Musicians in the Enyimba City of Aba, Abia State have cried out for help as a result of the media marginalization they are receiving from the state based media outfits.
The artistes stated that even when there are many media outfits based in the city and state as a whole, they are hardly looked at and it has become a huge reason why contemporary music is close to something that is not in existence in that area.
An artiste said they have in the past been accused of working with bad producers but in the recent times, that trend has changed and almost all the best producers in the country have their signatures in their songs and there is no reason why the same marginalization should continue.
“Aba based artistes have worked with top producers who made national hits. Their songs are equally on the same page but the radio stations will never give us attention close to what they give the others.
Our people live in this city, they want to hear our songs and dance to it, but the only people who are supposed to do it for us, don’t give us any form of attention. This is not fair at all” They lamented.
“Xten, Exnel, Six2boi, Babyboy, Evidence, BC, Master G, Rolexboi, Collenshy, Krystal and others have been working with big producers in Nigeria as well as Aba based super producers like Obosky, Donseth, shakerman, chibysky Six2boi and Dalukes, yet songs like Xten’s ‘dorotido’; Exnel’s ‘uwa na acho ikpu’; Babyboy’s ‘I am sorry’; Evidence’s ‘Show your ticket’; Six2boi’s ‘Ana eko’ and Master G’s ‘hustler’s prayer’ are not being heard in Aba based media houses and promoters like DJ Kolo, Osinanwata Production, Senior Mixes, Another Level and even OAP’s always organize programs, selections and mixtapes for the likes of Phyno, Olamide, Patoranking, D’banj, Davido, Wizkid and others which gives them more attention thereby killing the existence and circulation of Aba made songs”
Another section also believe that radio and TV stations in Aba are not the only ones guilty of this, but all players in the entertainment media industry including the Disk Jockeys and print media.
They also have it that this lack of attention is also a reason why there will never be a big artiste from Aba aside Ruff Coin, who got most of his media promotions outside the state.
“If the media here can’t celebrate us, the people will never know us and will never celebrate us. People need to watch our videos, they need to hear our songs and only the radio and TV stations can do it for us.
“People believe what they hear and sometimes instead of keeping quiet, they go on air to say we are not good enough which makes people see us as never do wells. This has to stop if we must grow in any way.
“One thing they will always forget is that it we don’t become big, they will never receive big money from us. It’s a give and take thing and they have to kick start it.
“Things like Enyimba top 10, songs of the week, songs of the month will attract more attention to Aba music industry as a whole and eventually boost the music industry.
“Gentle, who is seen as a younger version of Tuface in the country is well known in places like Lagos, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Port Harcourt, etc but he is hardly known in Aba as he could walk freely in the city without recognition. He is popular in those states because of the massive airplay”
They also nailed Aba based blog like currentnaija.com, africanbaze.com, abamp3.com, Ameboworld.net, Apokanation.com and Netnaija.com in the saga as people who would rather go on hyping artistes from other parts of the country they have never met, rather than talk about the ones they wine and dine with on daily basis.
“We are our problem and until we change it, nothing will happen”, the artiste complained.
