ENTERTAINMENT

“My dad didn’t like me doing music, but ‘Dami Duro’ changed everything” – Davido

Published

7 years ago

January 10, 2018

FAB.NG

How Davido’s family reacted to Osun governor’s comments about their father

As soon as he pads into the smart lobby of a Leeds hotel, 25-year-old Nigerian pop star Davido — wearing Gucci slippers and a merch shirt from his 30 Billion world tour — is accosted by excited staff requesting selfies. One woman tells him: “I listen to your music every day!”

Davido, aka David Adedeji Adeleke, is slightly jet-lagged, but amiable. He’s arrived in Leeds to perform at the 2017 Mobo Awards, where he’ll also receive the Best African Act trophy. This isn’t Davido’s first UK trip; he’s previously packed out club shows here.

He has, however, reached a point where his success across Africa is translating into international recognition. Having signed a major label deal with Sony, his triumphant latest single “Fia” follows “If” and “Fall” (the latter tracks so far amassing 54.7m and 38m views respectively on YouTube). Last month, he won Best African Act at the MTV EMAs, and in early 2018 his 30 Billion tour (which has already covered venues across the US, Spain, Djibouti, Ivory Coast and beyond) hits the UK.

“Funnily enough, this is the first time that I’ve won European awards,” says Davido, in sweetly raspy tones. “I realised that when I really focused on Africa and my culture, that’s when people started recognising me. I travel a lot, but I know the kind of environment I need to be in; I’d rather create the music at home, in Lagos. The travelling distracts me, because there’s so much going on.”

In the western music mainstream, the profile of young African talent is soaring. Of course, Africa’s vital influence on, and cross-pollination with, international music scenes, has been deep-rooted over decades; among countless examples are Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat movement and legendary 1970s Lagos hotspot The Shrine, which drew the likes of Paul McCartney to work in Nigeria.

The 21st century has seen collaborative projects such as Africa Express: launched by British musician Damon Albarn, it has connected artists from Mali, Congo, Senegal, the UK and the US. But recent years have also seen the mainstream focus on “afrobeats”: seemingly a catch-all term, yet very distinct from Fela’s polemical grooves.

Afrobeats sounds are fuelled by youth culture and catchy anthems, their vocals and rhythms laced with electronic effects. Some artists have been Brits reflecting their African heritage: take Fuse ODG, whose 2014 debut TINA (This Is New Africa) merged Ghanaian dance roots with western club production, or fellow Londoner J Hus, whose album Common Sense created a buzz this year. Many others, such as Davido, are Nigerian talents whose success was established well before western attention: D’banj, say, who scored a 2012 hit with “Oliver Twist”, or Wizkid, who raised the roof at London’s Royal Albert Hall in September. Afrobeats has also notably inspired work by international stars including Beyoncé and Drake. Why is it that the western mainstream has now experienced an awakening?

“It’s the internet and social media,” replies Davido, with the assurance of someone who has Nigeria’s biggest Instagram account (5.5m followers). “I’m telling you, Nigerian people have a supportive force, and an amazing energy. Beyoncé and Kanye felt it on their visits, but Nigeria has always been very big on entertainment; when I was little, a big artist would come over to play every Christmas.

“Now the music industry in Nigeria is like a government ministry; it’s worth billions. There are so many artists in Nigeria that you might not have heard of, but trust me, they’re doing well.”

Davido has never played down his own wealthy background; his 2012 debut album was entitled Omo Baba Olowo (Yoruba for “Son of a rich man”). He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a family of Nigerian entrepreneurs, and he returned to the US to study engineering; when Davido went Awol to pursue music instead, his father was decidedly unimpressed — and had him arrested upon his reappearance in Lagos.

“My dad didn’t like me doing music!” laughs Davido. “If he saw my face on a billboard, he’d arrest everybody at that show! But when I made the song ‘Dami Duro’ [2011], it became the biggest track in Africa; it’s saying: ‘I’m the son of a rich man, you can’t stop me, and people love me.’ It now feels good for dad to see that music can take me this far.”

This multilingual pop wave is arguably pan-African, with artists and fans taking inspiration from countries around the continent; it highlights the rich disparity of African cultures — and the limitations of the “afrobeats” tag.

“In Nigeria, we all mix sounds together and collaborate; it’s natural,” says Davido. He prefers to call his own music “afrofusion”, with elements including hip-hop, Ghanaian high life, South African kwaito, and R&B. “It’s been generalised as afrobeats, but I have songs that sound like afropop, afrotrap . . . ”

Source: Financial Times

ENTERTAINMENT

Femi Kuti Urges Nigerians To Stay And Fight For The Country

Published

14 hours ago

October 22, 2024

Reporter

Femi Kuti urges Nigerians to stay and fight for the country | fab.ng

Femi Kuti has expressed his views on the mass emigration trend, which Nigerians popularly call the “japa trend,” and has urged Nigerian youth to fight for a better country.

During the 2024 Celebration Festival, Kuti emphasised that he would not relocate to another country, noting that citizens of other nations had to fight for their own freedom.

He began, “People have asked me, ‘Shey you no go japa?’ japa to where?”

“Let me tell you about Europe; you see Europe and what made it great. Do you think they ran away? No, they fought; Europe fought hundreds of civil wars; dem just dey kill themselves. America had one of the worst civil wars in history, which is why till today Americans still carry guns,” he added, describing the past of some of the nations where Nigerians frequently relocate.

“Japa to where? … Made is a British citizen. Where is he? He is in Nigeria. He cannot be anywhere else. Who born am? Na monkey born am?…”

— Femi Kuti pic.twitter.com/re8PXHLNLP

— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) October 21, 2024

Femi Kuti called on Nigerians to acknowledge their duty to defend and improve their own nation.

“We must understand that we have to stay here and fight for a better country that we love. We did not build the Fela Shrine in Los Angeles or in London; we built it in Africa. Get your senses together because this country depends on you,” the singer continued.

“Made is a British citizen but where is he? He is in Nigeria, and he cannot be anywhere else. What does he want to do there? If they call him for work, he’d go there to play and come back. Who would take over the shrine? I want to retire.”

Check here for more updates.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Uprising: Wives On Strike 3 Boasts Of ₦10 Million In Voucher Sales

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2024

Reporter

Omoni Oboli’s new film, The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, earned ₦10 million in voucher sales just two days after its release. The director made the announcement in a joint post with Nile Entertainment, the film’s distributors.

This rapid success highlights the growing anticipation for Oboli’s work. The Uprising is already drawing attention across the country for its timely themes and engaging plot.

Nile Entertainment expressed excitement over the early sales figures, attributing the film’s success to its strong storyline and Oboli’s established reputation.

“My people, We have sold N10 million on our vouchers alone and counting. This is massive! You made this happen! Because of you, so many people will get to watch THE UPRISING for free!!! Thank you my Besties and everyone for showering The Uprising: Wives on Strike3 film the love that it deserves,” the post said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Omoni Oboli (@omonioboli)

Earlier this month, Nile launched a voucher system to allow cinema lovers to pre-order tickets before the premiere of The Uprising. This move helped build anticipation among fans eager to secure their seats ahead of showtime. As a result, the film’s initial sales surged quickly.

The Uprising is a satire that tells the story of a female local government official. She finds herself caught in a web of turmoil, juggling the challenges of her new authority with the complexities of her personal life. The film presents a powerful narrative, blending humor with important social commentary.

Adding to its appeal, Wives on Strike 3 features an impressive ensemble cast.

Leading the lineup are Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jombo, Omoni Oboli, and Ufuoma McDermott. These celebrated actresses bring depth and energy to their roles.

Hilda Dokubo also joins the cast, further boosting the film’s star power. Additionally, rising stars like Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as KieKie, and May Yul-Edochie deliver standout performances.

Check out more updates here.

ENTERTAINMENT

I Wasn’t Pressured To Become A Lawyer Like My Dad – Falz

Published

4 days ago

October 18, 2024

Reporter

Falz says he wasn't pressured to become a lawyer | fab.ng

Nigerian rapper Falz has clarified that he was not pressured to study law due to his father’s success in the field.

Falz revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo on the “With Chude” podcast that his father, Femi Falana SAN, helped and fought for people who inspired him. This experience motivated him to pursue a legal career, contrary to popular belief.

He said,

“I won’t say it was pressure but when I was super young, it was like, ‘These people have to be something’ because I was already getting that reaction everywhere I went. And if I ever mentioned my name, people would be like, ‘Which Falana? Is it Femi Falana? Oh wow.'”

“Everyone sort of had a story about how my dad came to their aid at some point in time and how he fought for them and was there for them. At that time it was me taking everything in, like, ‘this is something’. So at that point in time, I wasn’t pressured; I aspired to emulate what he was doing,” he added.

This recognition made a deep impact on him, and he decided on his own to study law. Although he pursued a legal education, he practiced law only for a short period.

His decision to enter the field came from personal motivation. Despite his brief time practicing, the experience left its mark. Indeed, it shaped his perspective and contributing to his overall journey.

“I did practice law for a short period of time. Very short, almost two years. I worked at the Ministry of Justice during my youth service, which was like 2012 or so, then in 2013 I was at my father’s firm and 2014 was when things started to pick up for me so I started going out of practice,” he added in between laughter.

See the full interview below: