Entertainment career choice for young Nigerians

Entertainment career choice for young
Nigerians
on december 14, 2013 at 11:09 am in music
LAGOS (AFP) – Drenched in sweat from an energy-
sapping rehearsal at a Lagos dance studio, Rita
Adoh hopes to make a fortune from dancing and
catapult herself into the growing ranks of Nigeria’s
millionaires.
“From dancing, I get money to pay my school fees
and other bills. I have property and I have helped
my parents financially to put up their residential
building in Lagos,” the 26-year-old told AFP.
“I plan to open a dance school in the future. It is a
dream and I know it will not die.”
Dancers perform during a rehearsal at a dance
school in Lagos AFP PHOTO
Adoh’s choice of career may seem unusual given
that she is also studying for a degree in
international relations.
But it is a reflection of an increased interest in the
performance arts in Nigeria and a sign that the
country is getting serious about its entertainment
industry.
Nigeria is investing heavily in developing the sector,
recognising that a more professional approach
could make it more internationally successful,
providing jobs and — hopefully — prosperity for
those that work in it.
The World Bank is backing a government drive to
boost the sector, which has seen $200 million (147
million euros) pledged to help boost the country’s
popular film industry, Nollywood.
It is thought that properly run, Nollywood alone
could support an estimated one million new jobs.
Change in attitudes
Rita, who trains with Nigeria’s best-known dancer
and choreographer, Kafayat Oluwatoyin Ameh or
“Kaffy”, is part of the process, eyeing a career in
entertainment as a viable and potentially money-
spinning choice.
She admitted, though, that her Roman Catholic
parents were strongly against her dancing when
she first started, reflecting traditional feelings that
study and hard work are the path to secure a
steady, well-paying job.
“At the beginning, my parents were opposed to it.
But today, their attitude has changed towards it
when good things started happening to me and they
have benefited from the spin-off,” she said.
Nigerians’ new-found interest in entertainment can
also be seen in the huge success of a number of
television talent shows, which follow the format
made popular in places such as Britain and the
United States.
“I would like to make a lot of money, in fact millions,
from dancing,” said Victor Okunbor, 19, who has
recently left college and started dance lessons.
Nigerian dancer and choreographer Kafayat
Oluwatoyin Ameh, otherwise known as “Kaffy”,
looks at students dancing
“I would like to be famous like Kaffy,” he added at
Ameh’s Lagos dance school.
“I expect dancing to fetch me money and fame,”
chipped in Chimelie Okeke, a 20-year-old university
undergraduate.
“I currently generate some little money from
dancing and I see my current training under Kaffy
as a good platform to realise my dream.”
Okunbor and Okeke’s attitude is a common one,
reflecting a desire to show off hidden talents and try
to get their name in lights.
But in places such as Nigeria, where poverty is
widespread, the stakes are a lot higher, with
success in such shows a potential escape from the
rigours of daily life.
Last year, an eight-year-old girl became an instant
celebrity after dancing her way to the 10-million-
naira ($63,000, 46,500-euro) top prize on the first
“Nigeria’s Got Talent” show, beating a host of older
dancers, singers, magicians, comedians and
gymnasts.
Seven members of the same family meanwhile won
six million naira on “Maltina Dance All”, while singer
Olawale Ayodele Ojo landed five million naira, a car
and a recording contract on “MTN Project Fame”.
The 25-year-old agronomy student was at the time
kicking his heels because of a nationwide pay
dispute between university lecturers and the
government.
His three nearest rivals also went home with new
cars and cash rewards running into millions of
naira.
‘Better than armed robbery’
At dance schools like Kaffy’s, more young people
are seeking tuition, either to help supplement their
existing income or win richer glories.
But Anna Okorejior, an 18-year-old ICT engineering
student, said dancing also has another purpose —
keeping young people on the straight and narrow.
“More and more youths are going into dancing and
other forms of entertainment now because they
keep them busy in doing positive things,” she said.
“For the youths, dancing is better than going into
vices such as robbery, drugs, prostitution, fraud
and vices.”
Bosun Adekogbe, a music teacher at the Obafemi
Awolowo University in southwest city of Ile-Ife,
agreed.
He dated the rise in dancing as a career choice
back to the 1970s, when musician King Sunny Ade
began using dancers in his live shows.
“Through this, many people came to see the future
prospect of professional dancer. Many youths are
making their fortunes through professional dance
and dancing competitions,” he said.
“It is better than armed robbery or joining the ‘yahoo
boys’ (scammers).”