Some
of Nigeria’s leading comedians have signed up for the fifth edition of Nigerian
entertainment conference holding in Lagos on April 26, 2017.
Now
in its fifth year, NECLive is
the umbrella conference for the entertainment industry in Nigeria, providing an
opportunity for strategic discussions, and a marketplace for ideas, products
and services.
The
organisers say this year’s edition will focus on how Nigerian entertainment,
and indeed entertainment from Africa is finding renewed favour with fans at
home, and the world over.
In
2016, Nollywood movies surpassed Hollywood and Bollywood in cinema earnings and
the share of customer voice, in Nigeria. Nigerian music finally went global,
riding on the back of our peculiar pop music, and nomadic musicians. The
world’s attention has understandably shifted to Africa with funders, labels,
producers, and awards looking to play within the region. Nigeria is at the fore
of this new wave, but places like Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana are
equally well positioned.
Has
the time come for Africa to provide entertainment for the major percentage of
the world’s 7 billion people? They say we tell a different kind of story in
Africa; we have a rare, peculiar sound. And they’re buying it from America to
London and Singapore. Back home, the booming youth populations are also more
interested in local content like never before. From Iroko to Mavin and Africa
Magic, the numbers show audiences on the continent are increasingly embracing
our creativity; millions are choosing their own local entertainment over the
imported.
But
the diverse entertainment industries are still struggling. The structure to rip
the dividend of the boom continues to lie comatose. From weak government
policies to unsustainable business models, it appears we have plenty work to
do, if we are to benefit from what’s coming in significant ways. It could
indeed be time for Africa. But what does this mean for the industry players?
What do we need to know? To do? And how can we make sure we do not collectively
miss this opportunity?
One
of the industry’s leading that change is comedy, and NECLive5 will feature some
of the most important players in the sector, from pathfinders Ali Baba and Opa
Williams, to trail blazers Basketmouth, Basorge Tariah, Tee A, Frank Donga, and
Teju Babyface. This year will feature a workshop on comedy, featuring
established and fast rising acts.
Happening
just a month before the recently announced Eko Comedy Festival, NECLive is placing a well-deserved
attention to an industry best described, just like Nollywood, as a rose that
grew out of concrete.
‘Our
comedians are superstars everywhere. From Mr. Ibu to Aki n Paw Paw, Bovi, I go
Dye, Baba Suwe, Basketmouth, Ali Baba, Tee A, Okon, Gbenga Adeyinka, Julius
Agwu and Gandoki. They’ve carved out a sub-industry, groomed it, expanded it,
and exported it with little support from government or organisation. They’ve
dominated stand up, TV, music, and now they’re redefining home entertainment
through what the likes of AY, Kayode Peters, Bunmi Davies and others a doing in
Nollywood. It’s time to revisit how it all started, discuss what their
individual and collective successes mean for the rest of the industry and our
continent, take lessons from what’s worked and what’s not, and design a path to
a good future’, conference founder Ayeni Adekunle said today.
NECLive5 will
hold at Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday
April 26, 2017. The conference will be hosted by Tee A,
for the fifth year running.
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