4th September, 2023
By Victoria Oluwayemi
Several years back, there appeared to be a sort of rivalry among Nollywood celebrities, each vying for a spot in the Nigerian music industry.
Numerous individuals launched singles, a handful even ventured into full albums, and a few went the extra mile by producing music videos. However, it seems that this era has since faded into obscurity, possibly because none of them managed to achieve significant success in an industry known for its cutthroat competition.
Let’s explore the works of certain Nollywood stars who ventured into the music scene but faced disappointment and failure.
Genevieve Nnaji
In 2004, Genevieve Nnaji, a prominent figure in Nollywood, decided to test the waters of the music industry. She signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label, and released her debut album “One Logologo Line”, a mix of R&B, hip hop, and urban music.
Genevieve’s aspiration to hit it big in music fell flat with no impact at all. In comparison, her colleague Omotola managed to garner slightly more attention with her song “Gba”. Recognizing that music wasn’t her skill, Genevieve decided to step back from it, while Omotola persevered with an unwavering determination to pursue her musical ambitions.
Tonto Dikeh
Known for her controversial persona, Tonto Dikeh ventured into music, collaborating with D’banj. She released singles like “Hi” and “Itz Ova.”The first track titled “Itz Ova”, is a breakup song produced by Teso Music and features the upcoming act, SNYPA while her second single, “Hi” is a funky, upbeat, and techno pop song.
She performed at Iyanya’s Kukere concert in London where she fell face down in 2013. Despite flashy music videos and collaborations, Tonto’s music career didn’t reach the heights she aimed for. It faced criticism and ultimately didn’t gain the expected traction.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Omotola, a revered actress, decided to explore music in 2005. She released songs like “Naija Lowa” and “The Things You Do to Me.” In 2010, Omotola hosted a two-day album launch event which was held at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites on September 24th, 2010, witnessed the presence of distinguished Nigerians but while Omotola gave her best effort, her music couldn’t match her acting prowess.
Patience Ozokwor (Mama G)
Mama G made a foray into the Nigerian music industry, releasing several videos for her songs, including “National Moi Moi” and “Iyo Ngwo Ngwo.”
Despite enjoying some success with her music videos, Mama G couldn’t sustain the momentum, as many assumed her songs were written and produced by others, with her simply miming them.
Jim Iyke
Jim Iyke, a well-known actor, released songs like “Who Am I” featuring 2Baba. He promoted his music career extensively on radio and television. Despite his concerted efforts and collaborations, Jim Iyke’s music career fell short of success. He ultimately returned to acting and other ventures. Jim understood that he failed woefully in music; his featuring Tuface in one of his songs didn’t even help salvage the situation. Jim publicly announced on stage while hosting the 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards with actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim, that “Actors should stick to what they do, including me”, after Nse teased him about his song “Who am II”.
Nkem Owoh (Osofia)
Nkem Owoh delved into music, releasing multiple videos to promote his music career, with songs like “I Go Chop Your Dollar” and “Akalaka.” Despite his comedic talents, Nkem Owoh couldn’t secure a lasting foothold in the music industry.
Stella Damasus
Stella Damasus had a musical background with her late husband. The star actress had been into music long before the ‘I can singer fever’ caught her colleagues. Stella used to sing with her late hubby, Jaye Aboderin. They had a band. Stella has a very nice voice. In 2012, Stella released a new single titled “Love Me Quick”. The track is best described as ‘Afro-soul’ and is her second release recording following the ‘Get Up’ song with Lamboginny. Despite her vocal talent, Stella Damasus didn’t make a significant impact in the music industry and continued focusing on her acting career.
Desmond Elliot
The prominent actor and politician ventured into the music scene but flopped strongly. He struggled to find his rhythm in singing secular songs, eventually turning to tunes more suited for adult churchgoers.