There are a number of things that can bring people together; music, food, drinks, games, and a collective goal. For the networking session, which was tagged Music & Meet, it was music, and the collective goal to boost the narrative that southeastern Nigeria has been building in previous years – to develop the music industry in Southeastern Nigeria. The event was successfully hosted by the three collaborating companies on the premises of Blueafric Media – the advertising, communications, and multimedia agency based in Enugu.
The Music & Meet commenced at 2 pm on the 24th of September, with the music-preneur, Talent Manager, and CEO of CamC Media, Mr. Benjamin Omesiete, as its chief speaker and guest of honour. Mr Omesiete commended the emergence of the new talents in Enugu State, and encouraged them to embrace the originality of their voices. That, while they had to pay close attention to role models, they also had to embrace their own voices and the uniqueness it gives them. He also advised them that, though starting may seem difficult, once you do that, other steps become clearer.
In the past few years, Enugu has been a beacon to the rest of the southeast, as it has become a hotspot for innovative and forward-minded movements. It is to be remembered that on 27th August, Blueafric Media and Blueprint Afric partnered with Tasck, Ignite, and renowned musicians MI, and Illbliss, to host the the Enugu #Iregistered and #Vote4Nigeria campaign as a movement to encourage Nigerians to collect their PVCs. Barely a month after, the Music & Meet also took place, maintaining a steady gear on developmental activities in the state.
One of the objectives of the event was to foster conversations that were growth-oriented, especially in a part of Nigeria like Enugu that features a variety of music genres like Ogene, Igbo Highlife, Afrobeats, and Igbo Rap, amongst others. Amidst the current advancement and the rapid expansion of the Nigerian music industry, the world has yet to recognise the huge contribution of the southeastern state to this segment of the nation’s ecosystem. In this regard, the Music & Meet was also set up to position Enugu, as a music ecosystem, on a global pedestal.
When the renowned Nigerian musician, Flavour, started his music career at 13, all he had was a pair of drumsticks and a big dream, playing at his church in Enugu, the heart of Southeastern Nigeria. In the same town, the famous Nigerian rapper, Phyno, was also raised. Phyno, just like Flavour, also started in his teens, armed with a pair of drumsticks and a piano, to build a music career that has grown to impact the whole of Africa and beyond. Despite earlier underestimation of talents in Enugu, the flames of the big dreams of these artistes in the coal city with its infamous red earth never waned. Since the outset – from the time of Late Celestine Ukwu and Mike Ejeagha – to this day, Enugu has been a centre for contemporary music and entertainment in Nigeria. The state has also gone along the way to produce a good number of famous artistes of all music genres into society, including Frank Edwards, Runtown, Illbliss, Bracket, Mr. Raw, Stormrex, Selebobo, J Martins, and Zoro, who never fails to represent his origin in his songs.
The Music & Meet event was characterised by an insightful knowledge exchange session during which Mr. Omesiete empahasised, “Music is more than what we see artistes do. Music also involves having the right team and the right knowledge of where you are and what you do because, without this, an artiste cannot establish himself, or herself, in global society.” In this light, Mr. Omesiete extensively highlighted the value of collaborations in the creative ecosystem, and its equivalent importance to music professionals.
Odera Collins, Blueafric Media’s Director of Experience and Operations, also spoke on how collaborations play a key role in fast tracking the growth of our ecosystem. It leads to increased individual and collective success, and improved communication. That is why the Music & Meet is very important to our creative society.” Marcswagz – event host, music artist, OAP, and programs manager at the Enugu-based radio, Dream FM – efficiently conducted the event as the Master of Ceremony (MC).
The event witnessed the attendance of a plethora of creatives and music enthusiasts – comprising talent managers, singers, songwriters, music producers, and DJs – who were both established and budding in the southeastern creative ecosystem.
After the session, the attendees affirmed that they acquired outstanding value from the conversations that were had. One of the attendees, with the Instagram handle, @mr__kaydee called it an “amazing lyrical hangout”, while @mr_dansey_original wrote, “It was a pleasure to fetch from the river of Mistah Ben’s experience and wisdom.” A budding creative, @winny_ezeme, also added, “I sincerly had a great time. The honest truth is that I was at a point where I was about to smash the quit button, but it seems that the event revived my passion again. I am ready to implement all that I was taught.”
