As a legendary international promoter showbiz guru and strategic creative economy stakeholder, I smirked with a mix bag of laughter and disdain when I read that Portable was the special guest artiste at the just concluded NBA conference resulting in a protest walkout by some concerned lawyers.
What led to this development?
Couldn’t the NBA have worked with professionals who understand basic events and brand ethics? How and why did the simple issue of booking the right artiste to perform at this noble event go wrong?
The story of Obi Cubana surprising the NBA with a guest artiste, as stated by the NBA PRO, is also interesting, to say the least. Couldn’t the privileged few who were privy to this surprise package advise accordingly or seek professional clarifications on other artistes’ options?
Or is it the Nigerian factor that eventually played out; guess you cannot give what you simply don’t have.
Did the NBA have to rely on a freebee that ultimately backfired spilling yoke all over their faces at the grand finale of a conference that could have otherwise been seen as successful? Surprises are great but not at this level, especially taking into cognizance the upright and noble reputation of the NBA.
This should not happen to the smallest organization in this country not to mention the NBA. Kudos, I must stress, to the bold lawyers that staged the walkout that ultimately publicized this issue.
Portable, I must stress as well, has no fault in this drama as he was professionally engaged to perform and perform he did. For brand perception purposes, certain acts will most certainly not suit specific events or brands.
Portable is a good artiste with a huge fan base, lawyers not exempted. An individual lawyer can showcase Portable at his party or event but not the NBA; simply put, for reason of brand perception and association.
It’s like inviting the late legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti to perform at a State House function with top functionaries, military etc present. What an irony that will turn out to be! Yes, most of them love Fela’s lyrics and they understand and appreciate the message therein but publicly endorsing him would have constituted a wrong perception on other aspects of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s life and stance.
Artistes profiling is about lyrics and brand perception and we must simply understand that there are some brands that will not just go down well with certain artistes. It’s like prospecting for brand ambassadors without due diligence. Promotion 101 puts the onus on the organizers to present a list of acts that will suite the gig. The NBA, on its part, also has to dutifully send fillers out to members on their preferred artistes and possible options A B and C.
Nigeria is blessed with millions of highly talented artistes as exemplified with the global acceptance as such; this should not be happening. The statement by a lawyer threatening to sue Portable for bad performance is also very comical. Was he involved in the performance contract and terms?
The major fault lies with the NBA and whoever they engaged or relied on, according to the NBA PRO, to make this happen; even if it was a freebee or a surprise as he called it, this WAHALA WAHALA could simply have been avoided.
Moving forward, it is expected that the NBA, living to its noble status, will constitute a committee to look into the real cause of this WAHALA WAHALA and AWUUUF wey don run dem belle!
•Written By LAFACE
