By Chris Ihidero
As providence would have it, my first article for this column a couple of weeks ago was written in celebration of the phenomenal success of new Nigerian music. I refer to that article as being providential because, had I not written that article before this, some people may erroneously conclude that I am an enemy of new Nigerian music. Especially the hip-hop and rap brands.
About two weeks ago, news filtered in that some of the leading lights of new Nigerian music had stormed Oshogbo, Osun State, where the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) was holding its convention and demanded for change of personnel at the helm of affairs, with a new exco in tow. I immediately dismissed the news as one of the many rumours that circulate on Twitter daily. Some hours later, I read Banky W’s post on the Oshogbo trip on his blog and thought ‘Wow, this is interesting…’, but left it as that since I strongly believe that everyone has the right to say whatever he/she likes on his/her blog. A blog, in my view, is as personal as a pocket diary and should be filled with whatever information the owner deems fit.
It was when I read the official press release on the trip that I started getting worried. While I firmly believe that all Nigerian performing musicians have the right to seek to lead PMAN, I wondered out loud if the ‘representatives’ of new Nigerian music were registered, dues-paying members of PMAN. If they were, wasn’t it better (perhaps easier) to have bought forms, sought for support across ranks and stood for office? If that was impossible, could they not have severed their relationships with PMAN, insisted on not being represented by the body in any way? If enough Nigerian performing musicians dissociated themselves from PMAN due to age-long non-performance of the leadership, can PMAN stand?
As I thought through all of this, I felt that something was amiss. Surely, you can’t have too many brighter minds in new Nigerian music than the guys that made the trip. So, how come they didn’t see that this move had failure written all over it ab initio? So I made a few calls and happened upon a startling discovery: Tony Okoroji had a hand in this move. Ah ah! I knew it! Now, Tony Okoroji is an interesting character: he has released all of one album but has had a hand in all the pies of Nigerian music for decades. He is either forming, collapsing or re-forming one association or the other at all times. Give a man his due: he was fantastic as President of PMAN; brought a lot of visibility to the association and held what’s possibly still the best Nigerian Music Awards (the one Patrick Doyle hosted) show ever. He was so ‘good’ that presidents after him looked colourless and PMAN lost its lustre.
So, my question is: do these guys not know of Okoroji and his penchant for power? If you set yourself up as the new generation that is bringing change, what are you doing in bed with a controversial veteran player like Okoroji? Beyond that, do they know that at the moment, Okoroji is tackling Cool FM (yeah, easy target, foreigner, blah blah blah…) and is asking that radio stations in Lagos should pay COSON, his new baby, N15million each for their use of Nigerian music. Cool. But at what point did he consult with new Nigerian artistes on this? When and where did they agree on that figure? What was the sharing formula agreed? How many Nigerian artistes gave COSON the mandate to collect royalties on their behalf?
Let us move beyond the Okoroji distraction and pay a little more attention to the composition and content of the press release, which was signed by my good friend, Bayo Omisore. After initial back-grounding, the 3rd paragraph hits the bull’s eye: “A new, younger and more vibrant exco had been put forward in an attempt to steer PMAN away from its image of perpetual in-fighting and endless legal wrangling which had kept the association in state of rapid decline. The proposed new PMAN leadership was to be headed by eLDee the Don. Ex-officio members included but were not limited to Sound Sultan, MI and Efe Omorogbe.” So, let us all agree that PMAN has been ineffective for too long (truly it has been) and the time has come for a change of direction in its leadership; is this how to go about it? These are the same artistes who have been in the vanguard of advocacy concerning the coming April elections. If you cannot practice democracy in your own constituency, what moral justification do you have to ask same of others?! Beyond this, should it not be worrisome that the composition of this messianic exco is tilted too heavily in favour of the Hip hop, R&B and Rap sectors of new Nigerian music. Is this truly representative of the younger generation? I suspect that there are younger fuji musicians in Mushin, highlife artistes in Enugu and someone who fancies himself as the next Dan Maraya Jos in Kano; is this saviour self-elect exco representative of their realities? Even with the best intentions, this just reeks of a messianic complex.
For me, the most interesting (and possibly most telling) part of the press release is the 5th paragraph: “The presence of the new generation acts was not lost on the delegates to the convention who had the opportunity to rub shoulders and minds with their more popular counterparts. They were also able to exchange contact details so as to record collaborations.” I actually laughed out loud on reading this paragraph. Doesn’t this just smack of infantile arrogance? I mean, really? So, let’s pick the PMAN president, Admiral Dele Abiodun for instance. He must have something like 30 albums to his name. However inadequate his leadership qualities are, he is a legend where Juju music is concerned. So, he must be glad then to be rubbing shoulders with, let’s say, M.I right? Riiiiighhhttt!
Lest my true intentions be lost in whatever may follow, let me state clearly here that I have nothing but love and utmost respect for many of the guys that are involved in this. Like them, I want to see a change in how things are done in PMAN. I have followed the careers of eLDee and Soundsultan for over a decade, sometimes at pretty close quarters. A couple of years ago, towards the end of my time as pioneer editor of MADE Magazine, I interviewed Banky W and M.I; those two interviews were prophetic and are amongst my favourites of all time. I will publish them on this page someday soon. I hold Efe Omorogbe in very high esteem for the work he has done in artiste management; 2face is a shining example. However, in spite of my admiration for them as individuals, I strongly believe that the Oshogbo episode was a wrong move and they should have known better. I believe that their intentions are noble but the process is wrong.
By the way, I hear a new musicians body has been formed to run counter to PMAN…like the Chinese say, may we live in interesting times!
*Ihidero is a Lagos-based writer and Filmmaker.
11 comments
Amen brother! Excellent piece! May we truly live in interesting times! There hasn’t been a thriller this exciting in the entertainment circuit. Before now, politics had the best story plots but right now, our musicians are becoming comical in spite of all our intelligence and noble intentions. It’s heart-breaking that we would be so gullible. Long live the Nigerian music industry.
My point exactly! I’ve always wanted to know the other side of the story after reading at Banky’s blog. Thanks Chris for this write up. Well said.
I can tell you Okoroji’s next move. He will go to court over this article. The move by the ‘new Nigerian music’ front may be fraught with incosistencies and mistakes, but I do not see it as a dumb move. Having put that all-important foot in the door way, they do not need to retrace their steps. What they need to do is hang in right there and have a thorough assessment of the situation before playing their next card. I like to credit these guys with some intelligence. Okoroji may have urged them on to satisfy his selfish intentions, but he may yet have his game plan fall flat on his face.
Nseobong
The first thing that came to mind when i heard about the trip and also read Banky’s thoughts was how were they going to get the leadership? My imagination of the whole thing was so they went to Oshogbo, pleaded and prostrated to the current PMAN leaders and asked that they give them the power? just hand it over like that?…..
No questions, they went with good intentions but not with the right approach. These people are old in the game, they know all the tricks in the book and best believe they don’t want to give their power to the ‘younger generation’ cuz they probably won’t get a say in any PMAN dealings again and i still think most of these older musicians still don’t really understand this whole new Nigerian music so why hand over?
You raised an interesting question “If enough Nigerian performing musicians dissociated themselves from PMAN due to age-long non-performance of the leadership, can PMAN stand?”…….that will be interesting to see and like you said, a new musicians’ body is maybe being formed so fingers crossed…let’s wait and see….And as per the rumors of collaboration, sure as fans and audience, we will be excited to listen, but if they feel that way be a way of letting PMAN hand over leadership….errr there better be a plan B.
I’m Glad people like Chris Ihindero still Exist in Nigeria.You cannot Hoodwink Everybody all the time , and where is Hip-Hop music in all this mix-up ?? God Bless the NetNg
nice piece here!great insight…
I finally got the opportunity to read the press release. I must say that I find this move rather upsetting. First thing that ticks me off in the release is that the people involved regard themselves as “stars” and “celebrities”. I think “instant gratification” via social media has given some of these guys an obscure view about taking action.
Even if the idea was welcome, their action by walking out has created more friction than needed. And where on earth did tony come up with the 15million figure? I feel its necessary to point out that Nigeria has a complex dynamic bigger than the few states our “new artistes” feel they have a hold on.
Other ways could have been taken to achieve a possibly slower but equally successful result without any hint of disrespect or pride.
Interesting write up. Thanks for your constructive criticism.
Short of words.. ,nigerians will forever be nigerians.. U must take all types of music when u talk about PMAN..:hip pop, r&b, dancehall is just a tiny part of music in nigeria. For CUSON or wat ever he calls his new baby, Is a big thief wit no head. He can’t stand for my friends or people I know. Wen he starts to collect money it will become a problem for him to return it and young arts will die.. Same Old fools wit the same Old games
Thank you Chris Ihidero. I like the fact that the new Nigerian artistes are coming together to form an association ‘simply’ because ‘SOMEHOW’ they have been neglected. I strongly believe its not the way forward though. However, i look forward to a music body where the older generation and the new will merge to achieve one objective- moving the music industry forward and not just creating more organizations. One question that lingers in my mind- is the older generation ready to listen to the younger, are they willing to make them a part of the policy making team?
Its critical to order 200naira worth of kuli kuli and “pure water” to enjoy the unfolding scenario.
Nigerians and “short cut” mentality, i always classify “success” without good successors for it meant there was no proper transition, a lot of things may be responsible for this, a sit tight syndrome, forced exit, non support for successor by previous administration etc, PMAN and its unending challenges grieves the heart and makes me wonder if the same syndrome is not manifest in our National politics, gladiators sparring for PMAN’s soul seem to have other motives due to their other interests which are clearly visible, creating a wide divide among the musicians they wish to represent, good leaders tend to force unity of ideals.
As a lover of most genre of music (yet to really take time to appreciate others), i see talents in other climes as voices and faces of reason and best practices seeking the good of all, even when its in conflict with their personal lifestyles.( the burden of responsibilty society places on them).
Nigeria is at a critical place where all players seeking relevance must adopt international best practices, enough of this “it is Nigeria, anything can happen syndrome” we must learn to behave not as a 3rd world Country, the world is watching and our restive and ever hopeful youths must not have their hopes dashed by miscalculations. While the Nigerian constitution (all other association rules and regulation should be guided by its principles) respects our cultural practises to some extent, transition on the basis of “dobale-ing” negates every democratic norm.
Let things be done right