In 2005, when Alex Okosi successfully led the launch of MTV Base in Africa, he forever changed the landscape of Nigerian entertainment. The Viacom owned channel was finally extended to the African market and Alex spearheaded that move.
2Baba’s African Queen was the first Nigerian music video to play on MTV Base. MTV Base, at the time of launch, provided the much-needed platform for Nigerians artists at that time. They needed the platform, the exposure and the experience and all of this was provided through MTV Base. As a result of the involvement of MTVBase, videos got better, content improved and overall, Nigerian artists were performing better.
2Baba replying Toolz on the impact that MTV Base has had on his career ‘They have been a huge part of my growth. When they came, they just opened it all up. They introduced us to other parts of Africa and I think that was a major thing that MTV did. Before then, it was Nigeria for Nigerians, only a few African artists were known around the world, but MTV came and broke all those barriers.’
15 years later Nigerian music has recorded global success. Speaking on the effect that the MTV exposure and partnership meant for their work and act, D’banj shares, ‘We were working in an unstructured structure… it gave us that visible hope that it was closer than we thought’
‘Here I am this young kid, a night before the awards, making these songs…meeting D’banj and 2Face, hanging out with these guys and there’s a spark, talking about we should do this more… and today, it’s a real thing. The intent that Kelly and D’banj perform together, that intent actually created a move in the industry and it’s taking over the world…’ MI speaking on the first MTV Africa Music Award, shared this at Alex Okosi’s celebration party that was held on Saturday, February 8th 2020.
The impact of the work of one man has spiralled several years, providing a global platform for Nigerian and African artists, and a channel through which African talent has been presented to the world.
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by 208headlines