As 2018 draws to a close, there appears to be a lull in entertainment activities that would have engaged the services of many Nigerian entertainers, especially musicians as some of them now seem to devise new means fattening their accounts this Yuletide.
Investigation conducted by R revealed that Lagos, adjudged as the entertainment hub of the country, is feeling the heat as most of the artistes resident in the state are said to be waiting on shows that would improve their fortunes.
While the shows appear not to be coming as expected, some of them are said to be jetting out of the country, claiming to be performing on tours, which investigation revealed may not be true.
The lull in activities, R gathered, may be connected to what some stakeholders believed to be the adverse effect of the economic downturn in the outgoing year, as some corporate bodies that could have sponsored some of the events, are said to be counting losses.
While fears seemed to have gripped some entertainers over the development, others are said to be embracing other trades, just as a handful of them are planning concerts towards the end of the year.
Save for popular acts like Olamide, Davido, Mayorkun, Wizkid among others, who have the financial war-chest to stage concerts have reportedly begun sketchy preparations for their concerts, others are said to be waiting on corporate organisations for sponsorship.
With less than 50 days to the end of the year, major gigs that usually shape the end of the year and put smiles on the faces of the entertainers, are being threatened due to lack of financial support.
A popular entertainer, who did not want his name mentioned, told R that many factors may be responsible for the lack of funds and activities that some of them have been complaining about.
According to the source, who operates a popular night club business in the state, “entertainers may not have it rosy this December due to a number of factors ranging from lack of funds from the public and corporate organistions to the impending change in government in the state.”
He said the failure of the governor to secure a second term ticket in office might have cast a doubt on some of the activities that keep the city alive towards the end of the year.
“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who has been throwing his weight behind such activities in the last three years, is not returning for second term. What that tells you is that the man may not show the kind of intrerest his government has shown over the past three years.
“I don’t think he would be interested bankrolling events this year. Some of the events usually sponsored by the state government may suffer because of this factor,” the source said.
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