Okiemute: It’s not easy getting collaboration with big artistes, they think we’ll take their shine

Okiemute Ighorodje, the winner of MTN Project Fame West Africa, season 9, says it is not easy getting collaborations with big artistes in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Speaking to NAN on Friday, she also attributed the difficulty to their busy schedule because they are also pursuing their careers.

“I have made efforts but it has been to no avail. I, therefore, want to appeal to them to understand that the sky is big enough for many artistes to shine,” she said.

“They should extend hands of help to promising upcoming artistes, maybe by featuring them in their songs, building their fan base, signing them or bringing them up on their platform.

“They should not think that when they help an artiste to grow, he or she will take their shine.”

The 27-year old Linguistics & Communications graduate from the University of Port Harcourt also lamented the glorification of Afro-pop to the detriment of other genres of music.

Okeimute said such stereotypes will not give the affected genres and their artistes the opportunity to attain their full potential.

“There is need to understand that music is diverse. There should be no deliberate attempt to promote a music genre over the other,” she said.

“Afro-pop is making a lot of waves over the others because of its promotion, whereas, there are many people that love other music genres.

“They should stop stereotyping other forms of music. Music is music, if it is of good quality and it follows the rules, it should be appreciated.”

Okiemute said some radio and television stations, especially the music channels were guilty of this stereotype.

“From morning till night, what you hear most on these stations is Afro-pop music. They do not give the audience the opportunity to make choice,” she explained.

“Listeners want to wake up in the morning, tune to a radio station, listen to cool music. In the afternoon, they want to listen to midday music, crossover tunes.

“Before late night, they will like to listen to party songs that will make them shake their body and all that.

“If listeners are given the opportunity to listen to other genres, they will start appreciating them and the music will see the light of day.”

The 2016 MTN Project Fame winner has released two singles ‘Good Loving’ and ‘African Wonder’.