Entertainment
Davido, Chidinma, Others Champion New Nollywood Sound Tracks
Soundtrack for Nollywood films have always been but after a while, the culture stopped for several reasons.
Larry Gaga, Davido, Chidinma, Vector are some of the music acts championing the new wave of soundtracks for Nollywood productions.
Since the turn of the year, Nollywood has seen an upturn in official soundtrack culture. Larry Gaga is also one of the driving factors in the relatively new niche.
Producers of ‘Living In Bondage: Breaking Free’ and ‘MTV Shuga Naija’ have teamed up with Larry Gaga to produce original soundtracks that can be additional sources of revenue for the respective TV productions. MTV Shuga is known to have produced each season with a soundtrack and music acts like Ice Prince, KCee, Seyi Shay and J Martins have appeared on soundtrack of the youth oriented TV series.
Larry Gaga is taking the lead in 2019 as he’s working with Davido for’Living In Bondage: Breaking Free’, the highly anticipated sequel to 90s hit, ‘Living in Bondage,’ and also with Vector on MTV Shuga Naija 4.
Tunde Kelani, Kingsley Ogoro were some of the leading filmmakers, who ensured they had a soundtrack for their big films in the 90s. [Channels TV]
This follows the template of Hollywood to create original soundtracks that are unique to the film they are meant to support.
This way, the budget is adequately spent and revenue streams can be generated. As in Hollywood movies like ‘Birth of a Nation,’ the soundtracks are not even played in the movie. As a result, in that clime, movie soundtracks generate tens of millions of dollars and platinum certifications – for moving one million units in equivalence of albums sales.
Sadly, Nollywood doesn’t have that structure. Selling movies and music is already a chore. Artists have to scramble for streaming/sales revenue from their music. That is after paying PROs and composers first. This is because the Nigerian clime is not healthy for music sales at this time. Thus, Nollywood producers have rarely explored the idea of independent original movie soundtracks.
From the days of popular soap operas like Papa Ajasco, Super Story, Palace, Everyday People, Family Circle and others, there were theme songs. These theme songs are popular with their audience. However, they were not the true test of original soundtracks.
A genuine original soundtrack has to be a set of specially composed songs for a movie. Nollywood definitely saw a lot of that in the 80’s and 90’s, but not until the late 90’s and the 2000s did original soundtracks have a home in Nollywood. Producers like Late Hubert Ogunde, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Kelani, Kingsley Ogoro and so forth worked with music professionals to craft original songs for their films.
During this period, singers like Mike Nliam, Stanley Okoria, Sammie Okposo, Sola Allyson-Obaniyi and recently Tope Alabi worked with the movie directors and producers to lend their singing abilities to their stories. Their voices became synonymous with the home video era. As they became brands, their sounds also found a place in people’s hearts. However, even with all these stars, most Nigerian producers never film produced independent albums from their movies.
Some of the few who created original soundtracks independent of movies are Tade Ogidan for ‘Madam Dearest,’ and Bimbo Oshin for ‘Eji Owuro’. However, most people simply ignored this avenue to add some notoriety and impact to their movies. OSTs are also a source of additional funds for movies.
Well, a combination of factors the first of those factors is a problem of funding. A few years ago, E.TV Africa used to do a jingle every quarter of an hour. It was frustrating, but it gave us a few facts. One of those facts is that Nollywood movies were made with an estimated $10,000 and under. At the time, $10,000 was between one million Naira and N1.5 million.
Running on such a shoestring, you cannot then afford to expend energy on music that might or might not sell. Sometimes, like with ‘Eji Owuro,’ and Sola Allyson-Obaniyi, the music requires little push to take off, but a lot of times, the music requires great sound, production, mixing and marketing. Those require funds and Nollywood cannot afford it.
This is aided by how dysfunctional the Nigerian music industry is. Record sales are a very unreliable means of revenue generation. It’s already hard enough to sell movies, producers didn’t want to add the additional stress of music when revenue is far from guaranteed.
In other cases too, ignorance played a role. A lot of producers with good, marketable music didn’t just realize that their music can be marketed. One of such examples is ‘Oyato,’ the 2000’s socio-political flick that starred Tony Umez, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. The music on that movie was so good, yet it was never marketed independently of the film. Same is applicable to ‘Koto Aiye’ and ‘Koto Orun’, some of the many productions by late actor and producer, Alhaji Yekini Ajileye.
The Garden City of Rivers State Port Harcourt at the weekend joined other parts of the world to celebrate the World Music Day, 2025, as Alliance Française showcases talents.
The event which is internationally known as Fête de la musique was held at cultural hall of the Alliance Française was a remarkable concert with memorable experience.
The event brought together music lovers, students, Artistes and members of the community For an exciting evening live performances and cultural exchange.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the world Music Day, which was created 1982 in France by the then Minister of culture, Jack Lang, ‘ Fête de la Musique’ is now celebrated in more than 100 countries every 21st June, marking the first day of summer with free concerts and musical showcases in public spaces.
In Port Harcourt, the Alliance Française honoured the tradition by spotlighting four(4) emerging artistes offering a platform to young talents shaping the city’s contemporary scene.
The audience enjoyed an unforgettable moments as they were entertained by the powerful performances from Preach A, who is known for blending fitness culture with spoken words and rhythm.
Also, artiste Emmayany delivering a vibrant fusion of afrobeat and afro pop. A singer, song writer and a performing artiste with a distinct sound.
Others were Amarachy Uko, a sensational singer with passion for soul , R&B, pop music and afrobeat.
While DJ Prospel closed the night with an energetic DJ set that got the entire hall dancing.
Earlier, the Director, Alliance Française, Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal high lighted the mission of the Alliance Française saying that the event was more than a concert.
According to her, the event was put together by the Alliance Française to promote cultural diversity and foster artistic expression by connecting a long standing French tradition with creativity of the local music scene, adding that the event offerers an avenue for dialogue between culture and generations.
She stated that the event is used to promote professional and bring amateur artistes to limelight via the platform of the Alliance Française which is aimed at promoting the French Language through cultural heritage.
She explained that the celebration is also a broader series of Fête de la musique activities organized by the 10 Alliance Française across Nigeria in sync with concerts held in France and around the world simultaneously.
She further noted that the occasion reaffirms the role of Alliance Française as a cultural bridge, one where French heritage meets the pulses of Nigerian youth.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 19 artistes applied to perform at the event in Port Harcourt, but only four got approval for appearance.
The Governor of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Comrade Moses Mabadeje popularly known as Mozy B said that the body has announced plans to implement performance Levy on artistes in the state with effect from 21st June.
This was carried in a statement released to The Tide Entertainment, yesterday by the Deputy Governor of the association, Comrade Abiye Howells.
According to the Governor, the announcement was made by PMAN, the only governing body that regulates the music profession in Nigeria, as authorized by the Government of Nigeria, in line with the Trade Union Act.
He stated that those affected by the Levy include (Non members)bands, groups, Hotels, Bars, lounges, Event Centres, show organizers, promoters and other stakeholders hosting events which feature live music performances within the State.
However, the Levy does not apply to members of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria. (PMAN).
Comrade Moses Mabadeje, explained that this drive is aimed at financing the association and supporting the welfare and interest of musicians as outlined in Article 8 of the PMAN constitution as amended (2023). Consequently, a PMAN task force has been set up to enforce and swing into action to effect this move.
He further said that event organizers, promoters and owners of event centers are expected to comply with this regulation as the Governor has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the association to ensure the successful implementation of the levy and the peaceful co-existence between PMAN and Stockholders.
Nancy Briggs
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.