Nigerian Stars Who Faded In Their Prime: It is true that everything that has a beginning must have an end, but some ends can be premature, unexpected and shocking; but, that is the lot of several Nigerian celebrities over the years. They came on stage; they set out to conquer their respective fields, but lapsed into sudden silence when their teeming fans expected more. They broke into the klieg lights but failed to stay on. LEADERSHIP Friday chronicles the strange fall of a few of these stars: Majek Fashek Majekodunmi Fasheke, who bears the stage name Majek Fashek, is a Nigerian Raggae singer and an extremely talented guitarist. He was one of an increasing number of African artists to be drawn to the music of the Caribbean, specifically reggae, rather than the more acceptable indigenous hybrids Fuji, Jùjú or Highlife. Having grown up in a stern religious and musicalinclined family, he was exposed to the imported sounds of Bob Marley at an early age, alongside the innovations of local stars such as Fela Kuti. Majek Fashek’s major influences are Bob Marley (whom he strongly resembles vocally) and Fela Kuti. His song Send Down The Rain was a hit which earned him six US-based Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Music Awards. When ‘The Rain’ Ceased Since 2005, after the release of his album Little Patience, Fashek’s fans around the world have missed his voice, so much that some have wondered if he is still alive. The reason for his long silence was explained when speculations that the one-time star was facing critical health challenges, as a result of drug abuse and was on the verge of a mental breakdown. However, the embattled singer did grant an interview recently debunking the speculation. “It is the handiwork of junk press and my enemies,” he insisted. In what appears to be a second coming, though, hope is rising again for Fashek’s fans. Following his return to Nigeria from his base in America, the Roots Reggae artiste has been performing in concerts and even gave hint of an album he intends to release come 2015. Rashidi Yekini Rashidi Yekini (October 23, 1963 – May 4, 2012) was a Nigerian striker who many will scarcely forget for an illustrious career with the Super Eagles, between 1992 and 1996. His professional career, which spanned more than two decades, was mainly associated with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal, but he also played in six other countries aside his landmark achievements for Nigeria within his short reign as a giant on the national and international soccer scenes. His Soccer Career Yekini scored 37 international goals and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition in 1994. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1994 for his exploits that year – a year which could also be regarded as his ‘peak year.’ In the same year, he helped the Super Eagles to lift the African Nations Cup trophy and became the competition’s Most Valuable Player. Quiet End Of A Soccer Legend Unlike many retired players who played an active role in football administration, Yekini withdrew completely from the game, the media, friends and even family, upon his retirement in 2005. He became an island and even turned down an offer to become Nigeria’s football ambassador for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2011, Yekini’s health became a topic of national debate in the Nigerian media: he wouldn’t seek medical care or any other kind of help. Worse, he was rumoured to be psychologically unstable. After a long illness, he was forcibly removed from his house and taken to a remote hospital where it was discovered [that] he was suffering from bi-polar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed psychiatric conditions. Sadly, on May 4, 2012, he died at the young age of 48 – still surrounded by mystery. Blackface Naija Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo (born in Ogwule, Agatu local government area, Benue State) known by his stage name Blackface Naija or just Blackface, is a Nigerian Dancehall-Reggae singersongwriter. He is best known, arguably though, as co-writer of the hit song African Queen with 2Face Idibia; a song which the latter went on to release as part of his debut solo album Face 2 Face in 2004, to international acclaim. Blackface was a founding member of all-male band Plantashaun Boyz that he formed in 2000 with Innocent Idibia (2Face) and Chibuzor Oji (Faze). The band released two successful albums Body and Soul in 2000 and Sold Out in 2003, but broke up in 2004, before they re-united in 2007 – only briefly – for just one more album, Plan B. Solo Career After the Plantashaun Boyz split up in 2004, Blackface embarked on a solo musical career, releasing the Hip Hop album Ghetto Child in May 2007, collaborating with a number of artists. The album which had the hit number, Hard Life (featuring Alabai), as the first single was followed by a full album for his crew D Tribunal called What We Are. His other releases included Evergreen, Jungle Fever, Me, Musiq and I, Dancehall Business, amongst others. The Blackout Evidently, BlackFace has been missing out on the entertainment scene, tempting his fans to think that the extinction of the Plantshaun Boyz, of which he was reputed to be a pillar, and subsequent rifts with 2Face Idibia over the rights to the song African Queen crippled his career. Tony Tetuilah Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye, better known as Tony Tetuila, is an Afro Hip Hop artist, who gained fame as a member of all-male music group The Remedies (which also had Eddie Montana, Eedris Abdulkareem) which enjoyed a fair spell of success, before he went off as a solo artist. Among his releases were the singles My Car, Two Women, Morning Time and E Go Better; two songs which took the streets of Lagos and the rest of Nigeria by storm back then. For quite a long spell, he was quiet and not much was heard from him, but with the dawning of 2014 came the news that he was preparing to re-launch himself into the consciousness of Nigerians with a political career; he aimed to represent Irepodun local government area of Kwara State in the state assembly – the bid ended before it began. Evi-Edna Ogosi (nee Ogholi) Everyone remembers Evi-Edna Ogholi – a woman reputed to be one of Nigeria’s ‘original Reggae artistes’ – for her songs. Her debut album My Kind of Music, released in 1987, was an instant hit among Nigerians. From Sapele to Lagos and the growing city of Abuja, everyone loved them. Three other albums – On The Move, Happy Birthday and Step by Step – were released all before her 23rd birthday and they were chart-toppers, with each of them going platinum. She even toured the West African region, dazzling audiences with her performances in 1989. Suddenly, her releases became fewer and far between from the mid-90s, until her career grounded to a slow halt. Baba Fryo Friday Igwe, better known as Baba Fryo, was one of Nigeria’s famed ‘Ghetto Soldiers’ whose songs Dem Go Dey Pose (1996) and Kai Dey (released in the late 90s) earned lots of playing time and got him a huge following, especially in Ajegunle where he was raised. After Denge Pose came Notice Me and another, but these two could not match the success of the first and, gradually, his sounds, which he termed Afro Reggae Beat, suddenly faded off the scene. Recently, he promised to stage a comeback, but many have got to wondering when this will be. Etim Esin Etim Esin John is one player some fans remember today with nostalgia, long after he left the scene. The Oron, Akwa Ibom-born attacking midfielder started his football career at Oron United, from where he later went on to play for Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Flash Flamingoes, Calabar Rovers, AA Gent FC, Lokeren, Lierse SK, Kayserispor and Eagle Cement. He represented Nigeria at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1987 and in six FIFA World Cup qualification series matches. Today, Esin scouts for young footballing talents and trains them in Belgium. Saint Obi Obinna Nwafor, widely known as Saint Obi, is a Nigerian actor who was once one of Nollywood’s frontline actors. Nwafor drew and commanded a large crowd of fans via his role in movie like Sakobi, Goodbye Tomorrow, Heart of Gold, Festival of Fire, Executive Crime, Last Party and a lot of others. Nwafor produced his first movie Take Me to Mama in 2001 and, given its success, many expected more from him. But the talented actor disappeared suddenly and, while many wondered about his whereabouts and the reason he left, he is yet to launch a come-back. Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu Screen goddess-turned evangelist, Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu, was the desire of every producer. Her face was on every movie jacket and her role in Glamour Girls I & II caused her profile to rise and she easily became one of Nollywood’smbest, all between the early 1990s and 2000s. Now an evangelist, Anunobi-Ekwu’s face has been fading from the entertainment scene. Now a pastor, the challenge of balancing the pulpit and the screen can only be imagined. Gentle Jack Muscle mass Jack Orgor, well known as Gentle Jack caught the public’s eye when he appeared in the movie Vuga. The Macho Man of Nollywood did not only inspire awe in viewers; his colleagues in the industry also held him in high esteem. Orgor, who began acting in the ‘90s made his debut in Blood Money, a 1997 movie. However, after his stellar role in Vuga, he starred in a few others, but, in no time, very little was seen of him and, gradually, he went off the entertainment radar. Emeka Rollas-Ejezie Actor-cum musician Emeka Rollas came into limelight with his first and only hit. The two-hour music video aired on television some months after Tony One Week’s I Wanna Gyrate, Gyrate Master album. Rollas, who has made no other hit since then once contested for the position of the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) said he is busy with his Special Consultancy Projects but hopes to make a comeback in the entertainment industry soon. Comedian Jedi Though Jedi was ranked one of the worst Nigerian comedians on digital platform Nairaland in 2012, it is quite ironic that he was the first Nigerian to perform at the Carlin Academy in the UK. His last known show was in Lagos, March 28, 2013, One Man Stand Comedy. Although his comedy career may be on hold, he has his hands in sommany other projects and achievements from mentorship roles for prospective comedians, rare sickle cell campaigns to a stint in Gospel music. Original link Read More goo.gl/GX8Wkc (y) ✍comment ☏share
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 06:46:09 +0000
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