Today’s Musicians Better Than Musicians of Yesteryears – Don Pedro Okojie

By Charles Okogene
His name is Don Pedro Okojie. He came to limelight in the 1980/1990s as the manager of Alex Zitto of Walakolombo, Mike Okri of Omoge, and effervescent Onyeka Onwenu.
After managing the above acts to world stage, Okojie disappeared; he left the showbiz scene, migrated to London but years after and like they say that no place is like home, he returned.
Now, he is mulling with idea of staging a comeback to to the showbiz scene he left decades ago.
In this interview with Charles Okogene , he said that the now generation musicians are more creative than the older generation acts. Read on.
Where have you been?
I have always been in and around music privately and its always to do things at the right time as well.
I am currently developing on the television and film projects; I have worked with Ben Television in London, UK; my show, the Donpedro Show started like my past projects in music. I was never prepared when I started my musical journey, I was an artiste who failed to secure a recording contract and looking around, I found out that we were all searching for the same goal, so I started to act as a representative of my colleagues starting with Alex Zitto of the Tickle Me, Baby Walakolombo fame. When he became a star I realised he was earning 500% more than I, hence I decided the need to manage more than one act. Mike Okri was actually my second artiste after Zitto. I wanted to manage them both but Zitto couldn’t see me share my time promoting someone else and Time Na Money was really hitting the wave. Though, I love my love for Television and film making, I am still a music businessman and now that I am putting finishing touches to my studios in Lagos and Abuja I think its about time to venture back to my familiar territory.
How prepared are you to battle the scourge of piracy in the sector on one hand and the nuisances of artistes on the other hand?
In other to prepare for today, I started by educating myself about music, its future via technology, by attending South Thames College and studied Music Technology. I learnt about production, rhythms, keys etc then proceeded to study Music Business Management at the Westminster University to ground myself with the business in a different level compared to how I knew it before my studies.
Piracy is part of the entertainment pack. Without it some products will never get popular and famous. We don’t need to spend our strength pursing pirates, rather we should engage underground journalists to identify them, especial the major pinters. We need to dialogue with them and make them see that we are not enemies and work out juicy percentage as their commission per product. Digital technology can give watermarked products and with the up surge of online download, piracy is on the road to be eradicated.
I don’t think its nuisance as you put it, its sometimes complex, for a guy who was broke yesterday having to rely on your word and directions suddenly becomes a celebrity and you still deal with him as he was, there is bound to be friction. Its part of the pack, fame is most times, a monster. New friends spring up whispering, suggesting several things into the artiste ears; he starts acting strange, its normal. That’s why you must enter into a contractual agreement. I had contract with all my artistes in the past except Alex Zitto, Mr. Bankole Shodipo was my lawyer.
You made name as Mike Okri’s manager in his hey-day as Omogeman, can you brifely tell us the secret of your success then and why you had to leave him when you did?
I was lucky to have been introduced to Mike Okri by my late big brother, Ben King Iyere Okojie of Oto records, he was the top manager then. I use to follow my brother everywhere and he was getting very busy so he asked me if I can cope with two artistes, I told him I needed four. He introduced Mike and we became instant friends. I got mentors by going closer to older managers like Essien Akpabio who mentored me, would tell me so many scenarios of how to secure sponsors, organise live shows outside Lagos and recording contracts. Geraldo Pino also was my mentor as well, he opened the eastern Nigerian market, Port Harcourt, pricesly for me. I had a good rapport with nearly every entertainment writer, presenter/deejay across the country in nearly every radio and television stations. I was also close to librarians. The more successful my artiste become the more I send my thank you pack to all my affiliates in the industry as the case maybe.
I never left Mike OKRI; it was just a business decision among friends. Working with Onyeka Onwenu is no mean feat you have to be on your toes and really demanding. I had my arrangements for that as we were just concluding our contract with the Benson & Hedges music brand. Mike Okri was the first artiste under the arrangement, followed by Onyeka. I got the hint Onyeka was coming on board and I approached her and we signed a contract. It so happened that I held some meetings with Martin Griffins of the Benson & Hedges brand and he agreed that the brand will consider my suggestions of signing five major Nigerian artistes; my suggested artistes then were Dan Maraya Jos, King Sunny Ade, Bright Chimezie, Wasiu Ayinde and Funmi Adams. This was to happen before launching the Golden Tones, which was to be a scouting platform for upcoming acts to showcase their talents and subsequently absolved into the Benson & Hedges family. All these were going on behind the scene and at the same time, I managing two big artistes.
Finally, between the present day musicians and those of yester years, who do you think is more creative and talented?
I don’t think there has ever been a more creative or talented artiste from the older generation than the latest ones. The use of technology has changed the state and shape of music. Most old artistes are harping on the live plays, Use of instruments have replaced been by deejay and even miming. I say there are a lot of great new musicians now and I believe in them that’s why I am coming back, opening my label, INNERVISION MUSIC Ltd. I see a lot of talents out there and the future will be filled with thousands and more talents. Lets not get fooled by the notion that new artistes are not as good as the former in fact thay’re better
Culled frimy NewDawn