Baba Sala's Son Speaks With Yemi Olakitan on Music Career

Baba Sala’s Son, B'Sala speaks on Music Career
By Yemi Olakitan

Pop Sensation, B’Sala is the son of legendary comedian and film producer Baba Sala, Moses Olaiya Adejumo, B’Sala is a new sensation in Nigerian Hip Pop scene and he has just released a single his album, titled: Follow Me, which he is presently promoting allover the country. In this interview with Yemi Olakitan he bares his mind on the Nigerian entertainment scene, his father’s legacy and many other interesting issues. Excerpts:
How did the music start?
I have been doing this music for a long time and i have just released a new single titled: ‘‘Follow me,’’ Its been about 10 years that I have been performing music professionally. I started in school but I am trying to exhibit it to everyone now. I was in Osun state College of Technology, in Esa-Oke. I was doing Mathematics’ and Statistics. My friends used to come and see me in my room and then I was always singing for them. While I was in school, I had many friends partly because of my father’s legacy. People were drawn to whatever I say, they laughed even if it wasn’t funny. Many people thought I would go into Drama and not music actually but I have always loved music and I have to do what I love even my father thought I was going into Drama I am good in acting but for now I want to focus on music and then may be later on. I will go into Drama. I do not want to start Drama first because if I do that I will not be able to go into music.
It is not that music is easier. In fact music is harder and much more challenging. You have to create a sound that many people would love to listen to all the time. In Drama, if you can act; most of the works are already done. All you need to do is to pick up your script and get on set. Music on the hand, takes a lot from you. You need to do everything yourself, especially in Nigeria where we do not have proper recording companies. You have to do all aspect of the business yourself.

How about Funding?
People have argued that I should go into Drama first and then branch into music later or do both, side by side but I tell you., it is not that easy. My father started as a musician but he has to abandon music for king sunny Ade. He could not combine it. The moment he realized that he was good in comedy and he was making it, he became distracted; you just have to face one. The argument that I should go into drama and used the money there to fund music is not acceptable to me. One will always find a way to make it. I have a good direction of where I am going. Look at Wasiu Alabi Pasoma. When he started acting, all the Yoruba actors began calling him to come and act in their movies, his fan base in the music scene began to decline. You se, he had to go back and re-focus on his music. Anything that we need to do that is great, require focus and determination and most of the time it is not easy.
• What do you have to say about your father?
I want to say that I am very proud to be his son. He is truly a legend, an icon and he got to the peak of his career. It was not easy for him though. He suffered in the hands of piracy and he almost commit suicide but for the intervention of people like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Olusegun Obasanjo, and many eminent Nigerians who stood by him. It was then, that he released Mosebolatan. That was the movie that consoled him. It was well received despite the fact that Orun Mooru was pirated. I am glad that he was able to survive that era although he sold some choice property to settle the loan that was used to finance that movie. Piracy remained one of the great problems of our nation. We cannot fold our hands and looked and allow it to destroy our entertainment industry. You see, my father took great pains in producing his movies, if you put any of those movie to the cinema today, people would still rush to see them because of the kind of quality and technology that went into the production. He took a huge loan from the bank and piracy dealt with him. Tunde Kelani, in the UK shot the movie.It was a great one. I am happy that he survived that period.
What I admire about my father is his humility. He became so famous and he made money but you cannot see any sign of pride in him because he never allow those things to get into his head. His humility is very profound. We never had any security guard at home when my father was in active entertainment. He is a very simple man because; you never know how rich or how poor he was. He took life simply.
His new album, Follow Me,
The hit song is Hip Pop, It is a very danceable, club and party song. It has some very serious local percussions and it talks about the beauty of Nigerian ladies. We have been working on it for about a month now and now it is out, It is currently enjoying airplay on radio stations across the country. I have a management company in the United States. They saw my single on You tube and they loved it. I released two singles last year and so this is not the first. I also did a collaboration with a group based in the US. I have not been discussing with any Nigerian record label. I am still on the look out. I am looking for a label that loves my work and is passionate about promoting it. Look at Mo Hits records, They do quality music and everything they release is superb because they do their home work well. My father used to say that the next generation would see his movie and that they are evergreen. This is because the movies are well produced and they do not use foul language. Every song cannot be about women. We need to sing songs that add values to the society. I love Michael Jackson because of this. His lyrics are good. They have deep meanings. If you do a song and three or four years after, people cannot relate with it and love it. You did not do a good job. My father said when he wants to shoot his movie, it cam take a whole year and sometimes two. Orun Mooru was shot by a film company in the UK. They used to study the weather before they go to locations in those days. They were experts. I appreciate King Sunny Ade too. I was with him at his home once. He hosted me.I always call him on phone. He accommodated me and he encouraged me.
Message to His fans.

I want to tell my fans that they should watch out for me. Follow me is hot. They should expect more from me. I will not let them down. I want to thank all those who believe in me.

The World Radio Day: How Nigeria should celebrate it, by Yemi Olakitan

The World Radio Day: How Nigeria should celebrate it
By Yemi Olakitan

The World Radio Day February 13th has come and gone, with no significant activities on the part of Nigerian radio broadcasting sector aside from a forum in Abuja and Lagos. The day passed unnoticed by the majority. It is important for all stakeholders in radio broadcasting to come together to assess the state of radio sector in Nigeria and its impacts on the nation. It should be a day for serious sober reflections amongst all and a day to mount pressure on decision makers in Nigeria so that they can take action on important matters that could have far reaching impacts on the nation. Yemi Olakitan examines how the day should be adequately and effectively celebrated every year.

The World Radio Day as adopted by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference, was February 13th of every year. The decision to adopt a World Radio Day was as a result of a request from the Spanish Radio Academy requesting for the declaration of a World Radio Day. The General Conference agreed to set aside February 13th as the day for the celebration of radio broadcasting all over the world. Observers have noted that radio is perhaps the most important source of information in developing nations across the world particularly in Africa. It is so because millions are still uneducated. Many of such Nigerians live in rural communities and cannot afford a television set, access the Internet or read the newspaper. The radio is therefore the cheapest media for most uneducated Nigerians living in remote communities, below the poverty line. Radio as a medium has the capacity to reach rural communities at very low costs in far distances, considering the huge population of Nigeria. Radio would keep the government close to the people and the people close to the government and both can work hand in hand to move the nation and the communities forward together. However, the country has not fully taken advantage of the power of radio as a tool for education, enlightenment, societal emancipation and freedom of expression.
Although a community of stakeholders namely, Nigerian Community Radio Coalition, (NCRC) the Institute for Media and Society, (IMS) Media Rights Agenda, (MRA ) international Press center, (IPC) organized a forum and issued a statement on the subject. However, a more elaborate programme that would create massive media attention and pressure the Federal and State governments on the crucial issues that affects radio broadcasting in Nigeria is necessary. These matters are in need of urgent attention as everyone agrees. A world Radio Day in Nigeria should include a protest march to Aso Rock and the National Assembly, demanding for laws to be passed and actions taken on matters that could move radio broadcasting forward in Nigeria. It should also include nationwide media campaign in all media platforms on the matters that affects radio development in the country, particularly when the above named have issued a statement on these issues. Media stakeholders must compel the government to take action on radio broadcasting in Nigeria through organized pressure on the powers that be. There are various issues of concern in radio broadcasting. One of them is community radio. Since president Goodluck Jonathan gave the approval for the licensing of community Radio in Nigeria and gave powers to the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, not much has been accomplished in that area. Community radio would contribute immensely to the eradication of ignorance in Nigeria and promotes unity, dialogue and peaceful coexistence. These can move the communities forward and the nation as a whole. Another important issue is the digitization of the Nigerian broadcasting, which as at today is still following slow process in the country. Digitization is not limited to television alone but it also extends to radio, the World Radio Day should be used to further pressure the Nigerian government on the urgency of the matter. Nigeria could only enjoy quality and modern broadcasting with digitization of the broadcast sector, despite her huge oil revenue the nation is still far behind in the global drive for the digitization of broadcasting.. No one understands the frog and tortoise pace of the nation’s decision makers on such pertinent issues. Other issues are the transformation of state owned radio to genuine public service institutions instead of mere tools of propaganda in the hands of major political office holders. The NTA is notable for such, as many have labeled the station as a government station. It is on record that NTA represent the interests of the government more than the interest of the people. In a chat with award winning journalist, Chukuma Muanya who spoke on the subject, he praised Radio Nigeria for being objective most of the time. He particularly commended the station for their 7 O’ clock news, which he said he always, listen to. He however said that they need to do more because they sometimes play down on government’s negative sides, particularly NTA. In another chat with Florence Utor, arts Journalist, she opined that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. She prefers to get her news from the private media than the government owned since according to her the government controlled stations are too politicized.
Another important matter is the licensing of private commercial radio networks, which will strengthen the power of radio as an instrument of democratization of every aspect of governance. Stakeholders say, it would ensure that government can be held accountable and that they can be monitored effectively up to the grassroots.

Therefore, the Nigerian radio broadcasting community should use the day to make noise on these issues, pressure government and involve all aspects of the nation’s communication and information sector. Only in these ways can the government recognize that these matters need to be attended to. For, at the moment, they seem to be busy fighting Boko Haram and other national enemies to the neglect of other issues. The UNESCO General Conference Resolution calls upon the Member States of UNESCO to celebrate the Day with activities at both local and national levels, with the participation of National Commissions, NGOs, the general public as well as diverse institutions, including schools, universities, municipalities, cities, broadcasters, the press, professional associations and unions, museums, cultural organizations, among others. If that was done, the sector would have scored some major points.

federal Government To establish 100 rice mills by Joke Akanmu

IN an attempt to meet the nation’s demand for rice, the Federal Government has concluded plans to acquire additional 100 large-scale rice mills across the country.

The plants, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, would have the capacity to mill 2.1 million metric tones (MT) of rice annually, equivalent of the annual rice import index in the country.

Adesina, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the rice mills would be in place in the next 12 to 18 months.

Stressing the need for the nation to grow its own rice, the minister said that by 2050, Nigeria’s annual consumption level of rice would have risen from the present five million MT to 35 million MT, adding that “unless we grow our own rice and move away from importing rice, we will be bankrupt”.

According to him, “Nigeria currently imports 2.1 million MT of rice annually. For way too long, the attitude of Nigerians has been to promote imported rice. As we spend over N1 billion daily on importing rice, we are simply using our stomachs to create jobs for farmers in other parts of the world while destroying incentives for the production of rice by farmers in Nigeria.

“So, while Nigerians smile as they eat imported rice, farmers of rice-exporting countries love us because we help to secure their own economies. But let me assure you that under my term, I will not stand for such. I am the Minister of Agriculture for Nigeria and my job is not to promote food imports into Nigeria, but to make Nigeria self-sufficient in production of its own food and export food”.

Adesina further disclosed that since the start of his administration, the government had completed three plants with the capacity to mill 90,000 metric tones of rice yearly.

Saying that some prominent Nigerian investors had started investing in rice mills, Adesina urged the private sector players in Nigeria to brace up and invest in rice production.

He mentioned that Nigerian local rice has changed from the past, as the country is growing and milling high quality rice that competes well with rice imported from Thailand or India.

Miz Gold steps Up with I love the Way

Miz Gold steps Up with I love the Way

By Tony Nwane

Talented and wave making Temitope Omolola, also known as Miz Gold has made her way back into the music scene with her new single, ‘‘I love the Way.’’ A songwriter and former dancer, she currently lives in Lagos and has a promo single, I love the Way, followed by a music video, shot outside of Accra Ghana.
Currently signed to Zomi Records Label, Miz Gold has concluded plans to feature known Nigerian and Ghanaian artistes in her works.
She plans to be successful internationally and to create a genre of music that blends the raw African beat with European House and Dance music style. According to her, 2012 will be a defining year in her career, and she hopes to release a lot music videos.

picture talk

Anyaoku, others decry nation’s woes

BY YEMI OLAKITAN

EMINENT Nigerians, including former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku have lamented the crises that have bedeviled the nation since independence, despite the availability of huge human and natural resources.

They spoke at the presentation of a book Profiles in Leadership by veteran journalist, Folu Koyi in Lagos.

The book chronicles the lives of great men and women who have contributed to the advancement of the nation in different fields of human endeavour.

The chairman of the event, Anyaoku, acknowledged the great disappointment that any serious reader of the book would feel. He wondered why a country, which has produced the galaxy of achievers described in the book, should still be in a state of underdevelopment.

He noted that the country was far from realising its true potential. According to him, the main reason for this situation is that political leadership over the years had failed abysmally in finding ways to give the country the full benefit of its indisputable human resources.

He commended the author, who he noted, had begun research into the material for the book as far back as 14 years ago. He further congratulated the author on producing such an invaluable source of reference for any one who is interested in knowing more about the leading people and professions in Nigeria over the last 100 years.

“I would like to commend Folu Koyi for the depth of his research and his admirable judgment in selecting the people to include in the book. In Nigeria, where we seem to have established a culture of self-promotion of individuals by families or groups in the form of paid advertisements in our newspapers, deciding on who are true leaders in our national life must be a tricky and demanding task,” he said.

Anyaoku said further: “I would like to observe that in my experience of having to visit over 100 countries around the world, I know of no other country where publications of all sorts of congratulations fill the national dailies. This is why Folu must be commended for taking the time to recognise our true leaders.”

Source: The Guardian, 12th October 2011

Picture talk

in Nigeria Everyone is asking where is Lagbaja. what is happening to the masked one? we miss you at home. Come back to Naija! frankly, Lagbaja do not have to leave Nigeria to become an international star. Fela never left and he was an international icon. i think relocating to foreign lands because of music is not always the best for our musicians. look at Majek Fashek, he relocated to the United States and ended up a drug addict, Dizzy k Falola left for the UK and he abandoned music and became a preacher, Evi Edna left and we never heard of her beautiful voice again, and so many others. our musicians should stay at home in Naija and let the world come and meet them here. They always loose at home and never seem to find their feet abroad, aside the ones that are born there.