Celebrities

‘If we don’t own Afrobeats, we’d later hear it started in UK’ — Baba Dee calls for local tourism

Published

3 weeks ago

September 9, 2022

Baba Dee, the brother to the late singer Sound Sultan, says Afrobeats singers are making what he described as the same mistake the Caribbean did with Reggae.

The movie director and dancehall artiste spoke to TVC about the global expansion of Nigeria’s music industry.

He said creatives are failing to translate Nigeria’s music soft power into value creation within the tourism sector.

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica, an island country situated in the Caribbean sea, in the late 60s.
Over the years, it spread to countries around the world, adopting local instruments and fusing with other genres.

Many pundits often argue that the 70s style of Reggae is dead or declining because it became too commercial and lost its connection with Jamaican audiences.

Dee said Nigeria should work towards building the local tourism arm of its music culture.

The singer also warned that if Nigeria doesn’t make deliberate efforts to own Afrobeats or position it in the global space, “in the next two years, somebody would claim Afrobeats started in London.”

“Nigerian music scene is at its all-time highest. We’re at our peak right now. The only difference is we need to own the music. We’re making a huge mistake, the same mistake the Carribeans made with reggae,” he said.

“We have the best time right now. The world is looking at us. We’re filling up arenas all over the globe. People are screaming Nigerian music. But that doesn’t translate to and help the average person on the streets.

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“Nigerian music is such that everyone wants to know what is going on in Nigeria. I have people who don’t know a thing about the country reaching out and asking such things as what ‘shayo’ in Yoruba means.

“There’s a huge interest in the culture, not just music. How do we profit from it? In tourism, there’s an incentive for anything that attracts people. If we fill up the 20,000-capacity arena overseas, why can’t we get 10,000 in Lagos?

“Visiting the home and the birthplace of Afrobeats. In the next two years, somebody would claim Afrobeats started in London. If we don’t position Afrobeats in the global space, someone will help us do that and change the narrative.”

Dee’s viewpoint on Afrobeats comes a few days after Obi Asika called on music industry stakeholders to work towards building national tours.

A lot of music is created within the Afrobeats genre annually, with new artistes frequently joining the bandwagon.

Nigeria’s critically acclaimed hitmakers are clinching deals with major labels and bagging prestigious awards.

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Celebrities

DJ Cuppy ecstatic as she graduates from Oxford varsity

Published

2 days ago

September 27, 2022

Titilope Ahide

Florence Otedola, the Nigerian disc jockey better known as DJ Cuppy, has announced her graduation from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the entertainer said the result of her thesis was recently released.

Cuppy said although she did not get merit or distinction, she is glad to have passed the thesis.

The DJ also said she is proud to have achieved the feat.

“Got my thesis result, which classifies my MSc degree… I didn’t get a merit or a distinction, but I passed!!! After a tough year, I can officially say I am now a graduate from @UniofOxford. And I am bloody proud of myself… To God be the glory!” she wrote.

The varsity also took to the comment section of her post to congratulate her.

In October 2021, the singer commenced her master’s degree in African Studies at Oxford.

The entertainer had on numerous occasions detailed her struggles with her study at the institution.

In July, she broke down in tears after completing her thesis, adding that she thought of dropping out of school on two occasions.

“Over the last few weeks, I’ve pushed myself so much, both mentally and physically to actually finish this degree. Truthfully, this has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” she had written.

“This paper alone has made me want to drop out of Oxford University twice. I’ve done something only a few can do, and I don’t need to ask for anyone’s respect or flowers – I’ve earned them! People keep asking where the party is?!”

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Celebrities

It’s not about the streams- Grammy CEO gives artistes guidebook to winning a GRAMMY Award

Published

2 days ago

September 27, 2022

Titilope Ahide

Grammy Awards CEO, Harvey Mason Jr, during an exclusive dinner meeting with Ghanaian artists, gave artists the inside scope of how one can win a GRAMMY.

According to the Grammy boss, to win a Grammy, one needs to live in the United States of America and be a part of the GRAMMY Academy.

“In order to win a GRAMMY, first, you’ve got to be part of the Academy and then the membership of the Academy will vote for you.

“If you are a member of the Academy, you’ve got to be a professional in the United States, for now, the United States,” he disclosed.

He also noted that once an artiste makes music and lives in the US, he can now submit his works to the GRAMMY Academy board which is made up of different artists.

When the submission is finished, he referenced that these artists assess their companions and get to pick whose music they like better.

“Right now, if you are a working professional in the United States, you become a member of the Recording Academy, once you are a member of the Recording Academy, all the music is submitted, the members listen to it and you are evaluated on the quality of the art.

“Not the sales, not the streams, not the how many fans, not the how many followers but purely on the opinion, and it’s very hard. As you all know because it’s subjective,” he added.

He, moreover, expressed that artists needn’t bother to be with a recording label or have a huge fanbase, simply their unadulterated ability is sufficient to win them an award with the GRAMMY.

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“So Best Song, Best Record, just the opinion of the membership in that particular year, and that’s how you win a GRAMMY.

“That’s it, the vote is the vote. There’s no committee, there are no journalists, no labels, just music professionals voting for their peers. Period,” he noted.

Present at the dinner were the likes of Efya, Sarkodie, Tems, Edem, MOG Music among many other artists.

Harvey Mason, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Grammy Awards, arrived in Ghana on Monday, September 25, 2022.

As part of his visit, Mr Mason is expected not only to meet industry players like artists, producers, and promoters but to also assess the Ghanaian music space.

The CEO of the Grammy Awards, Harvey Mason, is also expected to be at the GUBA Awards on Thursday.

Celebrities

Maverick City Music ends relationship with Dante Bowe

Published

2 days ago

September 27, 2022

Titilope Ahide

Maverick City Music on Tuesday announced they have ended their relationship with singer Dante Bowe.

In a statement on social media, Maverick said one of the reasons it decided to cut ties with the singer is his behavior which is inconsistent with their values.

“Due to behavior that is inconsistent with our core values and beliefs, we have decided to put a pause on our professional relationship with Dante Bowen,

“Decisions like these are not easy because of the level of nuance, both professionally and personally, but we felt it necessary to address,” read the statement in part.

While it is not yet clear what behaviors exactly had prompted the end of their relationship, Maverick maintained that they would grant him unconditional support as he navigates his path forward.

“Each of us needs God’s grace and our hope is that we all pray and give him the same opportunity to grow in Christ as we give ourselves,” said Maverick.

Bowe has been actively involved in music since 2017 when he released his debut single ‘Potter and Friend’ before going ahead to work on his studio album Son of a Father in March the same year.