The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fame

  • Dalung, Mamman-Daura, Okah-Donli to speak at FAME Conference

    A gender-based Non-Governmental Organisation, FAME Foundation will on Saturday, September 29 hold a conference on human trafficking and social/political emancipation of women.

    In a release issued by organisers of the event themed, ‘Liberate, Educate, Vitalize’, the panelists and speakers will deliberate on ways to reduce or completely eradicate human trafficking, as well as discuss the need for women to continue to make meaningful impact in the socio-political and economic  emancipation of the country without restrictions.

    Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, Minister of Sports & Youths Development, Solomon Dalung and Halima Mamman-Daura, among others dignitaries are expected at the event.

    Founder of FAME Foundation, Ms Aderonke Bello said, “topics for the conference were timely, considering the issues of migration to dangerous parts of the world where women are abused with impunity and little or non-existent human rights.

    “There is a compelling need for women to be better coordinated in order to be better appreciated in the society most especially as the 2019 general elections draw near,” She said.

    Venue of the one-day annual conference is the Cinema Hall, Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Centre, in Abuja.

     

     

  • Nkechi Okocha lies low

    Fame is like a fickle flame, it takes the smallest gust of wind to extinguish. Nkechi Okocha understands this only too well, hence she guards her fame like the eldest son guards his birthright.

    The wife of former Super Eagles captain, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, used to be one of the most sought after ladies on the social scene by virtue of her beauty and her association with one of the country’s living legends. But even while she was the centre of attention, she realised that fame is like breaking news; it captivates everyone for a few hours before they move on to other things.

    Reading the handwriting on the wall, the pretty mother of two promptly withdrew from the social scene and recoiled into her shell.

    She and her husband are one of the most charismatic couples around. But unlike many other celebrity pairings whose private lives are the butt of gossip on social blogs, Nkechi has maintained a low profile lifestyle, keeping her private affairs away from the public.

  • WHY MEN FEAR WOMEN WITH FAME – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS ADETOUN L’AMERICA

    WHY MEN FEAR WOMEN WITH FAME – NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS ADETOUN L’AMERICA

    Lola Faduri is a psychologist and surgical assistant in the United States of America who, for her passion in the make-believe world, decided to pursue a degree in filmmaking at the renowned New York Film Academy. Fondly called Adetoun L’America among her folks, the light skinned lady, who started her acting career in 2001 with the popular Odunfa Caucus, recently produced two films. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, she speaks on her journey in the motion picture world, among other issues.

    TELL us about your new movies?

    I just finished producing two movies. One of them is titled Ayamo meaning ‘Destiny’. It is basically about people who think they cannot succeed or survive in Nigeria without traveling abroad. They do not know the daily struggles of those living there and they think life is smoother on the other side. The irony of it is that people stay here in Nigeria and succeed without having to travel.

    There’s a lot to learn from it but it simply teaches us that wherever you are destined to be, God will locate and prosper you. We do not need to travel abroad before we make it in life. The second movie is titled Ife Odale. It’s a story of betrayal, hurt and greed between couples. It also emphasizes reasons why distance can damage homes and relationship.

    If a spouse relocates abroad and the other spouse is back home, should there be trust? Could such marriages work? Can such marriage stand the test of time? All these answers can be found in the movie Ife Odale.

    One of the challenges producers face is funding. How have you been raising funds for your projects?

    Well, acting and movie making are not the only careers I have. I work in the medical field here in the US and I’m also into buying and selling.

    Moreover, our industry is not as profitable as before but that doesn’t mean we still don’t make money from the movies we produce. Most of my colleagues have other businesses, and we fund our movies ourselves because it’s what we have a passion doing.

    What are the challenges of staying abroad and getting roles in Nigeria?

    It’s hard, to be sincere. It’s a big challenge but if you are determined, things will always work out the way you want. There are lots of actors that are based in US and UK. In fact, Nollywood US produces lots of movies every year. We have an industry here too. I know people who produce here in US without having to travel home.

    My last production, Adetoun L’america was shot here in US. I mean 90 % of it and only few scenes were shot in Nigeria. I’ve featured in a lot of productions here that don’t have a single scene in Nigeria, so it’s not so hard to get roles here. But I personally have to travel to shoot my movies and get roles in Nigeria and I get roles here in US too.

    How true is the perception that most actresses are wayward?

    Well, I don’t know about that. There’s no industry that does not have wayward people as you mentioned, so it’s not only in our industry. It happens everywhere and in every career but just because we are role models, people tend to think there should be perfection in Nollywood, I do not see or know any wayward colleague but if some of them are actually wayward, then it’s very bad.

    People also believe their wayward attitude could be one of the reasons. They get married late and end up divorced?

    Some people marry late for reasons best known to them, not because of waywardness. Actually, there are two sides to it. Some men are reluctant to marrying female actors because of the fame and they think they cannot control them; this could lead to female actors marrying late.

    On the other side most men that eventually marry them for the stardom part and not real love which eventually leads to divorce in no time except the very few God-fearing men. Yes, I could start mentioning happily married female actors that don’t have any problem in their marriages. There is a lot of us.

    You must have been in the business for a while; cell you tell us about it?

    If you have passion for something and you aren’t seeing yourself doing it, it saddens you. Acting has been my passion, so if I know any one that knows someone in the industry, I was always quick to tell them to introduce me. There was this brother I know; he’s a very popular musician in London. His name is Jide Chord. He and Uncle Alade Aromire were very close friends. He introduced me to Alade Aromire in 2002 and he tutored me till 2005 before I relocated.

    Same way I met Uncle Yinka Quadri in 2001 through his brother Waheed Olateju Quadri. He told me he is Yinka Quadri’s brother and I was like you have to take me to see him. That was how I started going to Odunfa. I used to go to LTV 8 to see Uncle Alade Aromire back in 2003 at his Yotomi studio. He knew I was in Odunfa but I took him as a brother and because he was a veteran, I learned a lot from him, I pray his gentle soul continues to rest in peace.

    What is it like combining acting with a medical career?

    Acting is my career and medicine is my job. I have passion for both but acting is my life: Healthcare brings me money, I combine both easily without one affecting the other.

    Do you think you can have a break with you

    staying abroad?

    Yes and I’m not only aiming to become a top shot in Nollywood, I plan to make big movies that will be shot in Los Angeles and I will cast Hollywood actors, I went to NY Film Academy here and most of my colleagues we graduated together have relocated to Los Angeles to start a career.

    We do keep in touch and I plan to make an Afro/American film project soon. I hope to cast both Hollywood and Nollywood actors. Acting for me is not all about the country I was born alone but also about the county I live. I’m aiming higher and with God nothing is impossible.

    What was your reason for joining a caucus?

    Back then, it was necessary to join a caucus. You see, people don’t produce movies then like we do now. Before you can even feature in one movie, you have to really try. It wasn’t coming easy and there were few producers. But now, I do not belong to any caucus. We produce singly, we have marketers and we feature other actors. There are still caucuses and I always and will always represent Odunfa caucus but I don’t belong to any now.

    Are you also of the opinion that joining one is the only way to survive in the Yoruba movie industry?

    No, I don’t believe that the only way to survive is to join a caucus but it’s good to join one especially if you are just coming up as an artist.

    Is Ife Odale your story?

    No, it’s not my story but it’s a true life story of what is happening in our society. It is assumed that producers sometimes tell the story of their life through their works. But if they do, they will let the audience know it’s the true life story. Not every story is true life. There are lots of things happening in our society, and there is a lot to write about.

    Are you one of the actresses who believe marrying a white man makes their career easy to maintain?

    I don’t believe marrying a white man makes life easy abroad; neither does it make a career easy to maintain. Marrying black or white here does not make any difference unless for people marrying the white to get their papers and eventually getting divorced at the end.

    Did you pay those you featured in your new movie, or it is the normal norm of exchange, which is popular in the Yoruba sector?

    I paid them all, although I cannot finish paying them. Can we finish paying each other? No. The works we do is much but the pay is little, we help each other a lot too, may God bless our hustles.

    You also act in English movies too?

    Yes, it started from my church. Half of those English movies are produced By COGA Cathedral, and one of the movies was directed by Doyin Hassan and others by reputable Christian movie directors. I’m a devout Christian and a child of God. I’ve featured in other Nollywood English movies as well.

    What is your take on those who flaunt their charity works on social media?

    It’s good to do charity but not as means of cheap publicity.

  • Wages of fame

    Wages of fame

    THE Okoye twins, Paul and Peter, popularly known as P-Square in the entertainment industry, took the Nigerian music scene by storm in 2003 when they released their debut single, entitled Senorita on the Timbuk2 Music Label.

    From that point, the brothers never looked back as they churned out one hit after another. Soon, P-Square became a household name among music lovers in Nigeria and beyond, making them a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

    Expectedly, their fame grew in leaps and bounds as they became the number one choice on the lips of show organisers in the country. No show was held without the twin brothers being listed on the bill. And soon, business grew, with their mother emerging as the prayer warrior behind the group’s success, while Jude, their elder brother, handled the business interest of the group.

    For the group, unity and family blood seemed to be the watch word. Even with several cases of successful musical groups that have broken up, nobody ever imagined that the brothers would one day discuss the idea of going their separate ways and lending credence to the saying that blood is thicker than water.

    The brothers were so convinced about their unity that, Peter, the half brother of the twins, boasted that it was only their mother that could separate them and went ahead to rhetorically ask if she would allow them to split if she were alive.

    Speaking about how he felt about the various groups that broke up, Peter said: “The best way I can intervene is to keep the group together. Let them watch and learn from us. The day we are going to make up our minds to split, it will be an open decision. May be, when I say I want to retire or Paul says he wants to continue with his career in music. That does not mean that I wouldn’t give him my support. Of course, we are blood brothers. And we always think of where we are coming from. Our parents never had anything. They were not rich people. If Paul says today that we must split, I will only look at him and laugh.”

    Interestingly, Peter’s words have proved very prophetic. However, rather than Paul being the one asking to quit the group as Peter said, it is Peter himself that has asked to quit the multiple award-winning group.

    Signs that all was not well with the group first emerged in November 2013 when Jude, the elder brother of the twins, didn’t show up at Peter’s traditional wedding to his fiancée Lola Omotayo.

    His absence further helped to fuel the rumour which was making the round at the time that other family members were not happy about the union. According to the rumour, the twins’ late mother did not support the relationship.

    But the rumour was quickly denied by the group’s’ publicist, Bayo Adetu, who explained that Jude was missing at the wedding because he was stuck in Ghana. P-Square had performed in Accra, Ghana, at the ‘Glo and Bounce Slide’ tour the night before. Adetu said Jude missed his flight and couldn’t get back to Lagos in time for the ceremony.

    As the crisis raged on, fingers were pointed to Peter’s wife, Lola, as one of the major causes of the problems in the Okoye family. But she distanced herself from the feud, saying that she is not a fighter but a peace lover.

    However, a source, who did not want his name published, told The Nation that trouble started when Peter wanted Jude, their elder brother, to be replaced as the manager. Paul and other members of the family were said to have rebuffed the suggestion, leading to the animosity among the brothers.

    “Many people would want to play Peter’s wife for the problem in the family. But the truth is that the lady has no hand in it. The trouble started after Peter suggested that Jude be replaced as the group’s manager.”

    The crisis became messier early this month when Peter threatened to sue a telecommunication company based in Congo for using his name to promote a musical show that was to feature P-Sqaure. He claimed that he never endorsed the “usage of my name for the concert”.

    Contrary to reports that he could not attend the show because of ill-health, Peter put out a disclaimer, saying that he was not aware of the concert and that he has been misrepresented by his twin brother and former manager. He said he was 101% healthy and would seek legal representation over the matter.

    The disclaimer reads: “This goes out to all my fans in Congo specifically and the entire world in general. My attention has been drawn to a much publicised show, holding today 8th July, 2016 (VIP SHOW) and tomorrow 9th July, 2016, (in Goma) and on the 17th of August in Kinshasa wherein the name P-Square was used maliciously and mischievously to garner patronage and huge fans attendance as against the stage name Rudeboy which is used when my twin brother, Paul, and co-owner of the stage name P-Square performs alone.

    “I never endorsed the usage of my name as the contractual terms presented were not favourable to me, thus I am not part of the show booked by our former manager, Jude, and I wholeheartedly disassociate myself from the unauthorised use of my co-owned stage name (P-Square) and images for promotional and economic reasons without my express written consent or permission.”

    Sadly, despite all the efforts to manage the differences that dogged their relationship, fresh developments continued to show that all was not well with the music stars. This became more evident when Peter was conspicuously missing at Jude’s wedding in July 2014 in Nnewi.

    At that point, there was no need denying the rift any longer and Peter came out with all gun blazing when he explained on his tweeter handle that he cherished attending to his immediate family than going for his brother’s wedding ceremony.

    A series of tweets by Peter between July 18 and 19 read:

    “P’ple talking shit about blood which blood is thicker than the 1 of my children? #mufus — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare) .

    Does ur mum and dad care more about der own siblings more than they care for u? #mufus — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    #mufus talking about family! My number 1 family for now is the 1 I built. And nobody can change dat. #amout Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    Just to remind some #mufus.. PSQUARE is PETER & PAUL… Am sure u knw what that means. #Gnight“Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).

    Prior to the controversy generated by Peter’s absence at Jude’s wedding, it was alleged that he (Peter) and his twin brother, Paul, almost exchanged blows during rehearsal and had to be separated by their band members.

    At the height of the quarrel, Peter moved out of their Squarevile mansion at Omole with his family and moved to Lekki Phase One.  But that, Peter was said to have accused Jude of disrespecting his wife and also working with Paul to restrict him to the dance aspect of their projects.

    And like he had done in the past, Peter once again took to the social media to announce that he had sacked Jude as the manager of the band.

    He said: “Four years ago, I told Jude that he needs to step down as our manager, because I didn’t want to disrespect him as a brother, but this is business, we have to structure it. And Jude said to me that there’s a way I’ll talk to him, and he’ll slap me. So I kept quiet. So, a few hours after, Paul came to me and said if I want Jude to step down it’s not a problem, but it’ll mean that he (Paul) will go solo.

    “The first time word got out about P-Square breaking up, a lot of people called us, senators, governors, and people like that. In fact three of us were once in a private jet to go and see someone who wanted to resolve our issues and we didn’t speak to each other all through the flight. At the end of the day, I swallowed my pride for peace to reign and allowed Jude to remain as our manager.

    “Now listen to this, P-Square featured on songs with J-Martins, Bracket,LKT, 9ice and these 4 songs were done by Paul alone, but guess what, did I appear in the videos? YES. Now hear this, we have other collabos with Kaha, Darey, Ruggedman. I did these songs alone. How come they don’t have videos? Paul refused to appear in the videos. So I told Paul that when next he does collabo alone, he should be in the video alone, because it got a point where artistes began to feel if they do a collabo with Paul, it gets a video but if it’s me it doesn’t get a video. The last collabo we did was with Flavour and I refused to do another one. Even Flavour had to speak all the Igbo he knows to convince me before I agreed to do it. Only for my brother to come and tell me that ‘shey I thought you said you won’t appear in any video that I did the collabo alone? Why did you appear on this one?’. I was sad but I knew another one will come.”

    He followed that up on February 16, 2016, with another post: “Pls who so ever makes any transaction with Northside Entertainment or Jude Okoye on Psquare’s behalf does so at their on risk. #warning  — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    A manager is been employed by the artiste not the other way round. #truthBeTold — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    People change management and you r not different. — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare) February 16, 2016.

    Usher Raymond did it, Beyoncé did it as well. So it’s not new. — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    Peter and Paul has the right to sack the entire management team. Business is Business. #Period  — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare)

    Pls who so ever makes any transaction with Northside Entertainment or Jude Okoye on Psquare’s behalf does so at their on risk. #warning — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).

    However, in an effort to tell the world that the problem was with Jude, and not Paul, Peter wrote: “My bro I will still stand and fight for you because you and I started this journey b4 Jude came onboard as our manager — Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare). In 2013 I told Jude he’s no longer needed as our manager he agreed, only for u to come to me that if he is not our manager then we should split!— Peter Okoye (@PeterPsquare).

    But, Paul, in an emotion – laden post on Instagram, denied Peter’s claim that Jude was at the centre of the crisis in the family. He wrote: *“All you all want is P-Square,…all I want is family, love and care! Social media is the new root of all evil! There’s family before P-Square and there will always be family after P-Square ….Jude was only a scape goat and a victim. The person who has been keeping us together for all these years,..the truth is peter and Paul have issues!

    ‘For the first time I decided to do something outside P-Square, and that is the case study here.

    ‘I have always supported my brother 100% from his personal endorsements to dance with Peter which some re still on my I.g… Now I have just 3 questions….

    ‘Why is it that these things are happening immediately I released muno’s singles under rudeboy Recordz. no.2 .. How come after Jude stopped managing psquare for over a month now, the problem still exist. No.3 why is he in a hurry to go solo and doing solo? It’s very sad, and very heart broken I wish these things never came out to the public at first… Now our fans are divided pls nobody should support any teamPaul sh*t, I don’t need that.. Pls resist from it cos thats evil…and for those of you promoters ,supporting him to be performing psquare’s songs alone on stage, you are only killing us and destroying us the more .

    ‘Dear brother am begging you ,even if you don’t want Jude anymore and you don’t want psquare, u re forever going to be my brother … But I wish the 3 of us could still do these together, bcos its a thing of joy….people love us so much not only because of our good music but seeing brothers doing it together and keeping it together, setting a good example to other families and to our kids. Pls swallow ur pride, forgive and forget, we can still turn these things around….

    ‘If I have said anything or done anything that hurts you. Am very sorry…. And to all our true fans pls pray for us. God bless you all.”

    The twin brothers have since gone solo with Peter announcing a new management for himself on his Instagram page.

    Before making the announcement, Peter came out with a self-promoted single, entitled Look Into My Eyes. He has also changed his stage name to Mr P and has gone ahead to perform and get endorsements for himself.

    Paul has also released his own debut single entitled Call Heaven as a solo artiste.

     

    Famous musical groups that broke up too

    Segun Adewale and Shina Peters

    Two young men, Segun Adewale and Shina Peters, stunned lovers of juju music in the early 80s when they teamed up to form a musical group. The two were members of another group, led by the popular Prince Adekunle, before they decided to come together. But just when their fans were beginning to enjoy them, the team broke apart, with the two going their separate ways.

    Styl Plus – consisting of Shifi Omoefe, Zeal and Tunde

    The group debuted with smash hits like Olufunmi; Runaway; Iya Basira and Imagine Dat. But despite the success and huge potential of the group, the members soon parted ways, with Tunde going ahead to pursue a solo career.

    KCee Presh

    The two young men hit the music scene when they won the maiden edition of Star Quest talent hunt show organised by the Nigerian Breweries Plc. In their debut hit, the duo came out with their hit song, entitled Senge Menge. However, the two decided to go their different ways in 2011.Kcee went on to release smash hit, entitled Limpopo, while Presh released his own debut, entitled Say dem say, featuring Davido.

    Xappeal

    The group, comprising Jazzman Olofin and Lexzy Doo appeared on the scene in 2000. But they soon went their separate ways, with Jazzman Olofin going ahead to release his own single, entitled Raise the roof, while Lexzy Doo dropped Baby Skeske.

    Remedies

    With hit songs like Shakomo and Omoge, Remedies comprising Tony Tetuila; Eedris Abdulkareem and Eddie Remedy were about the best hip-hop group in the early 90s. Their fame grew beyond the shores of Nigeria. But the group split as a result of what was described ‘irreconcilable differences.’

    Maintain

    The group, Maintain, Olu, Tolu and Big Bamo, ruled the Nigerian music scene with hit singles like I catch cold and Nibo la wa gbe lo. But like most things that don’t last forever, the group split in 2005 with Olu going on to release Yahooze, while Big Bamo released Fi jo ko wo je.

    Plantashun Boys

    The story of the growth of hip-hop in Nigeria cannot be complete without the mention of Plantashun Boys. The group led the musical revolution of young Nigerians when it came out with two successful albums, Body and Soul and Sold Out.

    But the group, consisting of 2face .Faze and BlackFace, spilt when they all decided to pursue their individual solo career.

    Kush

    The group, consisting of Lara George, Ty Bello Emem and Dapo, hit the musical scene with their hit single, Stay together. They followed up the success with their debut album, The experience. But they spilt in 2004.

  • ‘I don’t sing for money or fame’

    ‘I don’t sing for money or fame’

    Her early childhood was spent practicing Islam, but Abiola Ibrahim, a gospel musician, is now a born-again Christian. Popularly known as Haybee Rock because of her love for rock songs, the budding gospel artiste tells JOE AGBRO JR. how she got into singing and why she is more concerned about using her music to evangelise

    It’s a genre many people generally associate with noise, drugs and rebellion disposition. But to Abiola Ibrahim, rock music is her preferred mode of praising God. And following Nigerian gospel artistes like Rooftop MCs and Eben, at 23, Haybee Rock, as Ibrahim is popularly known, is an up and coming gospel musician.

    Born in Lagos on November 21, 1991 to a Malian father and a Nigerian mother, Abiola, for the first ten years of her life, practiced Islam. She could not have done otherwise. Though her mother is the first wife, her father, a Muslim versed in Islam, married three other women. And Haybee Rock is the last of three daughters from the union.

    But Abiola’s story could be likened to a twist of fortune. Born with a silver spoon, her circumstances changed when she was about seven years old. Her dad, who worked with NAHCO, lost his job and things became hard for her family. Her dad having four wives and lots of children didn’t help matters.

    “Taking care of us was hard,” Abiola recalled of her dad’s turn of fortune. “He called all of his wives together and informed them of plans to relocate the entire family back to Mali.”

    While the other wives and their children agreed to the plans to relocate to Mali, Abiola and her siblings stayed behind with their mother. In 2002, her dad left for Mali but Abiola and her siblings from her mother stayed behind. Had she gone with her dad, she may never have stepped in a church. And Christian gospel music would probably have been out of the question.

    “It was hard for her (her mother) to leave her family,” she said.

    It was after this period that Abiola started attending church. Her father got to know this through some of his family members that squealed about her new religion.

    “They didn’t know how we were feeding but they had time to see us whenever we were going to church.”

    Being a staunch Moslem, Abiola said her father was angry when he called over the telephone. Her mother stood by the decision to attend church. And for the young Abiola, church was a better place of worship because, instead of being flogged as she remembers enduring while going to the mosque, she got biscuits at the church. In 2006 when her dad came to Lagos, she and her siblings still had not changed their minds. “We stood our ground. We told him, ‘we can’t go to mosque again.’”

    Again, there were plans for her and her remaining siblings to relocate to Mali. But this time around, courtesy of her principal who advised her mum to check out the condition before taking her kids there, it was her mum that went to Mali first. However, after spending a year there, her mother felt her daughters were better off remaining in Nigeria. Though she was excited to be off to Mali then, now she looks back and is thankful she didn’t go.

    Finding Christ

    HER life had always been a bit rocky. Up till 1999, she schooled in Lagos before going to Ilorin to finish primary school. The girls together with their mother spent one year there before relocating back to Lagos for her secondary school education.

    After secondary school, she worked for a year before heading back to study for IJMB at Ilorin. She passed the IJMB, scoring eight points and got admission several into state and private universities but the high fees scared her off. That was the cycle for the four years she spent in Ilorin after passing her IJMB.

    “You know, we’re not financially buoyant like that,” she said of her family.

    To keep her time, she studied fashion designing for one and a half years. It was a consolation for the four years spent in Ilorin. Succour came her way when she got a job as a front desk officer at a Lagos-based hotel. Working three days on and taking three days off, the job afforded her time to practice and money, too, to fund not just her education, but also her music.

    “My plan is to work and gather money and open a shop and be a fashion designer and be able to help my music career through the salary I earn,” says Haybee Rock who is single but in a relationship.

    This year, she got admission to study Mass Communication at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). “I’ve gotten to a stage where I don’t rely on anybody again. They’ve disappointed me a long time. The only person that has been helping so far has been God.”

    Music from the church

    ABIOLA remembers singing by age seven. Her dad was away on a trip to Mali. And Abiola’s mum, having a Christian background, saw nothing wrong in her own younger sister taking Abiola to church.

    “She couldn’t try it if my dad were around because then we were always going to mosques,” she said of her aunt taking her to a Redeemed Church.

    “When I got to the church, I had never opened a bible before.”

    But her participation, opening and reading from bible passages impressed the pastor who enquired about her.

    “My dad stayed long and I started going to church. I joined the children’s choir. From there, they turned me to children’s choir leader.”

    She became teenage choir leader and, later, youth choir leader while she was in Ilorin. Her mother knew her love for singing and prayed for her. Perhaps, music was a sort of balm from the harsh life. She recalls playing and writing 2Face’s songs on his first album in an exercise book. “I would pause the song, write the lyrics and replayed till all the lyrics were written down,” she said.

    However, it was not until 2010 that she started out professionally in music. She met Solo Soft, a Niger State-based video producer in Ilorin. Though Abiola had known she wanted to do music, she didn’t know how to break into the industry. Solo Soft took her to the studio. “He said, ‘it’s time you started doing music professionally.”

    She started writing songs and eventually did three songs but only one, Scream, was uploaded online. That was in September 2010. “Lots of people heard it and they were like, ‘we’ve been expecting this for long. Where have you been hiding and all that?’”

    The compliments egged Abiola on.

    “I felt like this was what I was meant to do.”

    It would take four years before she came out with another gospel rock song, Erupe Ile (Dust of the Earth), in December. On April 1, this year, she came out with No One which has a reggae tinge to it. Abiola places singing rock and reggae as being versatile.

    “I don’t actually care about genre. I actually care about the message I’m passing across. Sometimes I might just sit down and a song in form of R and B will come to me. I start to wonder, is gospel a particular genre? I can do anything. I can do R and B, I can do jazz, I can do hip hop, so far as I am passing a message. I love most genres. In fact, I want to rap.”

    But rock is the genre she’s naturally inclined to. In fact, her name, Haybee Rock, is a play on the first two alphabets  AB  in her name, Abiola, and ‘rock.’

    “I love rock,” she gushes.

    “I listen to so many rock artistes.” But it is Mark Schultz that spawned that love.

    Haybee Rock who loved Celine Dion a lot while growing up even started learning the guitar because of her love for rock but stopped due to time constraints.

    As per the reggae song, it was just providence that turned it so. She got the inspiration for the song and recorded it with her phone. In the studio, she wanted to a do a rock number, but the producer thought reggae. “There is no way the song can be done as rock,” she remembers the producer telling her. The producer got his way.

    Another single, No Shade Of Grey, featuring Abiodun Arogunmaya, was released November 1. It is also a rock song. According to Haybee Rock, the song, which is about taking a stance on how to relate with God,  is to celebrate her birth month.

    “Instead of receiving gifts, why don’t I give people gifts?”

    Since 2010, it’s been a slow but steady rise. Her second single, Erupe Ile, a popular local gospel folklore gets a rebirth with a tinge of gospel. She confesses that her schedule has made her a bit reclusive.

    “I don’t even have friends anymore because they will get angry that I don’t visit them anymore.”

    Going gospel

    MAYBE, that is so for Abiola, because to her, music is really a form of evangelism.

    “If not for God, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.

    “I believe as a Christian, our purpose in life is to reach out to people and let them be aware that God loves them. And that should stick to everybody’s memory.

    “And we can’t all be preachers. Some people actually pass a message by acting. And because I know mine is the ability to sing and it has been there right from my childhood and the only way I can preach out this message is by singing.”

    However, she admits that she likes to be in church. And if she’s bored, the studio is also another choice destination. But Haybee Rock also knows that music will take her beyond churches. And she is ready for it.

    “In fact, very soon, I would be doing a dancehall song that can be played in clubs,” says Haybee Rock, poising to trail Winans Phase 2 whose gospel song, It’s Alright (Send Me), also became a club banger. “It’s going to be gospel too.”

    “Reaching out has been so encouraging. When I released No One, the bloggers accepted the song and said, ‘this song is good.’ And so many people identified with the song and said ‘your song blessed me.’ The song talks about no one being like God.

    “I am not in it for the money or the fame. I am in it because I want to pass a message. And the only way I can do it is by singing.”

    By 2017, should she continue, Haybee Rock would have spent seven years in the music industry. It is also the year she looks at coming out with an album.

    “They say seven is a number of perfection. I don’t just want to release an album. Actually, I’m not interested in just releasing an album. I’m interested in reaching out, for people to know me, to hear my song.”

  • Director to Bayelsa youths: farming can give you fame, money

    The Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Bayelsa, Dr Francis Umokoro, has advised the unemployed youth in the state to embrace agriculture as business.

    Umokoro, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Tuesday, said that farming could give them fame.

    According to him, agricultural development is also good for the nation building and will also boost food production.

    “No nation can survive without agriculture; so, let us encourage food production because our land is highly fertile for all kinds of crops.

    “We have gone round Bayelsa and established that you need no irrigation for any plantation, especially rice because of the swampy nature of the environment.

    “Cassava can survive; beans, yam and vegetable fruits can also survive here in Bayelsa.

    “It worries me each time I pass through highways and see vast of uncultivated land lying fallow and yet our youths are going round in circle without jobs,” the Director stressed.

    Umokoro said that to overcome the threat of unemployment in the country, all hands must be on deck, urging the youth in Bayelsa to develop interest in farming now.

    He said that the Federal Government was committed to building of human capacity in the area of agriculture.

    “The government has been up-and-doing in supplying farm inputs like fertiliser, tractors, seedling among others.

    “Bayelsa has been benefiting from the distribution of this fertiliser which is done on a subsidised rate and distribution is always four bags per hectare.

    “The farmers get them on a subsidised price, which means that the Federal Government pays 25 per cent, the state pay 25 per cent while the farmers pay 50 per cent.

    “So, the government has made it so easy that even the young farmers can invest and survive with farming; they can go for credit loan in banks,” he said.

    The director urged farmers in the state to educate the unemployed youth on the importance of agriculture in order to support farming business in the state and Nigeria at large.

     

  • ‘Comrade’ in Hall of Fame

    Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Prof Femi Oyewo, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS).

    She was inducted last Tuesday at the university auditorium in Sagamu.

    At the event were the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adejimi Adesanya, chairman of NANS Campus Affairs Committee Comrade Oluwafemi Williams, Deputy Senate President of West African Students’ Parliament, Koffi David, president of Pharmacy Students’ Association Nigeria, Comrade Kayode Okeowo and students.

    Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths and Students, Mr Jude Imagwe, in his goodwill message read by Okeowo, described the inductee as a mother of all students.

    Imagwe said: “Prof Oyewo is a mother to all students, who has dedicated herself to the struggle for the democratisation of education in Nigeria. She operates on a creed that, the academic is the only tool to eliminate prevalent ignorance, poverty and disease in the country.”

    In her acceptance speech, said she was a Kegite in her undergraduate days at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife. She urged the government to make education a right of every child and not a privilege.

    Prof Oyewo said: “The youth are the leaders of tomorrow and a leader who does not provide quality education for the people that will lead after him is a failure. I have always believed in mentoring students, because I always have interest in students’ activities. I never give up; we need more role models in our education sector.”

    NANS Hall of Fame started during the tenure of Moses Osakede. Anyone who is inducted into the hall automatically becomes a lifetime member and a comrade of the NANS.

  • ‘I don’t seek cheap fame’

    ‘I don’t seek cheap fame’

    Alex Okoroji is a woman of many parts. The daughter of Chief Tony Okoroji, former president, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, shares with ADETUTU AUDU her life as an actress, single motherhood, her failed marriage as well as her wave-making project ‘Alexandra and her naked thoughts’.

    What are you working on currently?

    Oh well, I’ve been working on a number of incredible things recently. I started my blog ALEXANDRA N’ HER NAKED THOUGHTS at www.alexokoroji.net where I share my honest, crazy and unfiltered everyday thoughts. It’s doing very well and transcends geographical borders. It is getting quite a lot of foreign traffic. What it tells me is that, not only do people connect globally with the subjects of love, life, sex, inspiration and reality. They also value my thoughts and style of writing. I also started writing my upcoming book, THE NAKED EXPERIENCE: From Timid Girl to Confident Woman. It’s sort of a memoir romancing a guide book. But it is an interesting read that will make people laugh, cry and reflect on their own lives through my weird, funny and somewhat shocking life experiences. It will be launched and released in March and then accompanied by a book tour. I also birthed my newest project, my online talk radio show on BlogTalkRadio, “THE NAKED TALK with ALEX OKOROJI”.  It’s really a candid, unscripted, uncensored interactive live show, where I chronicle the naked truth about real issues and real life experiences with some of the most celebrated guests globally as well as regular folks. It will bridge the gap to promote expression and create a presence of mind. Somewhere in the middle, there are my live video broadcasts on Hang W/, my social work with #4NL. I’m also involved in conceptualising and creating content for a few brands.

     Since you had your baby, you took a break from acting. When are we seeing you back?

    Yes, I did take a break to raise my son. But I’m still an actor. My son is quite a little man now. And so I’m back to working like my life depends on it.  (Actually, my life and his life depend on it). I recently recorded a number of independent films and I’m just waiting for the producers to premiere them. I’m also hoping I can do more quality film projects. But let’s be honest. I’m not about to jump from location to location, audition to audition trying to kiss ass for something I am clearly born to do. Yes, I love hard work and I love to grind hard for my craft, that being said, there’s a limit to what I’m willing to sacrifice at this stage in my life, as a professional seeking creative fulfilment not cheap fame. If I’m invited to a streamlined screen test and casting by reputable producers/directors who are genuinely looking for an all round actor to cast. I’ll be there in all humility before my call time, do my screening, get the hell out and pray for a call back. But we know half the time, it is usually a bunch of jokers (forgive me) wasting time I do not have enough of. Why call for a grand audition when you are looking for just one character to add to your list of table casts? Or call for serious actors when all you want are extras? (And oh, I do believe no role is too small for a good actor). It’s just the manner in which people try to take advantage of one’s hunger to work. If you are going to offer a new actor a tiny part for a tiny sum, you might as well respect them as human beings and don’t keep them in the sun or allow them to spend 5 thousand for a 10 thousand job (just assuming) I see a lot of fresh actors suffer. It is outright foolishness. Yes, one needs to pay their due, that’s not a reason to be inhumane. I only now want to work with serious film producers, directors and actors who understand not just the technicalities and business, but also the spirit of film making. (If you know what characters you are auditioning for, put it out in the public domain. So the actors can decide if they fit the bill and come in prepared.) Just my naked opinion, anyway.

    Your marriage didn’t work out and if you look at Nollywood today, there are so many failed marriages, from your point of view, what is the problem?

    My point of view is that marriage is crumbling in every faucet of the different industries, sectors, and tribes. People are simply less tolerant and perhaps more incompatible. The truth is that marriage remains an institution that is more complex than our fickle minds can fathom.

    Have you at any point in time regretted that the marriage didn’t work?

    I’ll be honest, the only regret I have is not giving my son the complete family he deserves. I sometimes feel like I failed him in that regard. That being said, he’s not alone. I am his mom and his dad and he has guidance and love from his extended family. Plus, I have God’s grace and his unwavering love. When the right time comes, God will give him a real father that will raise him with love. Anything other than that, I only have lessons.

    What has motherhood changed in you?

    Plenty!!! I simply grew. I probably didn’t change, I just grew up. And I mean that emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. I see life differently and I now embrace my responsibilities whole heartily.

    How are you coping as a single mother?

    It’s not a walk in the park. It’s not like cooking beans but I’m coping. The naked truth is that being a single mom can be challenging, especially if you are a working mom who needs to bring home the bacon. I don’t come home tired from all the work and traffic and expect someone to massage my feet and give me a back rub. I just come reminded that if there’s an ache in my knee or back. I take panadol, check on my son and go to bed.  That’s my reality. But I’m not complaining.

    You mentioned on social media that you were treating depression. What exactly happened, why were you depressed?

    I never said I was treating depression, that’s a clinical diagnosis. I was never diagnosed of depression. What I said was that I took a break because I was dealing with depression. And there are so many ways we get the feeling of depression and several sources too (anger, resentment, fear, guilt, pain, abandonment, conflict etc) and that tend to happen to most first time mothers, especially if they have a job like mine in the spotlight. Let’s be honest, I was the quintessential IT girl in 2009. (I mean almost everyone thought I was somewhat smoking hot for whatever ridiculous reasons best known to them).  So I was a budding working actress, a rising star and then I got married and pregnant and everything changed instantly. I lost my initial appeal. My body, my mood, my marriage and I had a tiny tot I didn’t know what to do with. I wanted to work so badly. I mean on TINSEL, I used to go to work with my big belly until my character, Susan, could no longer be shown and I had to do voiceovers. I love working. So to be stuck in a country where I was relatively unknown, without my support system and the people I was used to seeing day in day out, I sunk low. And delivering my child through a Ceasarean section just didn’t make the transition easy. I was constantly in pain and I didn’t know how to jerk myself back to work. You can say it was a case of post partum depression.

    Let us talk about Alex and her naked thoughts, at what point did you conceive the idea?

    It is pretty strange. I think it was when I moved back from Ghana in 2011. And I was feeling a lot of frustration and I needed to vent/channel my emotions, thoughts and pain somewhere. Unfortunately, seeing a psychologist or shrink to help us deal with the changes in our emotional health, is not a culture here in this part of Africa. So, I became my own hero and started writing to help myself heal and reclaim back my life. So, all those face book notes and BBM broadcast gave birth to the challenge that pushed me to start my blog in January. And now I’m comfortable and at peace with myself. I’m using my thoughts to also influence and help others express themselves.

    You studied Biochemistry but have passion for the arts. Are you not missing your calling?

    Where did you get that from? Missing my calling ke? I’m actually in the exact industry I was called to be from the moment I was formed as a baby. I did a post on my blog a few months ago “How I Miss Those Days….” I wrote about my early creative days from being pink house inter house sport princess, a member of the Atilogu Dance Troupe, The Igbo Cultural, Yoruba Cultural, Drama Club and Press Club in primary school to being Green house cup bearer, Blue house queen, the only junior student in the entire FGGC Akure to be an active performing member of the Music Club, Drama Club and Press Club at the same time. I represented my school in debates and mimed at inter different school events. I wrote short novel series in SS1, never commercially published but read by my school mates and I wrote poetry and songs. I have an archive of 55 unpublished songs solely written by me and I used to be the lead singer of an underground musical girl band “The Alternates”, I performed in a number of school plays. So the way I see it, this didn’t just start today or even at AMBO. It’s not a deviation. It is who I am. I’m the daughter of a musician. So many people forget that Tony Okoroji was actually a “performing” musician. He didn’t only sing or write hit songs, he played musical instruments too, a fantastic song writer and music/show producer. I’m his first child, where do you think I get my creative genes from? Despite his brilliant mind and administrative skills, he is still an artiste and everything he does is coloured by that artistic creativity. Same goes for me. My mom wanted me to be a doctor and I tried to challenge myself in that direction. But guess what, I’m an artiste. And anyone who knows me very well enough will tell you I’m a natural at its finest. It’s not forced. It took me a long time to accept the gifts of my talents and harness them into skills, knowing it’s possible to be gifted at many things and execute them with the same level of excellence and passion. That’s why I’m not in a hurry to compete with all those chasing fame my goals are clearly different. I’m an entertainer with value.

    Did your dad’s life as a musician influence your choice of career in anyway?

    Yes it did. I grew up in a house hold coloured with books and movies. I grew up listening to different genres of music and reading all sorts of great books. I was exposed to having celebrities around the house and going to a number of high profile functions/awards even at a young age. That definitely expands your creative taste, exposes your mind artistically and forms your creative decisions.

    What was growing up like, with a father like him?

    He has always been a very busy man. He wasn’t always around. But whenever he was, we definitely felt his presence.

    Aside acting and blogging, what else puts food on your table?

    My world revolves around the creative industry. I started professional writing by writing screenplays for movies and content for TV. I still do even though it’s quite hectic juggling all my writing gigs. I also do copy writing for brands. I’m a voice talent, so I record and script voiceover and jingles. I’m a television host, used to host three separate TV programmes. I host red carpet events. I started doing lots of public speaking and compering events as a ‘Mistress of Ceremony’ and I’m top of promoting #TheNakedExpression. (It’s really my clamour for honest, sincere expression, so people can be open and embrace who they really are). I produce documentaries and I create concepts and contents for brands, TV and events. I also have a production company FUSCHIA HOUSE that manages all of these. And most recently, I’m involved in the Campaign for New Lagos (#4NL).  Let’s just say I have my table full with work. I’m simply uninterested in courting unnecessary attention. My focus right now is to reap the financial reward for all the hard work I put in everyday and expand my influence.

    What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?

    Someone once asked me that and I said a fan proposed to me. Actually that’s not new, neither is it crazy. I get all sorts of messages on social media, and I’m sure I’m not the only celebrity to get proposals from fans. I used to a write up a series called THE DAILY QUICKIE, it’s not about sex but I use sexual innuendos to inspire people. Yet some mischievous fans have tried sending me nude pictures of their private genitals. I stopped finding it irritating. I just think it’s amusing when people translate my ‘naked thoughts’ so literally.

    What are your greatest achievements?

    My greatest achievement right at the top of the list is my son. No amount of money, awards, accolades or praises can equate to him. I can now follow it up by saying that configuring/designing/creating my blog all myself using just a blackberry mobile phone (Z10) is a major achievement because I had no prior knowledge of web development or designing or Java script coding et al, neither did I understand how the online world works. It has become my home and I am very proud of the two months it took me to figure it all out by myself, albeit many sleepless nights. Google was my best friend. Would you ever believe my entire weblog www.alexokoroji.net was configured by me using a phone?

  • Excitement mounts as FAME draws near

    Excitement mounts as FAME draws near

    FOLLOWING the commencement of the sale of forms a few weeks ago, the organisers of Fashion and Music Entertainment, FAME, have announced that it is already generating excitement among Nigerian youths.

    Bukiie Smart, the producer of the project, said: “We are genuinely enthused by the response F.A.M.E has generated among young Nigerians since we started selling the forms. I didn’t realise that an idea I conceived to change the way things were done in the fashion and music industries, which I am passionate about, will be the catalyst for thousands of young Nigerians who want to be music and fashion stars.”

    Smart, an undergraduate of Accounting and Finance at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, said the entry form  is in two categories: fashion and music.

    According to her, submitted applications will be thoroughly scrutinised and successful applicants will be shortlisted for training and audition, a pre-condition for qualification into the finals of the event.

    “Only the best five in each of the two categories will converge at the grand finale, where the winner of the star prize of N1million for each category will be chosen. Unlike other competitions, all finalists will each receive consolation prizes. Entry forms and registration details are available on the FAME website and is open to anyone in any part of Nigeria and even beyond,” Smart added.

  • ‘My long walk to fame’

    Afro pop singer, Akintoroye Tunde, famously called Tundey fa Tundey, is gradually climbing the ladder of fame in the nation’s music industry. Although his romance with music started about a decade ago, he is ready, more than ever before, to take his career to greater heights. With his last singles Nonye and Dundun, the Ibadan, Oyo State- based singer tells DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI about his inspiration, challenges and more

    PEOPLE refer to you as Tundey fa Tundey. What does it mean?             It simply means good music pulling another good music. Once you hear Tundey coming out with a good song, another good song is automatically following.

    How did you come into music?

    I have been doing music since I was a little boy. I remember that I had been playing sekere and gangan since I was seven years old in the church. I loved music generally when I was young. If you sent me on an errand, you would find out that the only thing I would be doing or remembering would be music. To me, the only thing that keeps me going has always been music. At a point, when I was still young, I loved listening to King Sunny Ade, the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Evangelist Ebenezer Obey. Most especially, I loved listening to King Sunny Ade then. I loved the way people usually came around to watch him perform. Then, my grandma used to call me Alofe, which in Ondo dialect means someone who is always talking or thinking about music. I told my mum when I left secondary school to enrol me in any music school or take me to KSA’s place because I wanted to be part of his band. My mum looked at me that day and smiled. Later, my mum told me emphatically that there was nothing like music. She asked me to proceed to the university.

    So, your mum never supported your career?

    My mum knew I was into music, but she didn’t support me for a long time. It was not until recently that she started believing in what I am doing, having graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.

    Did you drop music totally when you entered the university or you were doing the two side-by-side?

    When I was in the university, I was never serious with my academics; it was always music. Most times, I will be with some bands rehearsing and doing something related to music, while classes were on. But my mum never knew what I was doing; she believed I had forgotten about music. In 2007, I graduated from the university, went for my NYSC the following year and gave my mum what she had always wanted. Since then, I have been giving my all to music.

    Could you tell me briefly about your background?

    I was born in Ibadan, but we moved back to Ondo State, where I had my primary and secondary education. After schooling, I met someone called magic fingers – he is a producer. He introduced me to another producer and that was what brought me to Ibadan. When I graduated from school, I went to Lagos to see if I could get a lucrative job. I did find a job, but I was not too comfortable with it because it was not what I wanted to do. So, magic fingers called me one day and asked me to come to Ibadan. He introduced me to a producer called Sanmi Akinmusere and I did my first song titled Mosaya. After dropping the song, people told me that I didn’t sound Nigerian. The song got massive airplay in Ondo and Osun states at that time. After that single, I stopped doing music because I knew I was not ready to step on the big stage.

    Why did you think you were not ready?

    Then, I was working. Apart from this, I didn’t have the mind set to jump into music like that. I was thinking of settling down, have a good home and be happy. But I realised that after a few years of working, I didn’t find joy in what I was doing, except music. So, I said to myself that I wanted to do the thing that makes me happy, which is music. I resigned from my work place, where I was the head of administration in a school. When I told my boss I was resigning, he was shocked. But he later gave me his blessings. I actually resigned when I had no back-up plan. I was just desperate to do music and I discovered it was the best time for me to move on to another phase of my life.

    So you dropped music totally when you proceeded to the University or you had the two going side by side?

    When I was in school, I was never serious with my academics; it was always music. Most times I will be with some bands rehearsing and doing something related to music while classes were on. But my mum never knew what I was doing; she believes I had forgotten about music. In 2007, I graduated from the university, did my NYSC the following year and gave my mum what she had always wanted. So, after then, I gave all my all to music.

    You are from Ondo State and you schooled at OAU, how did you find your way to Ibadan?

    I was born in Ibadan, but we moved back to Ondo State.I had my primary and secondary education in Ondo State. After my schooling, I have called magic fingers. He’s a producer. He introduced me to another producer and that was what brought me down to Ibadan. When I graduated from school, I went to Lagos to see if I could tie down a lucrative job. I did find a job but I was not feeling fine with the job because it was not what I wanted to do. So Magic Fingers called me one day and asked me to come down to Ibadan and introduced to a producer called Sanmi Akinmusere and I did my first song, which is Mosaya. After dropping the song, people were like you don’t sound Nigerian. The song got massive airplay in Ondo State and Osun State at that time. After that single, I stopped doing music because I knew I was not ready to step on the big stage.

    Why do you think you were not ready, some of your colleagues would have kick off their career from that point, but you left music; what happened?

    Then I was working and secondly, I didn’t have the mindset of jumping into music like that. I was thinking of settling down, have a good home and be happy. I realised that after few years of working, I didn’t find joy in what I was doing except music. So, I said to myself that I want to do that thing that makes me happy, which is music. I resigned from my work place. I was the head of an administrator in a school. When I told my boss I was resigning, he was shocked but he later gave me his blessings. I actually resigned when I had no fall back plan. I was just desperate to do music and I discovered it was the best time for me to move on to another phase of my life.

    You have been signed to Gbera Tinrin Studios for more than a year now, how has it been like?

    When I completed my NYSC, I moved to Lagos and I met a friend, Busta Keys, who happens to be a producer. He has a studio on a street called Allen in Lagos. We were in the studio together and we did a couple of jobs. It was Busta keys that redefined my music. Then I used to sing like a foreigner, but Busta told me to change the dimension.

    So, he produced a single for me entitled Ibadi and the second one, kekule. It was after the release of the second song that my music career took a proper shape and I concluded that I was going to pursue music to the highest level.

    I actually met GTS through Busta when he came to Ibadan to record a song for GTS, a mixed tape called Virus the mix tape. Then I did a song entitled Omo jaiye jaiye, after which I met with the CEO of GTS. He fell in love with my songs and we talked. I realised that everyone on GTS has virtually the same kind of understanding about music; they are serious minded people. I have been with GTS for two years now and I am happy with the way things are currently working out.

    Your career seems to be on a slow track. Don’t you think you should have gone farther than where you are today?

    I don’t see it that way. I am enjoying GTS so much now that I am not even thinking about going anywhere at the moment. I don’t even see myself moving anytime soon. In a job like this, you have to consider many things before you take any drastic decision that could in turn hamper your progress in life. You have to ask yourself if you are happy right now with the people you are working with? What does another label have to offer me that my current is lacking? There is also loyalty.

    You have a contract with your label and you have to honour it, no matter what. I met a record label recently that was ready to take my career to a new level if I sign on it, but I declined the offer because I believe GTS is a project that will work, it is only a matter of time. I can’t just walk away from my contract I have been approached with a juicy offer by some people. The future is bright for GTS and everybody on the label.

    How many songs do you have to your credit?

    I have produced more than hundred songs and I have written over one thousand songs.

    You have written over a thousand songs and you are yet to be well known, what do you think is the problem?

    There is no problem anywhere. I think people need to know the difference between producing a song and pushing it. Right now, we are working on the whole thing. Like Nonye is my last project and it’s everywhere. Nonye is not the kind of song that everybody in the country likes or knows. Few people who have listened to it will tell you it is a nice song. For me, that is a good platform and I won’t lie to you, the next songs coming will touch the people in a positive way. It will give my career a new phase.

    Do you really believe that you have got what it takes to break into the very competitive music industry?

    It is only God that can elevate one. No matter how hard you try, when God says it is not time for you to get to that big stage, you will just continue to work hard. I am very prepared for this. In terms of my lyrics, I will tell you that I have got good lyrics because I take my time to write good songs. Aside that, God gave me a very good voice and I am on a label that is ready to work tirelessly to take your career to a meaningful level.

    People say you sound like 9ice and that your lyrics are not different from what he does, how do you feel about this?

    Yes, I have heard people say it but I don’t believe they are correct. I think people are saying that because I use indigenous language, like 9ice does in his songs. I don’t sound like him, I don’t even have the kind of voice he has and I am not following his trend. I am doing Afro-pop, which is a blend of Yoruba and English and if I want to sing, I do that with my voice.

    I feel I have more command of my expression when I sing in my mother language. I find it easier singing in Yoruba, but I also blend it with English sometimes. Don’t forget I told that I started my music with singing foreign songs. People said I don’t sound like a Nigerian.

    I felt like you need your people to accept you first before you take your music outside the country. Asha sings in Yoruba sometimes. When you sing in deep Yoruba proverbs, people tend to say that you are sounding like somebody or you don’t know how to express yourself in English. When I released a song then, eni leni je, 9ice came out with Gongo Aso and it was widely accepted. The sky is big enough for birds to fly without any disturbance.

    What are you working on now?

    I am working on my new single entitled Dundun (Fried Yam). It is a dancing song that will be released very soon. We have quite a number of projects lined up already and I am sure my fans will appreciate them when we start to unfold them one after another. GTS is a label that has come to stay in Ibadan and very soon, the people of South West would know that we are in the game for real.