place, I was told that the popularity of the Mammy Market went down. I soon started a travel agency. From there, I started packaging shows for artistes. I found out that it was very easy for me to do this because I am a show person. When we moved to Lagos, the artiste packaging business led me into floating a record label.

How easy is it to marry and live with a man in the military?

Ha, I’m used to it. I am a barrack girl! But on a more serious note, no marriage is easy, there will be up and down; you must quarrel, you must fight with your husband. But more importantly, you have to maintain love and understanding. What we have done is that; when I have issues with my husband, third parties must not come in. Anything I want is what my husband wants. But what he keeps saying is that I should be careful and always watch my back. The world is also full of wicked people. He tells me that I am too free, people easily get my attention because I am too accommodating. If you are my enemy, if you apologise, I forgive you immediately.

Your social life?

Yes, I party but I prefer clubbing to just going to parties. As a record label owner, I go to clubs a lot to listen to music, hear sound and analyse. Artistes invite me over to clubs to listen to their music. They know I know the industry and I know music. The one that I cannot analyse, I call in experts. Now, I know much about sounds. I love being in-doors too. I like the kitchen. Sometimes, I just love being in-doors in the kitchen cooking (laughs).

I can see that you love accessories, they are all over you…

Yes, I love accessories. Right from childhood, I love gold, I wear gold a lot it is an asset. When you are tired of it, you sell it off. I love gold. I use other accessories, I love costumes too, but gold is my favourite.

You once said that left for you, the embassies will close shop because you’ll never ask them for visa. Why did you say that?

I have been travelling overseas since childhood. I have travelled to several countries. I find out that the more I do so, the more I love my country Nigeria. I like Nigerian foods, fresh foods, not frozen things. I enjoy Nigeria, I don’t travel much these days.

What is your other attraction to the music industry?

I love crazy artistes because if you are not crazy, you will not be able to attract the market. I love all the music genres but it needs someone to be crazy to do it, except gospel music. Even gospel music these days are going over board into the crazy realm. It has been modernised, if you don’t have swag, forget it. Swag is now the answer for artistes. Stage performance matters a lot. We have a lady in our stable who is into gospel music. When she gets on stage, wow, she’s a totally different person. So I ask her, but is it not gospel that you are singing? She replies, ‘Mama, it’s gospel music, but you have to swag, even pastors like swagging!’ I have a high life musician called Begitto. When Senator Adolphus Wabara, an ex-Senate President hosted us recently, Begitto caused a musical uproar with his music. The Senator did not know when he jumped up to dance. There is a vacuum in Ibo high life. This guy has come up to close that vacuum.

Your childhood memories?

I used to be a tough girl o. Even when I was beaten at home, I still got round to doing what was on my mind. I was stubborn. It was even better when I wasn’t beaten. I preferred people to talk to me instead of punishment. When my parents discovered that, they changed their tactics. That is what I do now to my children and artistes. I talk. I tell them, ‘You have an image, people are watching you, don’t mess up.’ As a child, I wanted to grow up and be an air-hostess but destiny has its own ways.

Now, let’s talk about your new role as President of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria popularly known as PMAN. Did you at any time in your life have a vision that you would one day head the association?

Of course no. I will start by saying that I am a wife with children. I am the CEO Football Club Dangaji Academy. I also run a company known as Nigerian Model, a recording company known as A-plus, and I am into transportation business and general contracts. I was before now the First Vice in Lagos State chapter for three years. I paid my dues as far as PMAN is concerned. When election commenced and people started buying form, I didn’t give it a thought because as usual, I was busy with other things.

It was Lucky Okri, the younger brother to Mike Okri, that came to me in the office urging me to contest the PMAN Presidency in order that I could save PMAN and set things well. But I asked him, ‘How do I save PMAN?’ I told him that I am not God, that only God can save PMAN. I told him that I had been at the state level but at the national level, I do not know my left from my right. I told him that I didn’t have the interest because the national body is different from that of the state. He was with me for five hours and also calling other people on the phone to convince me to contest for the position.

Was that how you bought the form?

No, that only made me curious. I asked him about the outgoing President, Ras Murphy Van Anthony. His reply was that I should not worry about that. He told me further that he was impressed that I was the first female he knew that owns a record label, the third female that owns a football academy, a woman who holds many titles and awards, that I should be challenged to get into the position because Late Christiana Igbokwe’s legacy still remains proudly, indicating that a woman president works for PMAN. He also said many things to encourage me. Among them was that the problem we are facing in PMAN is the men. He concluded by adding that he would like me to help PMAN.

Those were good words in my ears but I was still skeptical. I told him that the problem of that office is too big for me. It is like when somebody wants to carry a heavy load. He called several people who spoke to me through his phone and urged me to contest. When he left, I called my team at the record company and my manager was angry with Lucky and called him to ask why he was advising me to contest after they had scattered PMAN as an organisation. Did he want me to use my head now to carry the problem? At the end, both of them quarrelled but Lucky kept asking me if I like the way the union is presently. He told me that he would give me two days to think about it.

Four days to the election, former PMAN President, Dele Abiodun, called me. He said that he was with the PMAN lawyer and that they wanted to see me. I didn’t know why, but he insisted that I come over. I drove down there. I met three of them there and they started by saying that I should agree to contest the election. I told them that I would not, that I actually didn’t like people putting me in a tight corner. They knelt down and I had to tell them that I would leave if they didn’t stand up because they are older than me. They told me that they had studied the situation and decided that I was the one that can rescue the organisation at this point because I am so accommodating, tolerant and I have the influence and capacity. Of course, I replied that I would not contest. I was there when Murphy called and they spoke. He too urged me to contest that he knew that I was capable. Finally, I agreed to contest.

So if the outgoing president was in support that you contest, why did the election held in Port Harcourt end up in break down of law and order?

(Laughs) Three days to the election, I bought my form. I spent over N400,000 because I bought forms for other people too. But none of them accepted to take it. From there, we went to Port Harcourt for the election. In Port harcourt, I lodged at the Presidential Hotel, the venue where the election was expected to take place, along with my supporters. However, the outgoing president changed the venue of the election from there to another place. They were changing the venue because they wanted to hold the election without my knowledge. Fortunately for me, I run a transportation business, so I used my buses to take my supporters to Port harcourt and also moved around the city easily. We were searching for them all over the place.

Later, Murphy called me and that was when I told him that he was the one that encouraged me to buy form to contest for the presidency, that he even told me that he was not going to contest for the position. I reminded him that he told me that he would be stepping down. I also accused him that if he wanted to step down, why then was he changing venues? I told him I had been in Port harcourt for days with a large number of people, paying hotel bills for over a 100 people, without any election taking place. I told him to conduct the election so that I can return to Lagos with my supporters. Eventually, we traced where they were. When I saw them, I told them that the election was not a do or die thing. That they should hold the election, if I lose I’ll accept my fate. Finally, election was held. We were given 10 minutes to speak. I told them that as a mother, if they give me a chance to win by voting me in, I would rebrand PMAN. That as a mother, I know what my children want, that I would strap my children on my back with my oja (loin cloth). That if I could get Majek Fashek back on stage, a mission which many had concluded was impossible, then I would do the same for PMAN. That they should give me a chance.

The election then took place. It was an open election which started 1.30am. But in the middle of it, boys from nowhere flooded in to queue behind Murphy. Trouble started when the Borno delegates kicked against the new infiltration of strange faces at the election point. They started to ask for the verification of the new faces, and insisted that the election would be a kangaroo election unless those people were removed. That was how the chaos started. The election ended in disaster. The people told me that he had been disqualified because he brought unknown people to vote for him. They were ready to declare me the winner based on that, but I declined, that it was not a general consensus, that the election had to be repeated. I was angry because it was the same Murphy that encouraged me to buy a form, the same Murphy told me that he was stepping down for me because he wanted to establish in America and because he had seen what I did in the state.

The election was postponed after that. We all left and the election was later fixed for March. The National Executive Council and the state chapters decided on a venue where accommodation for delegates and hall of election venue would be together. Lagos was chosen and the venue was a place in Yaba, the Ordinance Mess, where Lagos PMAN Chapter performs every weekend. On March 20, everyone was on ground and campaign started till the next day when election was held and I emerged the PMAN President. Finally, a woman has been given a chance again.

Now that you are the president, what are your immediate challenges?

I’m sorry to say, the complaint at the election was that the men borrow money to contest election and when they win, they don’t think of other people. For instance, the secretariat of PMAN is presently under lock as there is complaint of a backlog of rent arrears: Workers were not being paid, so we are presently using my office as base. I have called for files and the constitution. We have to sit down as a body and decide on a new secretariat or whether to continue with the former. I didn’t know that PMAN was this ruined. PMAN, to me, has already gone but to the glory of God, I came in. Already The National Executive Council is happy with the few steps that I have taken because I am doing my best to see that PMAN comes back to its past glory and more. Thank God, they are all supporting me.

How do you intend to bring the diverse oriented musicians together again?

I am a mother who backs her children with Gele or Oja. If you come to my house, you will think I run a mini-barrack. The commander is always asking me, ‘do you have a barrack in your house?’ I am a giver, I am a helper. I have a listening ear and I rub mind with my colleagues. I go to the club a lot; I believe in the youths. I contested the election because of the youths, older musicians should give the youths a chance to come in and not discourage them. The youths are complaining that PMAN has too many old men and I reply them that it has to be so because, any place that there is no old man, it’s likely the place will not last. So we should use them as our fathers. All we need to do is to retire them in the long run with benefits to keep them busy. We tell the government to help us empower them.

When we have older musicians who want to retire from music, we should be able to empower them so that they can retire. Not to allow them to become haggard. During my election, they came; some of them could not even see well again, while some couldn’t come. Though my election was tough but it has been the best. People were free to come and vote. People said they have not witnessed that kind of crowd. I travelled round Nigeria to convince them that if Late Christiana Essien could do well, I can do better. I feel bad that I did not meet her alive, but we will be paying a courtesy visit to her husband when I’m settled.

The clamour presently by artistes is for a better lifestyle; one of the issues you will have to face as the PMAN president is COSON, the new collecting body for musicians. Do you think COSON can deliver?

Hmm, Tony Okoroji was once a PMAN President, I want to believe that he knows what is happening in the industry. I am happy with what he is presently doing. Though some people are grumbling that he is collecting much and giving artistes smaller money. Well, I know that it is not easy to even collect the monies in the first place. As a matter of fact, I challenge anybody who feels that it is easy to also try and get money for artistes. So I will urge all musicians to show understanding at this present time because I know that there are a lot among us who, if given the opportunity to collect such monies, will not even give artistes any money at all. They could even collect money and tell artistes to perform free to exhibit talent. I can see that Tony Okoroji understands the younger artistes; he can feel them and knows what they want. People should not eat alone, share round. I have my personal businesses away from PMAN so it’s interest that has brought me here.

Let’s talk about your role in the new Majek Fashek

Yeah, he ought to be here with me for this interview. I thank God, his album is out now. I presently have an office and showroom at Alaba International Market for product sales and the promotion of artistes which is under A-plus Records. We will soon start the Majek Fashek album promotion. His music is now something else, it is a good work. It seems like he came out with annoyance to prove his worth. He was like that person who had been long forgotten but who God has restored once again. The world had denied him because they had concluded that he didn’t have anything to offer again, but God has restored him. Now he is coming out bigger, with a bang.

How did you get him back?

You know I am a muslim, when things go beyond us, we have muslim brothers who come out once a year. They live in seclusion in devotion to God. So that period when he was not okay, on the advice of my in-laws, I brought them down to Lagos from Katsina. Meanwhile before then, I had spent too much money here without result, until I decided on my in-laws’ advice. They came by midnight, did their prayers and left. By 4am, they were already long gone. When they come to you like that, you are told to ask for only one thing. You don’t ask for many things. They prayed for him; we have our Arabic write-ups, they gave it to him which he drank and God heard our voice. He is okay now. If you see him controlling the instruments, you will marvel. God loves him, not my power or that of any person.

Apart from Majek, do you have other artistes in your stable?

Yes, I have them from different parts of Nigeria, young talented people singing different genres of music.

As the president of PMAN, are you musically talented, what music pedigree do you have?

I am musically talented. I sing, I have my songs, not copyright. I sing ‘Alatika hip hop.’ My mom used to sing, so I met it in the family. Though I do not have an album and that is because each time I wanted to do that, something else comes up. Recently, I was almost in the studio, but when Majek Fashek came on board, I had to put it aside again. If I didn’t do that, Majek Fashek would have died by now. I was so involved with his matter that my husband became so annoyed that I did not have time for him and the children. Thank God, he is okay and I have been able to reconcile him back with Rita Majek, his wife. She flew into the country and has now gone back. Rita is Benin, in Nigeria.