Happy Friday AML people. I hope you had a healthy and productive week.
I was watching Wizkid’s recent performance at Industry Nite Houston, yesterday, and what struck me was how much stride the African diaspora community has made when it comes to entertainment.
Over the years, there is and continues to be a shift by young African (Nigerians especially)-Americans to reposition the United States of America as the hub for African entertainment. Key markets like Houston, Maryland, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago seem to be experiencing some sort of revival.
I also see a maturity in how our communities in the States conduct business, and our local industry professionals work harder on perfecting the art of showbiz. For a while, America was the it place to go for all including Africans in the entertainment space. Then something happened. African entertainers became content with performing on the continent, and also began to make even more money than performing in the U.S.
Our local industry professionals here in the U.S. got frustrated. Their realities were plagued with ongoing cancellation of shows, a lack of respect from their fellow counterparts on the continent and the artists and the list goes on. Within the past few years, I have seen African entertainment industry professionals take control of the entertainment narrative, step up their game and do things better.
It is as if a light bulb finally went on and they now realize they are leaving way too much money on the table by not packaging themselves right and being about the business of showbiz.
Now, I speak to, receive calls at my office and see industry professionals who believe they can rise to the challenge and are in fact doing so. Indeed what lies ahead is nothing short of exciting and interesting.
Cheers,
~Ms. Uduak