After watching a music
reality show audition on local TV and saw the pain of a contestant
booted by the judges because he rendered a Fuji tune, Okikiola
Ilori-Shabba decided to contrive her own reality show named ‘Opolo Orin’
to cater strictly for undiscovered, talented Yoruba singers.
Personally, the 30-year old business management graduate and CEO of
Candiva Signature Empire record label even has more compelling twists to
her life story
In October 2012, Okikiola, affectionately nicknamed Candy, celebrated
her first birthday party ever- the party had been in the works since
she was five. For a daughter born to two of Nigeria’s traditional music
legends, Fuji icon, Alhaji Kollington Ayinla and Waka Queen, Salawa
Abeni, birthday celebrations should not be hard to come by, but Candy
had a dream.
“I’ve been planning my party since I was five. When I turned 18, my mum was determined to do something, but it was more of her party. As a child, I had always dreamed of having a party and doing something no one’s done before. Sometime last year, I told my mum that I wanted a red carpet event; many people thought I was joking. My birthday is actually in May but I moved it to October so that my best friend who lives in England would be able to attend”, she explained.
Not only did her ‘BFF’ make the handpicked- guest-list event, but music veterans like her mother, Salawa Abeni and contemporary stars such as Ice Prince, ‘Denrele Edun, Tillaman and JJC turned up for Candy’s themed celebration.
It is the same flair Candy brings to her show ‘Opolo Orin’ (Talent for Music), an initiative which sprung out of the urge to create an environment where contemporary indigenous music talents can find expression and realise their dreams of making music. Like a dazzle, the project came from an overnight flash of inspiration and Candy pointed out that is how most of her best ideas arrive.
“After seeing ‘Baba Panorama’, an elderly man, being asked to leave an audition venue because he was singing in Yoruba, I laughed so hard and kept sharing the hilarious story with friends. Until one night, it struck me in the middle of a conversation with a friend about Baba Panorama that here was exactly what I should do; create a platform for budding artistes across all genres of music, the only thing is that they are singing in Yoruba language”, Candy stated
Candy immediately set to work sharing the vision with family, friends and just about anyone who could buy into the project. “My mum said if you want to do something in Yoruba music you can’t call it the ‘Next Fuji Star’. She suggested ‘Opolo Orin’ to accommodate even the bus conductors and drivers whom she described as receptacles of talent”.
Despite her ongoing conversation with corporate organisations for sponsorship, a lot of Candy’s personal funds have gone into the project alongside the backing of her parents. However, she finds encouraging Facebook messages received from radio stations which want to be a part of the initiative.
“It’s been amazing because virtually everyone who’s been involved on this project has been supportive. My presiding judges are Dele Abiodun, Laolu Akins and Salome Akintunde”.
Lagos audition starts on Sunday, January 20 at Lagos Television Studio, Agindingbi, Ikeja after which the audition train moves to other Western states. Open to all ages of contestants, “Opolo Orin” will be televised live on LTV and there is a fixed reward for the first prize winner –N1m cash, promotional deals and the cost of producing the first album covered by the organisers. There will also be all-expenses paid tour encompassing the winner and 9ice or Olamide in the Hip-Hop category or K1 the Ultimate for Fuji. According to Candy, the opportunities are boundless because the reality show will witness a lot of promoters and marketers in the audience.
“Every week is a different journey. For Juju music week, we have Sir Shina Peters as a guest judge and for hip-hop week, we have Olamide and LKT. For Fuji music week, we have K-1 De Ultimate and for Afrobeat week, Femi Kuti. And then, there is a beautiful grand finale but that is going to be a surprise”, Candy revealed.
The England-trained business graduate is also excited about Sherriff, her younger brother, whose fledging music career is about to take off soon. Singed onto Candiva Signature, Big Sheff’s career had to be put on hold until he fulfils their mother’s wish that he bags a University degree before launching fulltime into the industry. Already, Sheff is in his final year and working on some music behind the scene including a guest feature on Rick Ross’ “Hold me Back” video shot in Nigeria last year and recording the theme song for “Opolo Orin”.
Sharing her insights about the entertainment industry as whole, Candy admits the industry is growing, but not without its pitfalls. “If you are a business-oriented person, you will get it right. I have a lot of respect for Banky W, he is a fantastic business man because I think of something and he does it and I ask myself, ‘is someone leaking the information to this dude?’ That’s a business man; he gets paid to do what he loves. Some people just want to be recognised and that’s all. They’ve got nothing to show for it; but I’m different”.
Queen Salawa Abeni and Candy at her birthday event
“I’ve been planning my party since I was five. When I turned 18, my mum was determined to do something, but it was more of her party. As a child, I had always dreamed of having a party and doing something no one’s done before. Sometime last year, I told my mum that I wanted a red carpet event; many people thought I was joking. My birthday is actually in May but I moved it to October so that my best friend who lives in England would be able to attend”, she explained.
Not only did her ‘BFF’ make the handpicked- guest-list event, but music veterans like her mother, Salawa Abeni and contemporary stars such as Ice Prince, ‘Denrele Edun, Tillaman and JJC turned up for Candy’s themed celebration.
It is the same flair Candy brings to her show ‘Opolo Orin’ (Talent for Music), an initiative which sprung out of the urge to create an environment where contemporary indigenous music talents can find expression and realise their dreams of making music. Like a dazzle, the project came from an overnight flash of inspiration and Candy pointed out that is how most of her best ideas arrive.
“After seeing ‘Baba Panorama’, an elderly man, being asked to leave an audition venue because he was singing in Yoruba, I laughed so hard and kept sharing the hilarious story with friends. Until one night, it struck me in the middle of a conversation with a friend about Baba Panorama that here was exactly what I should do; create a platform for budding artistes across all genres of music, the only thing is that they are singing in Yoruba language”, Candy stated
Candy immediately set to work sharing the vision with family, friends and just about anyone who could buy into the project. “My mum said if you want to do something in Yoruba music you can’t call it the ‘Next Fuji Star’. She suggested ‘Opolo Orin’ to accommodate even the bus conductors and drivers whom she described as receptacles of talent”.
Despite her ongoing conversation with corporate organisations for sponsorship, a lot of Candy’s personal funds have gone into the project alongside the backing of her parents. However, she finds encouraging Facebook messages received from radio stations which want to be a part of the initiative.
“It’s been amazing because virtually everyone who’s been involved on this project has been supportive. My presiding judges are Dele Abiodun, Laolu Akins and Salome Akintunde”.
Lagos audition starts on Sunday, January 20 at Lagos Television Studio, Agindingbi, Ikeja after which the audition train moves to other Western states. Open to all ages of contestants, “Opolo Orin” will be televised live on LTV and there is a fixed reward for the first prize winner –N1m cash, promotional deals and the cost of producing the first album covered by the organisers. There will also be all-expenses paid tour encompassing the winner and 9ice or Olamide in the Hip-Hop category or K1 the Ultimate for Fuji. According to Candy, the opportunities are boundless because the reality show will witness a lot of promoters and marketers in the audience.
“Every week is a different journey. For Juju music week, we have Sir Shina Peters as a guest judge and for hip-hop week, we have Olamide and LKT. For Fuji music week, we have K-1 De Ultimate and for Afrobeat week, Femi Kuti. And then, there is a beautiful grand finale but that is going to be a surprise”, Candy revealed.
The England-trained business graduate is also excited about Sherriff, her younger brother, whose fledging music career is about to take off soon. Singed onto Candiva Signature, Big Sheff’s career had to be put on hold until he fulfils their mother’s wish that he bags a University degree before launching fulltime into the industry. Already, Sheff is in his final year and working on some music behind the scene including a guest feature on Rick Ross’ “Hold me Back” video shot in Nigeria last year and recording the theme song for “Opolo Orin”.
Sharing her insights about the entertainment industry as whole, Candy admits the industry is growing, but not without its pitfalls. “If you are a business-oriented person, you will get it right. I have a lot of respect for Banky W, he is a fantastic business man because I think of something and he does it and I ask myself, ‘is someone leaking the information to this dude?’ That’s a business man; he gets paid to do what he loves. Some people just want to be recognised and that’s all. They’ve got nothing to show for it; but I’m different”.
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