Africa Music Law™
AFRICA MUSIC LAW™ (AML) is a pioneering music business and entertainment law blog and podcast show by Fashion and Entertainment Lawyer Ms. Uduak Oduok empowering the African artist and Africa's rapidly evolving entertainment industry through brilliant music business and entertainment law commentary and analysis, industry news, and exclusive interviews.
Credited for several firsts in the fashion and entertainment industry, Ms. Uduak is also a Partner and Co-Founder of Ebitu Law Group, P.C. where she handles her law firm’s intellectual property law, media, business, fashion, and entertainment law practice areas. She has litigated a wide variety of cases in California courts and handled a variety of entertainment deals for clients in the USA, Africa, and Asia.
Her work and contributions to the creative industry have been recognized by numerous organizations including the National Bar Association, The American University School of Law and featured in prestigious legal publications in the USA including ABA Journal and The California Lawyer Magazine. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the prestigious Academy of Arts University in San Francisco.
For legal representation inquiries, please email (uduak@ebitulawgrp.com). For blog related inquiries i.e. advertising, licensing, or guest interview requests, please email (africamusiclaw@gmail.com). Thank you for visiting Africa Music Law™.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan became a model for Apple’s Beats by Dre headphones at the recent unveiling of the launch of Nigeria’s Youth Employment In Agricultural Programme #YEAP. You all know how I feel about this situation. Why is the focus on a very important program overshadowed by the marketing and promotions of D’Banj’s own personal brand ambassador deal with Apple? Why is the President indulging in this? I know D’Banj supported his candidacy and handed over a large majority of votes from Nigerian youths to him, but isn’t there another way to thank D’Banj?
How can they real good about themselves while doing this? There are (supposedly) 200+ girls who are being held captive in Nigeria, and these two idiots are posing with gold-colored headphones. And, mind you, it's only one pair of headphones, meaning it's likely the same pair we saw "gifted" to Dapo a few weeks ago. I'm amazed at their sense of priorities. What's more important–gold headphones, or bringing these girls home to their families (if they're even missing at all, the way folks are carrying on like life is golden)?
I hear you but calling the President and even D'Banj "idiot," abeg cool down for Jesus.
Ms Uduak, I know you’re only pointing your displeasure, but the number of photos you have posted sure helps their cause if you ask me. perhaps a blackout or minor mention could’ve done the trick. Who knows? Just my penny’s worth.
I hear Winston, but both of them are doing their jobs – Mr President is launching a programe and D’banj his promotional bit. I pretty sure none of them meant any ill towards the poor girls in captivity. Unless we go as far as saying there should be no public event hosted or attended by the president until the girls are found or brought back……
Soji, the photos were intentional. If it helps D'Banj, I suppose I can't be accused of "hating" him anymore.
-Uduak
I don't hate D'banj, but I'm definitely not a fan.
I've never understood the appeal of Dapo Oyebanjo. Where's the good music he supposedly used to make? I'd never even heard of him during what I hear all the time were his Mo' Hits glory days. I watch his old videos on Youtube, and I'm left thoroughly unimpressed by it all. Compared to what's being released today, his old stuff is mediocre, at best. And that's just my critique of the music, not the man.
I will say, though, that I'm very disappointed in the latest song he put out. When are we as Africans going to demand more responsibility from African artists with regard to using the word "n*gger" in their music? This is a very serious issue that is not being addressed at all, as far as I can tell. Sure, some will say it's only a word. But it's not. It's an ugly slur that most Africans who live in Africa likely never would have heard as regularly as they do if it wasn't for the unavoidable influence of Western pop culture and exposure to Westerners. Looking at some social media platforms, though, it appears that it's becoming acceptable and normal for Africans to refer to one another as "n*ggers". is that who we are now; what we've become?
How can D'banj, on one hand talk about uplifting the youth of Africa, then turn around and teach these same youth to degrade themselves with this ugly, vile slur? And I know it's not just him, but D'banj has the highest global profile (for whatever reason) of all the artists doing it.