By Adedayo Odulaja
Born in London, England, Maria Okanrende was shuttling between TV reporting gigs when she was asked to audition for a presenter spot at the Beat 99.9 FM in Lagos, Nigeria. She auditioned while on vacation and the rest, as they say, is history.
After studying English Literature at the university, she received her first taste of the media industry when she scored a unique opportunity to intern at Global Radio, home to some of the UK’s most popular radio stations including, Capital FM, Choice FM and Heart FM back in 2009.
Since then, she’s had the pleasure of working with the BBC, MTV and Dropout UK, as well as interviewing a wide range of superstars from Bow Wow, Alexandra Burke, Mary J Blige and Tinie Tempah to Wizkid, D’banj, 2face, Davido and many more.
Maria plays the role of ‘Foye’ on Season 3 of MTV’s Shuga and in this chat with NET, she discusses her career, her love for rap music and the challenges she deals with everyday as an OAP.
You are said to have auditioned for a presenter spot at BEAT FM while on vacation; how seriously have you taken to the job since taking it up?
Very seriously! Ha! I’m enjoying it. It’s been just over 2 years now and I look back and think ‘Oh my! How I’ve grown!’ Doing the Morning Rush, I’ve realised that there’s more to it than just talking and playing music. That’s how easy and cool I thought it was at the beginning. Now my programme director and co-host, Olisa Adibua has given me more control over the programme so I’ve learnt to multitask and balance the show elements while going out live.
I can’t lie though, no matter how serious things get, it’s still a lot of fun and drama. I wake up at 4:30am for a job that allows me to discuss topical issues and entertain people. I feel very honoured!
You have to be on radio from very early in the morning presenting the Morning Rush, what part is seemingly the most difficult for you?
Waking up very early. There are so many awesome perks that come with this job. However, let’s say there’s a product launch or concert taking place on a weekday; you gotta wake up at like 4:30am when the event finishes at around 2am. What do you do? You gotta get over it and bring yourself back home for a little nap after work! Ha ha! Well that’s if you can find the time. I think I’m slowly getting used to waking up that early.
Born in England and moving to Nigeria when you were already an adult, how often do you find yourself comparing the two locations?
I’d been spending time with family here in Lagos practically every December since I was a teenager so I think that provided me with a sort of cushion. I’d probably say the weather, (hot and constant), my immediate family not being around, leaving friends behind and the lack of access to some of my favourite foods makes me miss London quite often. Other than that, I am proud of my culture and our country’s numerous opportunities. My roots began here and that’s something the UK can’t offer me.
What part of being on radio do you consider most enjoyable?
Free stuff! No I’m playing. Ha ha! The opportunity to meet so many different people. Our worlds connect in order to entertain and inform listeners, and without this job, I may not have gotten the chance to meet them. From musicians, charities, entrepreneurs and politicians to the cutest little kids! It makes me really happy! Plus I get the chance to listen to brand new music on a daily basis.
When I was a bit younger, I was (and still am) a huge fan of D’banj and Wande Coal, so when I get to interview them or see them perform – it’s a wonderful feeling!
For Tupac to be your all-time favourite music artiste, you must love rap to a large extent. Do you consider yourself a rap addict?
Haa! No one’s ever asked me that before. I’m not a rap addict! Hip Hop is my favourite genre of music though and music is one of my all time favourite things in the world! The first Christmas presents (from my parents) that I remember receiving included a CD player, a CD single from British girl group All Saints and a Hip Hop compilation album that featured Puff Daddy, Notorious BIG, Mase, Wu Tang Clan etc. Can’t remember the rest.
Ha! I played that CD until I knew the words to all the raps. My dad always brought music around my sister and I, so I think that’s part of the reason I love music/Hip Hop so much.
Tupac is my favourite rapper! Extremely talented, poetic and passionate. I was a Nigerian girl born in London, I hadn’t lived in the places he mentioned or even experienced the things he talked about, however, he was able to make me care through his music. So I’m a super fan! Let me stop talking about him now. I could go on. Ha ha!
