Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is best known for her role as an actress, and in the past five years, her activism. In 2010, she stunned Nigeria and Africa’s music industry when she announced she would be venturing into music alongside her acting career and would release an album. I recall covering that story. I’d also like to say that I have always supported Jalade-Ekeinde’s career, especially her music, even when I received a lot of side eye looks for it. I stay supporting, no half stepping when I do my support. 🙂
Anyway, post her recent interview with CNN where she declared that she went into music as a means to further her advocacy efforts, I am literally noticing the complete change in rhetoric among bloggers, music industry personalities and the public who are now praising her. On the heels of her CNN interview, she released a new single titled ‘Barren Land.’ I do think this particular track sounds too auto-tunish. Nevertheless, it is actually being praised so much by the same bloggers and music insiders that were skeptical and didn’t give her the time of the day before. Hmm . . . so, does this mean the music industry is now more accepting of Jalade-Ekeinde? Has she finally earned the respect of Nigeria’s music industry?
TIP: Artists, talents, a simple explanation of the reasons why you do what you do can make a huge difference as you delve into other parts of the entertainment industry. There is no need to leave people guessing about your motives or worse thinking you do what you do just to be noticed, especially if you will jump from film, or fashion to music.
By the way, I also roll with Tonto Dikeh #Poko, but y’all already knew that. 🙂 Bottom line, I love people who have the courage to pursue their dreams, even when others say, “stick with your day job.” They have the guts to take the step and do something about their lives; and that is something I always respect.
Cheers,
Uduak