Entertainment
International Sponsors Have Not Helped Nigerian Artistes –Report
It is quite obvious that most
of Nigeria’s musicians possess the Midas touch with almost every piece of music translating to pure art, Exponential returns, valid international recognition etc, yet they crave for international collaborations with foreign artistes.
According to a recent report circulating in the social media, it was observed that collaborations with foreign artistes have not done much for the Nigerian artistes over the years.
It is futile to have an American artiste come in on a collabo with his Nigerian counterpart just for the sake of garnishing our artistes’ Wikipedia page and personal websites. It is not enough to have the song in the artiste’s album when he or she cannot command the same respect on international scenes, there will always be the class difference between Nigerian artistes and their American counterparts.
According to the report, it is really painful how our artistes do not even know or appear not to know what they are worth otherwise what does Ice Prince stands to gain in a collabo with a D-List American artist like French Montana.
Ice Prince, the most successful Nigerian rapper’s collabo with Joel Ortiz is another reference point. Though there is nothing wrong in the partnership, but if there is not complete maximisation of these things then if is almost a futile process as it concerns the lunch of his recent album titled “Fire of Zamani”.
It was also pointed out that P-Square’s collabo with Rick Ross did not in any way increase their status or enhance their performance fee nor did 2Face Idibia’s African queen song stop being his biggest hit ever. His collabo with Bridget Kelly on “Let Somebody Love Yore” did not make any impact on his status as an international star, so also are other artistes including Timaya who featured Sean Paul in his song “Bum Bum,” among others. So what exactly do these collabos do with Nigerian artistes?
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”