Afrigather The listing of the pride-evoking feats by Nigeria’s leisure icons, together with Nollywood film producers, administrators, music superstars and comedians retains growing by the day. As an example, just lately Funke Akindele’s blockbuster Nollywood movie, ‘A Tribe known as Judah’ smashed field workplace data, turning into the primary Nigerian film to earn 1bn naira ($1.1m; £900,000) in home theatres. The movie achieved the historic feat in simply three weeks of its launch!
” Everywhere in the world, younger Nigerians are simply acknowledged as among the smartest and hardworking set of people.Sports activities, leisure, mental geniuses abound amongst the Nigerian youth of right this moment.”
_Sunday Akin Dare
Additionally, in an epochal milestone, Akindele, 46 who occurs to be the best grossing director with the identical movie holds the document for the second and third highest promoting Nollywood motion pictures,with ‘Battle on Buka Road’ (N668.4m) and ‘Omo Ghetto:The Saga’ (N636.1m) respectively. However that’s solely a tip of the Nollywood iceberg.
Learn additionally: Why Nigeria remains top in the African entertainment industry – Mursty Adinoyi
As for the extremely entertaining Nigeria’s music spectrum, Burna Boy received the Greatest World Music Album on the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, Greatest Worldwide Act on the 2021 BET Awards and African Artist of the 12 months on the 2020 Ghana Music Awards along with his excellent album, ‘ Twice as Tall’.
On his half, Wizkid, prided with some 65 music awards is the primary African artiste to bag seven Billboard Nominations, probably the most awarded African musician at BET Awards and the youngest African artiste to get a Grammy nomination.
Equally, the energetic and artistic Davido, credited with not lower than 29 music awards has garnered such from Soul Prepare, Kora, BET, MOBO and naturally, The Future Awards. Actually, the long run beams a superb mild, for Nigeria’s leisure trade as has been projected by the Ayo Animashaun’s Hip TV and the Annual Headies Awards. That’s, if our coverage makers and people who implement them know their onions and placed on their pondering cap, to match their phrases with well timed motion.
If not, how can we clarify the intriguing a part of the worldwide leisure trade, that our personal delectable and candy -voiced Tiwa Savage grew to become the one Nigerian artiste to carry out, with an electrifying present on the King Charles 111 coronation live performance in London? That was in Might 2023. Fascinating, is it not? In fact, it’s.
That’s contemplating the thrilling undeniable fact that the younger and gifted Nigerian -born Rema grew to become the first-ever Afrobeat musician to carry out on the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Certainly, he held the world prime soccer superstars spellbound, with the efficiency of his mega hit track, ‘ Calm Down’ on the 2023 Ballon D’ Or ceremony in October final yr. But, there have been extra achievements to have fun.
Solely just lately, our stunning, gifted and world-renowned African songstress, Yemi Alade thrilled the viewers on the 60,000 capability Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara proper there in Abidjan. It was on the opening ceremony of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cote d’ Ivoire. The listing goes on and on. However the all-important questions stay unanswered.
As an example, contemplating the worldwide consideration the above-mentioned achievements have drawn to the Nigerian nation how come that successive governments haven’t maximized the massive potentials inherent in them to rebrand the nation? If seasoned professionals, dedicated to their artwork might document such mind-blowing achievements all on their very own, what would occur if there may be sustained authorities help? Nicely conscious of the excellent world affect the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (of blessed reminiscence) did with American Pop music tradition, the likes of Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff did with Jamaica’s Raggae music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, FELA did with Afro-beat music, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey with Juju Music, that is the time to re-think Nigeria and rebrand it.
Certainly, this has turn into extra compelling, given the recurring incidents of insecurity, characterised by the killing spree of defenceless residents by absolutely armed members of Boko Haram, herders, bandits, and the kidnapping for large ransom that has held Abuja FCT, the nation’s capital metropolis by the jugular! With the picture of the nation severely dented by the steamy allegations of fraudulent elections, by the deployment of power and fiat, threats and intimidation by the powers that be, thereby weakening the materials of our institutions- from that of safety to the judiciary -there is trigger for severe concern.
In actual fact, the scenario has been worsened by an inclement working atmosphere resulting in a number of multi-national manufacturing corporations exiting the nation. Clearly,some pressing steps need to be taken by the federal government to reverse the drift to anomie, immediately. That brings us to the numerous challenge of branding. So, what’s all of it about?
In response to the much-respected branding skilled, Christian Idahosa whereas delivering his lecture titled: ” Branding Rules and Strategic Utilization ” on the West African Enterprise College, Ikeja again in 2006 ” a model is a retailer of values. It’s an expertise, the sum of the relationships an organization, product, service or perhaps a particular person has with the purchasers”. Put merely, what picture involves the thoughts of others when the identify, Nigeria is talked about? The reply is patently apparent, on the market within the world spectrum for all to see.
However the advantage of branding is that it goes past being seen as a mere dwelling or respiratory organism. Slightly, it’s a assemble. It’s created, stimulated and utilized. That signifies that with good governance, pushed by people-friendly insurance policies and selfless management Nigeria can turn into a vacation spot of alternative, as an alternative of the good minds caught by the Japa Syndrome and firms that after employed tons of of 1000’s of the youth packing up. To re-brand Nigeria allow us to start with the leisure trade.
That brings to thoughts the latest name made by Nigeria’s Minister of Artwork, Tradition, and the Inventive Economic system, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, encouraging entertainers to play a pivotal function in projecting Nigeria’s various tradition and wealthy heritage on the worldwide stage. In her New 12 months message, the Minister emphasised the numerous affect of the inventive financial system, particularly in weaving collectively the nation’s cultural tapestry. Rightly stated, one would admit.
Leisure has been man’s previous time since time immemorial. By way of music, arts, folklores, festivals, live shows, video games and movement footage man has been in a position to exhibit his inventive ingenuity,to appease frayed nerves and ease stress. It has assisted to pump adrenaline into his blood circulatory system to generate laughter, thought of because the antidote and one of the best medication towards mass distress.
But it surely has additionally turn into a money-spinner as mirrored by the latest feats by the thespians and music icons. The federal government is subsequently,hereby urged to stroll the discuss on offering the enabling atmosphere by secure infrastructural improvement, together with regular electrical energy provide, good entry roads, monetary incentives, and collaboration with the vacationer practitioners. That’s what the Lagos State authorities has began with the $100m African Movie Competition positioned in Epe. And a privately owned Xtralarge Farms Agritech Metropolis in Idi-Iroko, the primary of its sort in Africa positively wants such help.
Above all, governments in any respect ranges ought to assure safety of lives and property for the professionals to excel, and to rebrand Nigeria as a world vacation spot of alternative.
