I’ve always enjoyed participating in competitive sports. However, beyond competiting as an athelete, I was also a certified Personal Fitness Trainer for five years encompasing college, law school and the beginning of when I began practicing law. I would train my clients in th evening and on Sundays to achieve their fitness goals.
It was also standard when I finished training to just play basketball for long periods with the fellas; and then hit the weights hard to sculpt my body into a very fit and lean fitness machine, if you will.
During these times, I recall, for a long time, when I would meet young Nigerian men, I would ask if they worked out and their fitness routine as part of getting acquainted. I got the response, often, that they did not work out because Nigerian girls did not like muscles on their men. When I got the chance, subsequently, to visit the country in 2003 and 2007, respectively, I got the same response from fellas on the ground.
But, have we come a long way or what? America’s western culture has spilled over and now, I know and see many Nigerian men (young and old) hit the gym and the weights to stay fit. I definitely think the music industry has been partly responsible for this mental shift towards embracing fitness. AML Artists, in the music business, your image is just as important as the songs you sing. You should invest as much time into staying fit and healthy as you do into making your music because you are selling a brand, your personal brand.
Indeed, one of the reasons behind P-Square’s success, beyond their tremendous talent, is the marketing and promotions of their physical appearance as part of the experience you get when you become a fan. Have you seen Peter Okoye of P-Square flaunt his six pack?
Now, he has competition. Check out D’Prince with his rock hard six pack abs.
I was just saying yesterdaym at the gym, after what was an intense two hour workout that I really needed to hit it harder on my abs. Right now, I am rocking a feminine four pack but I could push myself harder. Now, I am inspired.
Good look D’Prince.
-Uduak
Twitter: @uduaklaw
