I was taken aback when I heard the Nigerian rapper Jude Abaga popularly called M.I., saying he has left Chocolate City, the record label I thought he co-owned and cofounded with Audu Maikori. Chocolate City made a big beep in my radar when they released the hit single Oleku by Ice Prince featuring one of Nigeria’s most gifted musicians, Brymo. In the following years, I would read about Brymo’s travails at the record label and how the episode almost ruined his career. Nigerian record label entrepreneurs from Kenny Ogungbe’s Kennis Music to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, keep repeating the same mistake and in the process toy with the career, fame, and fortune of their gifted sign-ons. Entertainment is one of Nigeria’s most sustainable and important export to the Black race and the world, hence, stakeholders must take their responsibilities seriously.

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A teenager recently posted a Tik Tok video of how Don Jazzy was made (find link above). In this video, many viewers would laugh at the humor and truthfulness of the narrative, but ignore the instructive messages. The teen noted in the video that Don Jazzy is more interested in cleavages than leveraging the career of his musicians. A scroll through Don Jazzy’s Instagram page will confirm this sad fact. You would wonder if this is the same individual who has Rema, Crayon, Korode Bello, and other super talented artists in his stable. I often wonder where he finds the time to do these lackluster comedy skits that this teen also alluded to in his video. We often criticize African political and religious leaders, but many of our business leaders are guilty of a shortsightedness that is arguably equivalent to the corrupt practices of our politicians. Many of these business leaders who could have achieved global influence to uplift our economy and people, end up as uninspiring national heavyweights like the Koko Mister because they cannot delay gratification.

Don Jazzy has already lost the Mavin Queen, Tiwa Savage, because his leadership has nothing bigger or better to offer. If he does not get his act right, the Mavin Prince, Rema would soon outgrow him and his label the way Wizkid outgrew Banky W. So, I appeal to him to go back to his first love of creating hits and hitmakers and promoting them to global heights which he erroneously thinks he is still doing. Quincy Jones helped to ripen Michael Jackson at an older age. Rema is exceptionally gifted and favored. His global conquests are not a result of Don Jazzy’s professionalism. He should not be deceived. Rema had appeared on Channels TV has a musician before Don Jazzy heard his name. Mavin Records did not discover him, he discovered Mavin Records. We should all introspect about how we manage our time, talents, and the resources available to us which includes living in an age where you carry the world’s opportunities in your smartphone. Because one day, we will all give an account of how we utilized what we have been given.

Ata Ukuta – Editor, www.towncryyers.com

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