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Ateke Amongst Seven Biggest Music Sponsors In Nigeria

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Ateke Tom

Ateke Tom

The music business is a
money-gulping endeavour and as such, admits only the financially buoyant less the artiste becomes broke and signs up for bankruptcy. Many an artiste and many a label have ran down as they couldn’t keep up with expenses – cost of production, recording, promotion, distribution, branding, even photo and video shoots.
In the seventies, eighties and nineties, men and women with fat pockets were known to sponsor talented acts – King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obey, Oliver de Coque, Kollington Ayinla etc, who in gratitude sang their praises in highlife, juju, waka and fuji songs.
According to a recent report by Naya.com they include:
1. IB Dende
Born Ibrahim Egungbohun, 45-year-old IB Dende (customs-licensed clearing agent and hotelier) is one of the biggest funders of contemporary music in the country. Chief IB Dende’s generosity has extended to Pasuma, Olamide, Phyno, Lil Kesh, Small Doctor-with the ‘ain’ creator famously singing “IB Dende Okorun fa e l’owo s’oke (God will lift you up)” on hit Single ‘Arrest’.
2. Ayiri Emami
Warri billionaire, Ayiri Emami, the “Akulagba I of Warri”, was famously referenced by Akwa Ibom comedian/singer/daner MC Galaxy on the Ubiquitous dance track ‘Nek Unek’, Oil magnate Ayiri who had stint as a music artiste during his come-up has lavished his goodwill (including financial resources) on Nigerian artistes such as 2 Face, D’banj, MC Galaxy, Oritsefemi, Iyanya, Majek Fashek e.t.c. He even shows his benevolence featuring in Omawumi’s 2014 ‘Megbele’ video in honour of her father.
3. Baddy Oosha
Self-titled “street lion” Baddy Oosha has been referenced by not a few Nigerian entertainers – name-checked on different occasions by those whom his generous pockets have flowed to. Badmus Akeem. O, first got showered with praises in 2012 when rapper. Reminisce rapped on smash hit 2 Mushh, Olamide, Lil Keshi, Small Doctor are others who have found his kindness. Recently, he decided to try his luck on the mic.
4.    Sir Emeka Offor
The fifty-six year old founder and executive vice chairman of chrome group, a Nigerian Conglomerate with interests in oil, biofuels, insurance, dredging and logistics is well known for his philanthropic gestures. In 2003, he donated one million dollars towards the eradication of polio and two years later reportedly donated ten million dollars to fight river blindness. Toward music, he has been benevolent in the development of stars and so it was not a surprise when KCee sang his praises on Ogadinma and Phyno on Nme Nme. Highlife artiste has also praised his generosity.
5. MC Oluomo
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader in Oshodi, Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo came to National prominence some weeks ago when he reportedly hosted a braless party to celebrate his birthday a stunt he denied. Headies winning pop artiste Sean, Tizzle eulogized him on Momayan, KWAM I, Pasuma, and other fuji artistes have been beneficiaries of his.
6. Opa 6IX
Born Oluwasegun Akinola OpaOgun, Opa 6ix has extended his charity towards music. Reminisce once rapped  his praise. “Shout out si awon omo ni Malay waya waya, Opa 6ix” on 2 Mushh Street Pop artiste Small Doctor also had thankful heart on Uzobu Off his Omo Iya Teacher Sophomore album. Like Baddy Oosha, Opa 6ix has delved into music recording.
7. Ateke Tom
The Nigerian music scene received with pleasant surprise the news of reconciliation between members of the defunct plantashun Boiz spearheaded by ex-Niger Delta militant, Chief Ateke Tom. Former member, Faze posted a video on his Instagram page with the caption: “Just yesterday. When Plantashun Boiz turn (sic) to men. Thank you Chief Comrade Ateke Tom.” Aside from 2 Face, Faze and Black Face, KCee, Mc Galaxy, Iyanya, Cythia Morgan and Harrysong have  benefitted from his right hand of fellowship.

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Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

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Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

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Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

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Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

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I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

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Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.

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