Entertainment
Ateke Tom Bankrolls Rivers PMAN
Rivers State born High life Maestro, King Sunny Brown has expressed gratitude to ex-militant leader, Ateke Tom whom he said has been bankrolling the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) over the years as well as extending financial support to upcoming musicians in the state to record their albums in order to give them a sense of belonging and self actualisation.
The living legend condemned the leadership tussle rocking the Association in the State stressing that the crisis is not only killing the musicians’ Association, but has brought bad-image to the musician themselves . He noted that the power tussle has created various factions among the members as a result, things have fallen apart in the once Prestigious Association.
The highlife King who spoke with The Tide Entertainment recently, disclosed that every member of the association wants to be a leader, while the leaders whose one year tenure had elapsed refused to vacate their offices because of greed and selfish interest.
According to him, instead of moving forward like their counterparts in other states, the association has remained in the limbo over the years.
He disclosed that the incumbent chairman Peter Stone Cold whose tenure had expired since last year is still in office. He contended that though an electoral committee has been set up to conduct election and swear in new executives, nothing positive has come out of the committee because of vested interest.
King Sunny Brown who is also one of the Elders of PMAN in the State observed that due to the ugly development in the musicians’ body most of the members have left the Association. He advised that before the election is conducted, efforts should be made by the committee to unite the various factions because there cannot be any credible election where the warring factions still exist.
He noted that apart from the leadership crisis, the musicians at the various local government areas of the state should be carried along. He maintained that the Association is not PMAN Port Harcourt, but PMAN Rivers State, therefore membership should spread to the 23 local government areas of the state. He called for grassroot mobilisation and participation in the affairs of the body in order to give them a sense of belonging to enable them contribute their quota towards the development of the Association.
The highlife crooner appealed to the state government, corporate organisations and highlife lovers to support his foundation which is aimed at promoting the younger musicians, teach them the various instruments and write their songs among others, in order to ensure quality and continuity in the music industry.
In a related development, the newly constituted leadership of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigerian (PMAN) last week, expelled the former administrator of the Association, Tec Mac Omatshola Itsali and others for alleged anti union activities. They are Brigadier Brown Bread, Joshua Omktnuale, Orits Williki Arthur Pepple Jnr, Oizz Ikhide, Chris Mba and King-Faladey.
The expulsion was contained in a communiqué dated 19 April 2013, signed by the general secretary of PMAN , Kenny A. George.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.