Our Reporter
Prince Habeeb Uthman, aka Obama DMW, has informed music fans to expect a hit in 2021 from Ayanfe, the flagship artiste of Obama Music Worldwide (OMW), his record label.
He made this disclosure while unveiling the label’s plan for 2021.
“We have a couple of projects in line for Ayanfe that will be surfacing one after the other. No rush! 2021 is a promising year for all creatives,” he gushed.
Speaking further about the record label, Obama DMW said: “OMW is an affiliate brand of Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) with a mission to uplift up-and-coming artistes, showcase talents and spread African music all over the diaspora. Ayanfe is the first talent signed officially to OMW.”
The artiste, Ayanfe (real name Fashaye Williams Olushola) is a 23-year-old fast-rising singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.
Obama DMW spoke glowingly about his experience working with Davido.
“David and I have been long-time friends. I have had the best experience being his friend, road manager and associate in the music business. My first official role in moving to Nigeria after the passing of my late partner in Vancouver was being Davido’s road manager. This was a learning phase for me in the industry; the role helped my networking,” he said.
He said of the “If” hitmaker: “Davido’s personality is all out there, he has nothing to hide. As a leading entertainer in Nigeria, he has the bubbliest personality and he is very accommodating.”
Epe-born Obama DMW, a proper Lagos boy –born, bred and educated in Lagos, earning a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Lagos State University––made a complete U-turn in his career by studying artist management when he relocated to Canada.
Asked about what inspired his going into showbiz and eventually starting a record label, he said: “I fell in love with entertainment in my pursuit for greener pasture in Canada; I realized how valuable our indigenous Afrobeats sound is, that was where I got the inspiration to co-found Holla At Your Boy Records with my partner, who is now late.”
With the benefit of experience, Obama DMW outlined some of the challenges record label owners encounter in managing musicians.
He said: “What I see as a stumbling block in talent management is lack of patience. Success in the music business is not an overnight event; investing in talent, putting in the work and expecting outcomes require patience. A lot of resources are channelled into the making of a successful artist, all of which will not immediately yield returns. So, an impatient person has the most to lose.”
For role models in showbiz, Obama DMW fingered the likes of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, Ebenezer Obey and Lagbaja. “They all put in hard work and that’s why Afrobeat is it today,” he said.
Asked for his best achievements thus far as a record label owner, he said: “Seeing Ayanfe making baby steps in his career are little wins that I hope to see become a big bang. That’s the path we are on.”
Obama DMW is upbeat about the future. “The next five years will be another level of fulfilment for me in the industry. It is a long shot and I am ascending in each phase per time. Slowly but surely,” he declared.
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