How young Nigerian earns a living ‘stealing’ from late American billionaire
– Dance artists Michael Obi and Michael Igbelagbo speak on their journeys to greatness as stage performers in Nigeria
– Igbelagbo and his group have performed for some of Nigeria’s biggest stars and he says it’s all about God’s blessings
– For Obi, it’s been a thrilling experience as he’s had to rely on ideas from the late American pop icon Michael Jackson
Creativity is a gift and can earn many an individual several accolades as well as financial rewards.
Channels TV recently caught up with a dance group led by Michael Obi and the young man revealed how far he’s managed to thrive based on dancing.
And what’s funny about this case is that Michael mimics dance moves from late pop legend Michael Jackson to thrill his audience and he has grown over the years into almost a household name.
How young Nigerian man earns a living ‘stealing’ from late American billionaire
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He said: “I’m a big fan of MJ really, from my tender age. It started as a hobby, as one of his number one fans and all of a sudden started developing his skills and with constant practice I just found myself doing it.
“When I put on that [MJ] costume and we are about to go on stage, I’m always nervous, because I’d be like ‘can I really do this?’ ‘I hope I don’t flop, I hope the audience don’t boo me out but when I step on stage I get overwhelmed, there is this confidence I gain in myself that ‘you know what, I can do this, let’s just entertain the crowd, lemme just relate with them’ and all of a sudden I just find myself doing it.
“When you make a mistake on stage, you take advantage of it. That’s what promotes the professionalism in you, that’s what promotes the originality in you. So whenever I lose my steps, whenever I fall out of my routines or choreography, I just try my possible best to bring off using something different to make it look as if it’s all choreographed [with] the routine.”
Michael Obi is a Graphics Arts student of the Yaba College of Technology and he manages to juggle his academics with his growing dance career. He added that he is a regular guy who has gotten nothing but encouragement from his lecturers and colleagues in school.
The entertainer stated that dancing has helped pay his tuition, clothe him and provide for his other needs as a student.
If this wasn’t entertainment, Michael Obi would probably be under fire for ‘stealing’ another man’s creative ideas and passing them off as his in that he is an absolute Michael Jackson replica.
But with the mention of creativity comes the reminder that nothing is new under the sun. In addition, the young Nigerian’s innovations and modifications here and there allow him enjoy a sizable fan base and following in Nigeria.
Ideas are not outrightly quantifiable, they can only be rewarded that’s why inventors can never get enough for their creations.
According to a 2015 report from Realty Today, the late American pop icon who was worth $600 million blew up to $2 billion in total estimate of his estate just six years after his death.
In March 2016, Gobankingrates.com reported the deal which saw Sony purchase half of the late pop icon’s Sony/ATV Music catalog with a whooping $750 million.
These show that creations will always continue to yield returns as long as they are well managed.
Channels TV also spoke to Michael Igbelabo another popular dance artiste who has featured in music videos for A-list artistes in Nigeria as he shared his perspective with Channels TV on making a living off dancing in Nigeria.
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According to Igbelabo: “God has blessed most of us with the gift to dance, we had it as a hobby and from there we started to work more on it and then from there we decided to work more on it and then we started making money from it. For those that have the ability, we teach.
“It’s not easy, it takes days and weeks of rehearsals to come up on stage and it’s not easy to wow the crowd.”
Catch the full interview below:
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