The list of the pride-evoking tasks by Nigeria’s home entertainment icons, consisting of Nollywood film manufacturers, directors, music super stars and comics keeps increasing day by day. Just recently Funke Akindele’s smash hit Nollywood movie, ‘A Tribe called Judah’ smashed box workplace records, ending up being the very first Nigerian film to make 1bn naira ($1.1 m; ₤ 900,000) in domestic theatres. The movie attained the historical task in simply 3 weeks of its release!
All over the world, young Nigerians are quickly acknowledged as a few of the most intelligent and diligent set of individuals.Sports, home entertainment, intellectual geniuses are plentiful among the Nigerian youth these days.”
_ Sunday Akin Dare
In an epochal turning point, Akindele, 46 who occurs to be the greatest earning director with the very same movie holds the record for the 2nd and 3rd greatest offering Nollywood films, with ‘Battle on Buka Street’ (N668.4 m) and ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga’ (N636.1 m) respectively. That is just a suggestion of the Nollywood iceberg.
Read likewise:Why Nigeria stays leading in the African show business– Mursty Adinoyi
When it comes to the extremely amusing Nigeria’s music spectrum, Burna Boy won the very best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards and African Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards with his impressive album,’ Twice as Tall’.
On his part, Wizkid, prided with some 65 music awards is the very first African artiste to bag 7 Billboard Nominations, the most granted African artist at BET Awards and the youngest African artiste to get a Grammy election.
The energetic and innovative Davido, credited with not less than 29 music awards has actually gathered such from Soul Train, Kora, BET, MOBO and of course, The Future Awards. The future beams a fantastic light, for Nigeria’s home entertainment market as has actually been predicted by the Ayo Animashaun’s Hip Television and the Annual Headies Awards. That is, if our policy makers and those who execute them understand their onions and place on their believing cap, to match their words with prompt action.
If not, how do we discuss the interesting part of the international show business, that our own delightful and sweet -voiced Tiwa Savage ended up being the only Nigerian artiste to carry out, with an electrifying program at the King Charles 111 crowning performance in London? That remained in May 2023. Intriguing, is it not? Obviously, it is.
That is thinking about the amazing truth that the young and gifted Nigerian -born Rema ended up being the first-ever Afrobeat artist to carry out at the Ballon d’Or event. He held the world leading soccer super stars mesmerized, with the efficiency of his mega hit tune,’ Calm Down’ at the 2023 Ballon D’ Or event in October last year. There have actually been more accomplishments to commemorate.
Just just recently, our gorgeous, skilled and world-renowned African songstress, Yemi Alade delighted the audience at the 60,000 capability Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara right there in Abidjan. It was at the opening event of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cote d’ Ivoire. The list continues. The critical concerns stay unanswered.
Thinking about the worldwide attention the above-mentioned accomplishments have drawn to the Nigerian country how come that succeeding federal governments have not taken full advantage of the big capacities fundamental in them to rebrand the nation? If experienced experts, dedicated to their art could tape-record such astonishing accomplishments all by themselves, what would occur if there is continual federal government assistance? Aware of the impressive worldwide impact the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (of blessed memory) made with American Pop music culture, the similarity Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff finished with Jamaica’s Raggae music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, FELA made with Afro-beat music, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey with Juju Music, this is the time to re-think Nigeria and rebrand it.
This has actually ended up being more engaging, offered the repeating events of insecurity, identified by the killing spree of defenceless residents by totally equipped members of Boko Haram, herders, outlaws, and the kidnapping for substantial ransom that has actually held Abuja FCT, the country’s capital city by the jugular! With the image of the nation seriously dented by the steamy accusations of deceptive elections, by the release of force and fiat, risks and intimidation by the powers that be, thus compromising the materials of our organizations- from that of security to the judiciary -there is cause for major issue.
The scenario has actually been gotten worse by a harsh operating environment leading to a number of multi-national production business leaving the nation. Certainly, some immediate actions need to be taken by the federal government to reverse the drift to anomie, immediately. That brings us to the considerable concern of branding. What is it all about?
According to the much-respected branding professional, Christian Idahosa while providing his lecture entitled:” Branding Principles and Strategic Utilization” at the West African Business School, Ikeja back in 2006″ a brand name is a shop of worths. It is an experience, the amount of the relationships a business, item, service or perhaps an individual has with the consumers”. Simply put, what image concerns the mind of others when the name, Nigeria is pointed out? The response is patently apparent, out there in the international spectrum for all to see.
The excellent thing about branding is that it goes beyond being seen as a simple living or breathing organism. Rather, it is a construct. It is developed, promoted and used. That implies that with great governance, driven by people-friendly policies and generous management Nigeria can end up being a location of option, rather of the fantastic minds captured by the Japa Syndrome and business that when utilized numerous countless the youth leaving. To re-brand Nigeria let us start with the show business.
That evokes the current call made by Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, motivating performers to play an essential function in forecasting Nigeria’s varied culture and abundant heritage on the international phase. In her New Year message, the Minister highlighted the substantial effect of the imaginative economy, specifically in weaving together the country’s cultural tapestry. Appropriately stated, one would confess.
Home entertainment has actually been male’s previous time because time immemorial. Through music, arts, folklores, celebrations, performances, video games and movie guy has actually had the ability to show his imaginative resourcefulness, to relieve torn nerves and reduce stress. It has actually helped to pump adrenaline into his blood circulatory system to produce laughter, thought about as the remedy and the very best medication versus mass anguish.
It has likewise end up being a money-spinner as shown by the current tasks by the thespians and music icons. The federal government is for that reason, thus advised to stroll the talk on offering the making it possible for environment through steady infrastructural advancement, consisting of consistent electrical power supply, excellent gain access to roadways, monetary rewards, and partnership with the traveler specialists. That is what the Lagos State federal government has actually begun with the $100m African Film Festival situated in Epe. And an independently owned Xtralarge Farms Agritech City in Idi-Iroko, the very first of its kind in Africa absolutely requires such assistance.
Above all, federal governments at all levels need to ensure security of lives and home for the experts to stand out, and to rebrand Nigeria as an international location of option.