Bob Ejike In Global Launch

Written by Mary E. Ajayi Friday, 28 October 2011

Dubai-based prodigious artiste, Professor Bob Ejike has launched a 65-songs compilation of his music. This grand outing is the initiative of a consortium of international marketing labels with which Ejike reached an understanding. The collection is now available for download and streaming on major world music websites including Amazon, Apple itunes, Myspace music, Youtube, Reverbnation, Cdbaby, Spotify, Rhapsody, including bob ejike's facebook page, and several other music websites and will soon be released to record shops.

This release includes great hits like Dancehall, Higher, Cry, Higher, All Through the Night, We are Family, Gimi Gimi, Do me, Do Me, Funky Prof, Africa My Africa, Nambi, Bright Eyes, This is the Night, and Egwu Oma. Other titles included are Bob Ejike classics Does Your Mama Know, No Vacancy, and, Iyawo Mi and Sala Maleku Africa. Ejike, critically acclaimed as one of the most talented persons on the planet, is the pioneer of Nigerian film industry, Nollywood.

The seductively handsome former super model is also a lecturer, an actor, a novelist, art critic, columnist, biographer, TV presenter and personality, film and video producer, director, editor, and Nollywood international promoter.Bob Ejike, tagged Nigerian King of Pop by local media and known for his column in The Sunday Sun, his presentation of NTA programme Tropical Rhythms, his music, films, and his pioneering role in the creation of Africa's greatest film industry, Nollywood, stayed in East Africa for the last 5 years where he created the Professor Bob Ejike Foundation for Performing Arts (Probe), which owns five recording studios that aided indigent artistes, and helped Uganda in its bid to create an indigenous film industry.

Ejike also worked on a number of international movies and built a cultural bridge that led to various forms of artistic exchange between East and West Africa, helping to popularize Nigerian films, actors and musicians around the world.

 The multitalented artiste whose vocal abilities were developed by Reverend Chris Okotie,(whom he still names as his musical mentor), fingered his greatest achievement as writing the first known Nollywood film, Echoes of Wrath ( NAFEST Award winner, featuring Richard Mofe-Damijo), which launched the third biggest film industry in the world.

 Two decades ago the multiple award-winning artiste predicted that Nollywood would switch over to music and Nigeria would rule the African music market. How did he know? Ejike replied, 'It was clear to see. We already had a marketing platform and an intricate distribution network capable of putting a work of art in any world capital within a week, in Alaba market, thanks to Nollywood. It is much cheaper to produce an album than a movie' Ejike just finished acting in two Nigerian films with locations in Italy, Too Late for Sin, and Sew and Reap, shot the video for his new single Money Dey in the Italian peninsula and concluded a packed concert in Dubai's Garrage Night Club. His latest videos can be found in utube, myspace and several music websites. Bob Ejike's artistery soon took him to Italy where he went to graduate school and became a lecturer at UPTER.

He spent much of his spare time promoting African arts and movies through public lectures and exhibitions. Ejike lived and worked in many countries of Europe prior to his transfer to Uganda and his eventual relocation to Dubai This is one of the biggest collection of songs from a single African musician in recent times and a rare opportunity for music lovers. Bob Ejike was born in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. As a child he could compose stories and write rhymes, and many were convinced that he had inherited the artistic creativity of his maternal grandfather Sam Obinwa, a second world war veteran who entertained troops with his guitar and musical compositions. When he was 13, Ejike became Africa’s youngest poet, columnist, editor and theatre director. He wrote for the Daily Star, edited the poetry corner in The Democrat, and ran a theatre group which was coordinated by Moses Onyeabor, (elder brother of the Eastern Nigerian superstar Willy Onyeabor).

 At 16, while a student of Government College, Umuahia, Bob Ejike started writing for Drum Magazine, sharing the short story page with Booker Price and Commonwealth Price for Literature laureate, Ben Okri. Thereafter, he began scripting drama for radio and TV stations throughout Nigeria and appearing regularly on entertainment programmes. His plays were produced in Radio Plateau by Suleiman Adara, in Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, by Duro Solomon, in Radio Nigeria Enugu, by Jide Ogungbade, In NTA Benin by Festus Ighalo, in NTA Port Harcourt by Comish Ekiye. He joined the ABSTV Playhouse under Edith Stelly-Orji, and debuted as an actor, sharing the screen with Nkem Owoh (Osuofia), Ejike Asiegbu, and Kanayo O Kanayo.

 In 1982, his film Echoes of Wrath, directed by Festus Ighalo, won the NAFEST (National Arts Festival), launched Richard Mofe-Damijo, and gained commercial success, becoming the first ever Nigerian film on home video.

 As a guest on Sam Okoh’s Soundcity, he met Wonder Boy Chris Okotie and they became friends. The music superstar taught Ejike the rudiments of musical composition and vocal control. The apprentice started writing melodies and converting his poems into songs. He later gained admission into the Faculty of Humanities, University of Port Harcourt, where he came under the influence of great writers and artistes like Professor Ola Rotimi, Gabriel Okara, Elechi Amadi, I.N.C Aniebo, Chidi Amuta, among others, who helped sharpen his art. He performed severally with Dizzy K Falola, Jide Obi, Daniel Wilson, Cloud 7, and Geraldo Pino.

 During his National Youth Service at Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu, Ejike released his first album No Vacancy, addressing youth unemployment. He commenced acting on NTA Lagos, performing on entertainment programmes in the state. He returned to Uniport on a musical tour sponsored by the British Council.

 After his service year, Bob Ejike went back to Enugu and joined the cast of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Basi and Co, as an actor and scriptwriter. Around this period, he was involved in the production of Okpuru Anyanwu, the second Nigerian home video film, in his village Oba, in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, thus kick-starting the Nigerian film renaissance, Nollywood.　　

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form