Business

Has Nollywood’s Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Finally Earned the Respect of Nigeria’s Music Industry?

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

Africa Music Law™

AFRICA MUSIC LAW™ (AML) is a pioneering music business and entertainment law website, livestream and podcast show empowering the African artist and Africa's rapidly evolving entertainment industry through its brilliant music business and entertainment law commentary and analysis, industry news, and exclusive interviews.

For general inquiries, advertising, licensing, or to appear on the show as a guest, please email ([email protected]). Thank you for visiting.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Uduak Oduok (Ms. Uduak) is a fashion and entertainment lawyer, speaker, visionary, gamechanger, trailblazer, and recognized thought leader, for her work on Africa’s emerging global fashion and entertainment markets, and the niche practice of fashion law in the United States. She is also the founder of ‘Africa Music Law,’ an industry go-to music business and law blog and podcast show empowering African artists. Her work in the creative and legal industries has earned her numerous awards and recognitions, including an award from the American University Washington College of Law for her “legal impact in the field of intellectual property in Africa." She has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at several institutions in the United States. For more information, visit her at https://msuduak.com.

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