NIGERIA: A NIGERIAN MUSICIAN HAS INVENTED HIS OWN KIND OF MUSIC - BODY BEATS

Record ID: 392850

  • Title: NIGERIA: A NIGERIAN MUSICIAN HAS INVENTED HIS OWN KIND OF MUSIC - BODY BEATS
  • Date: 2nd July 2002
  • Summary: SV OMOTOYE LOOKING AT CDS AT A STALL (2 SHOTS) SV/CU OMOTOYE REHEARSING WITH STUDENTS (3 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Entertainment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3AB1JEXDAV6B3J7IMPY0W6GQO
  • Story Text: Joseph Omotoye, currently known as Joe-Joe is a Nigerian musician, has recently been working on his first album. But it's an album with a difference....as it probably won't have any credits for the usual instruments like guitars, trumpets, or keyboards. Instead his body is wired for sound.
    Joe-Joe has invented his own kind of music. He calls it body beats. Just by tapping on parts of his body, Joe-Joe can produce a variety of sounds.
    "Body Beats" has become a regular feature on many stages in Lagos, Joe-Joe also gets to show off his voice, and skills on the talking drum.
    Apart from performing at various night-clubs and working hard on the upcoming album, Joe-Joe regularly works on improving his skills. He likes to get together with theatre arts students at the University of Lagos.
    It's hard for most Nigerian musicians to makemeet.The industry is virtually dead. So when he's not practising or performing, Joe-Joe works as a hairdresser.
    To become a successful man in this field of entertainment you have to have something to back you up. In Nigeria you have to have something that will support you to keep you and your life going.
    Apart from stars like Femi Kuti, very few can make a living out of their art. Copyright laws are largely ignored and pirated copies of popular albums are readily available.
    These are tough conditions, but Joe-Joe doesn't stop dreaming.
    His dreams will not be easy to achieve. But Joe-Joe is ready to keep making music and perhaps one day they will come true.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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