Lawyer | Brand & Comms Strategist | Content Creator
The health pandemic has upended the global economy. No industry has been spared including the live entertainment industry.
There’s also a steady glut of music and content that is being released by the second which has made it challenging for artists and creatives alike to stay relevant.
But Blaqbonez, a Nigerian rapper, seems to understand how to market and thrive in this new normal. I reached out to him to get some insights.
The last week in March and the entire month of April 2020 have been unreal. First, I hope everyone reading this is well and staying safe. It’s unfathomable (probably not for scientists and others who have been giving warnings about the real threat of a global pandemic in the 21st century) how this global pandemic has suppressed life as we know it. My thoughts and prayers remain with everyone who has lost loved ones to COVID-19. Hats off to all the essential and healthcare workers here in Nigeria and around the world who continue to go above and beyond. There are no words. Thank you. Hoping that a vaccine for this virus is found soon.
On Thursday, March 12, I arrived at the spa 45 minutes early to my appointment to avoid getting stuck in traffic due to numerous ongoing road maintenance in Lagos. My interview with Oliver Enwonwu was scheduled for 1:00pm at Omenka Gallery.
By 11:30am I was done with my makeup. I left the mainland with 1 hour and 30 minutes to spare. I put on my GPS in case I needed it and proceeded to the 3rd mainland bridge. But as I kept driving, the GPS kept redirecting me to Ikorodu Road. I found it quite odd and I wanted to ignore it because the 3rd mainland bridge usually had less traffic at this time. Furthermore, Ikorodu Road was one of the roads under maintenance which in tandem had led to absurd gridlock around that area.
Thankfully, I decided to follow the route the GPS recommended. Saved my head! Unknown to me, the traffic on the 3rd mainland bridge was out of this world, not sure if this was due to a major accident or traffic spillover [I only got to know about the traffic when I arrived at Omenka Gallery].
After navigating Ikorodu traffic, narrowly avoiding getting apprehended by some suspicious looking plain clothes men for making a legal turn, I arrived at Omenka Gallery with 5 minutes to spare. My video editor/audio engineer and my video director immediately got out of the car to set up for the interview. 30 minutes later we were ready to go.
When Oliver came down from his office, I apologised profusely but he was kind and pleasant. Apparently some friends who were making their way to the island informed him that there was diabolical traffic on the 3rd mainland bridge.
Sans an issue with the studio light going off for a few seconds and barking dogs interrupting the recording, the interview went well. We talked about politics, art valuation, his famous father, merchandising, and lots more. I am glad I had the opportunity to talk with him. As someone who has a limited knowledge of the art industry, the conversation was insightful and I learned a lot.
You can listen to the interview here on wherever you listen to your podcasts (Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, iHeartRadio).
I will be back with new interviews once I have transitioned to a safer recording schedule.
Be kind and stay safe.
What’s the state of visual arts and artists in Nigeria? What impact does forgery have on an artist’s work? How does art valuation work?
Listen to Folashade Anozie speak with Oliver Enwonwu, a respected visual artist, brand strategist, and art administrator based in Lagos, Nigeria about all these and more.
Folashade Anozie x Dayo AdeneyeOtunba Dayo Adeneye is our 3rd guest of the year. He is a broadcaster, investor, music executive, politician, and entertainment consultant.
Alongside Kenny Ogungbe, Dayo Adeneye was instrumental in transforming the face of radio and TV in Nigeria. He also contributed immense value to the Nigerian music and entertainment industry at large.
Our conversation with him covered his journey into politics, the Grammys, artist and label disputes, and lots more.
Hi,
First off, I hope all is well with you and your family and you are doing your best to stay safe in these trying times like billions of people around the world. Life as we know it has changed and it is quite challenging to comprehend at times. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, all those who have become sick with COVID-19, and all the health professionals and experts all around the world doing their absolute best to end this pandemic.
In adherence with my new year resolution, below is a brief summary of my interview with my 3rd guest of the year, Otunba Dayo Adeneye.
Otunba Adeneye is a music executive, investor, politician, entertainment and hospitality consultant, and motivational speaker. He, alongside Mr Kenny Ogungbe, was instrumental in not only transforming Nigerian radio and TV but also contributing immense value to the Nigerian music and entertainment industry. He is someone that I grew up watching on TV and listening to on radio so interviewing him was one of my 2020 goals.
In late January, I contacted him about the possibility of interviewing him on my podcast. He was initially hesitant to do the interview but an amazing family friend, Mr Juwon Osibanjo, put in a good word for me and he agreed to do the interview. My plan was to conduct the interview the second week in February. But he informed me that he would be travelling to Los Angeles for the Grammys and would be available to speak with me when he returned.
Throughout the first two weeks in February, I felt blue and low. It also didn’t help matters that my birthday was coming up (February 26th). My mother could sense my mood and she kept asking what I would like as a gift and if I would like to go out to eat and celebrate on my birthday. I told her I didn’t want any gifts and I wanted to stay home to work.
A week after Otunba Adeneye returned from Los Angeles, I contacted him and, after confirming with my team, we set a date for Tuesday, February 25th at 1:00pm. I was excited.
The day of the interview, I left home early to get my makeup done so that I could arrive at Otunba Adeneye’s office on time. For reasons best known to me, I ignored my mother’s advice on the best route to take and followed the GPS route. Let’s just say the phrase “Sometimes it’s best to listen to your elders” rang loudly in my ears for the 1 hour and 30 minutes that I was stuck in traffic. Sensibly, the moment that I had seen that Lagos traffic was going to finish me, I called my makeup artist to inform her and apologise for running late. I used my time in traffic to coordinate with my director who had arrived and was setting up at the location. My audio engineer was also on his way to the location. My “smart tush” was the lone ranger who was yet to be on her way.
Eventually, by 12pm my makeup was done. I changed clothes and dashed over to Otunba Adeneye’s office using my Lagos Janet Bond navigation moves (I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice). I arrived at his office at exactly 12.59pm. I apologised profusely and he was courteous and understanding but firm. The interview kicked off at 1.10pm and it was a pleasure talking with him.
When we were done, he took me around and showed me some pictures and awards that he and Mr Kenny Ogungbe had received over the years (a lot of them were surprisingly still in unpacked boxes). It was such a great moment. Once we had all the necessary footage and pictures, I thanked him for his time and we cleared up and left.
The drive home with my team was joyful. The entire day turned out to be a great unexpected birthday present!
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To listen to the interview, visit Audiomack, Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or iHeartRADIO. You can also watch the video version on Youtube. Simply search for ‘thesncpodcast’ [1 word]. You can follow the pod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at the same name -> @thesncpodcast
Ps: My mother did get me a birthday gift after all. She got me a lovely birthday card and a small pink teddy bear. 🙂
Our second episode of the year is with budding singer-songwriter Timilehin Adeniyi, better known as Timzil. Timzil’s genre of music is R&B/Soul and he has been writing professionally for the past 6 years.
Our conversation covered his AMVCA nomination for Best Soundtrack in a movie/series, the need for upcoming artists to pay attention to their mental health, and the Nigerian music producer that he would kill to work with.