- Title: Nigeria's ''Incredible Kids'' dance to turn their lives around
- Date: 6th May 2022
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JOSHUA ANUM WALKING HOME VARIOUS OF ANUM WITH HIS MOTHER AND SIBLINGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOSHUA ANUM’S MOTHER, VERA ANUM, SAYING: ‘’People at home were saying oh, his own has finished, because someone whose hand is amputated from childhood, what can he do? I was hoping to god, hoping on to god and to god be the glory, see him today. At least the whole world is seeing him, watching him while he is performing. I’m so happy.’’ VARIOUS OF INCREDIBLE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL VARIOUS OF MALIKI EMMANUEL PAINTING ARTWORK ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF SHOES IN FRONT OF A DOOR DANCE VIDEO PLAYING ON A PHONE VARIOUS OF INCREDIBLE KIDS AND EMMANUEL WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER, THE INCREDIBLE KIDS, MALIKI EMMANUEL, SAYING: ‘’I’m looking at taking more kids, but I want these ones to grow first. When we have created a brand, let the brand be big then we can recruit more kids. Kids that are on the street that do not have what they are doing and that have the talent of dancing, or some that wish to dance and love dance. I can teach them and bring them to the crew also.’’ (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) DANCER, JOSHUA ANUM, SAYING: ‘’I believe that when I am dancing, I do not feel anything, I am free and feel like I have two hands, and that nothing has happened to me.’’
- Embargoed: 20th May 2022 11:01
- Keywords: Artist Dancers Incredible kids Music
- Location: ABUJA, NIGERIA
- City: ABUJA, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Africa,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA008609905052022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As a disabled child growing up in Nigeria, Joshua Anum did not see internet stardom in his future.
He and his eight siblings, abandoned by their father, barely had enough to eat.
Now the 15-year-old, who lost his left arm in an accident, is part of a dance group called "The Incredible Kids" that has a growing Instagram following and a packed performance schedule.
‘’Before I joined this team, I partied a lot and I was always fighting. I did not go to school. But since I joined this dance group, I now go to school, I read, and I dance. I do not do all those negative things anymore,’’ said Anum.
In one of their most popular videos, with 55,000 views, the six skinny kids dance in a yard with firewood behind them.
Led by five-year-old Emmanuella Micah, they do fast-paced routines to popular Nigerian songs, with impressive moves and endearing grins.
The children live with Maliki Emmanuel, a dancer and founder of the group, in the outskirts of Abuja.
Most came from difficult family situations and found his home to be a kind of refuge.
‘’It intrigues me, I am happy when I dance and I know dance will take me somewhere, that is why I love dancing. Dancing is my portion,’’ says Emmanuella Micah.
“When I am doing rehearsals, I used to see some of these kids, they will come around, watching me. Some of them are on the street dancing, so I just decided to pick them up and train them so that they can achieve from the dance. And so since then when I started I’ve been supporting them with my art work. Like when I sell artwork I use it to pay some of their school fees till one day that Don Jazzy gifted us one million naira and that was when we came to limelight,’’ Emmanuel told Reuters.
And with that gift from the Nigerian music producer, came stardom for the group, now they get invitations to perform at events.
Joshua's mother, Vera Anu, said she despaired when his arm had to be amputated at the age of five, after he fell off a mango tree.
His mother couldn't afford his school fees, but the proceeds from performances now cover them for him and the other dancers.
‘’People at home were saying oh, his own has finished, because someone whose hand is amputated from childhood, what can he do? I was hoping to god, hoping on to god and to god be the glory, see him today. At least the whole world is seeing him, watching him while he is performing. I’m so happy,’’ Joshua’s mother, Vera Anum said.
Apart from dance routines, the team also finds time to play when they get back from school, giving their coach – Emmanuel - time to continue his painting jobs.
On a recent afternoon, the children gathered around Emmanuel as he sat in an armchair in their living room, watching music videos to get ideas for new routines.
The group has charmed audiences in Abuja and Lagos, and as their fame grows, founder Emmanuel said he hopes their numbers will too.
“I’m looking at taking more kids, but I want these ones to grow first. When we have created a brand, let the brand be big then we can recruit more kids. Kids that are on the street that do not have what they are doing and that have the talent of dancing, or some that wish to dance and love dance.
I can teach them and bring them to the crew also,’’ Emmanuel said.
‘’I believe that when I am dancing, I do not feel anything, I am free and feel like I have two hands, and that nothing has happened to me,’’ said Joshua.
Emmanuel says he is able to connect with the kids because he also grew up never having enough or sure of the next day.
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