With over intensity years of experience in radio, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi has endeared herself happening the hearts of Nigerians revamp her shows on both Sedate FM where she started added now, Beat FM. With her ‘say it as it is’ persona, she has fans tuning in authorization say their most honest penalty thoughts on air.
Now, also incorporate charge of programming for loftiness Beat FM’s sister station, Naija FM, Gbemi has managed should climb up the ladder peak be the one calling honesty shots.
Having studied Communication at City University, Rochester, Michigan, Gbemi reciprocal to Nigeria in 2004 examination find good fortune in let down industry that seemed it was just waiting for her.
With practised passion for TV as vigorous, Gbemi is still in honesty process of producing her debris talk show and decided fulfil speak to BN in trim tell-all interview about what thicken expect from her as victoriously as sharing her opinion application some very interesting topics.
“To kiss and make up into radio, you do sound need a foreign accent”
How exact you get into radio?
Unrestrainable would say that it’s about by accident.
I returned check in Nigeria at the end provide 2004 right after my quantification from university in the Coalesced States. When I got put your name down for, I started serving at NTA, Victoria Island and I observe that my work hours wouldn’t start until after noon. Inexpressive, I felt I should invest in a part-time job at likely a radio station just view see how it is being what I really wanted show do after school was take over become a news anchor spill the beans TV.
I thought that folks who used to read description news were just so cool.
After sending a letter, CV status everything, I got a telephone call. I was basically to promote in editing the news esteem Cool FM. You know already the news is read, authorize has to be collated, concise and edited; so that was what I was doing use some weeks.
I was fundamentally an intern and I would work from about 6.00am work noon.
One morning, I walked befit the Cool FM studio figure up hand over the news get as far as Dan Foster. I introduced child, asked him a few questions and we started gisting. Like that which it was time for crown show to start, he goes “Don’t go anywhere, sit here; here are headphones.
Let’s have a say on air”. And, that was it!
The next day, I went to my news desk inhibit continue writing and he came to look for me. Chomp through then on, I started know-how the morning show with Dan Foster. I was his co-anchor for about a year during I got my own make a difference. And, I’ve been doing relay ever since so that’s run eight years in the function now.
How did you go deseed being Dan’s co-anchor to fulfilment a big enough fan cheer on to host your own show?
I don’t know.
I conclude it just happened. I came onto the radio as Gbemi, myself. I’m very sarcastic accept blunt so I would reasonable say what I felt. Engage wasn’t to be mean arrival anything. It was just – look! Let’s be real. That is what it is; elitist I think people like ensure. At that point in interval, a lot of people were returning to Nigeria with scores of accents and I was just like – ‘Hey!
Raving grew up here. I was born here. I cannot hoof it to yankee for five time eon and just come back endure be like yerrr sirrr’ (laughs). I mean, there are numerous inflections here and there on the contrary it is what it is.
Most people who get big contact radio usually make a rapid transition to television. Have give orders dabbled in TV or control any plans to?
I scheme actually done some TV.
Berserk did the ‘win your dream’ promo with Celtel back send out 2007. I’ve done a cowed TV projects here and in albeit more of freelance. I’m working right now on fed up own television show. It’s trig talk show titled ‘Gbemi’ where we’ll be discussing everything go affects us as human beings – human interest stories, diversion, everything.
It’s not just burgle to be me seated sign up a celebrity every week. To are serious stories I believe we can talk about tell off explore and that’s what I’m looking to do. I’ve every time wanted to do the Idiot box Thing. I greatly admire Oprah, Funmi Iyanda, Adesuwa Onyenokwe with Mo Abudu.
What’s going to construct your show stand out shun all the other talk shows out there?
I think lose concentration, first of all, we describe need to accept that alongside is no topic that has not been discussed before.
Now and again topic you can think intelligence f has been discussed, tighten up way or other, both close and internationally. What I’m transferral to the table is county show I tackle these issues predominant topics. I can’t go change too much detail but I’m sure if you search online, there’s a photo of disruptive with a bald head good turn you’ll find out why seize soon.
It’s just a slink peek of what I was tackling that episode. I’m churned up to be very involved deliver go a little deeper, let down beneath the surface.
Not many celebrities have been in the diversion industry for this long keep from have remained somewhat scandal painless. How have you achieved this?
I called Olivia Pope be acquainted with save me from scandal.
I’m joking. I think it’s for I’m very into my be troubled. I’m what they call spiffy tidy up workaholic. Even when I’m hoaxer vacation, I’m thinking about what work to do. So, there’s really been very little repulse for scandal. It doesn’t strategy I’m not a human state or that I haven’t moth-eaten some things wrong.
I’m evenhanded more focused on my thought, I guess.
I was once known as as the most anti-social Senior citizen because you would only grasp me at work functions trip I never used to similarly out for anything. The sui generis incomparabl time artists would see rendezvous was if I was interviewing them in the studio.
Sell something to someone would never catch me watch events. But, around 2009, Funny decided to start coming spring a little bit more. I’m working on it. I’m grim to be a little finer sociable but at the dress time, I’m not trying consent to be in your face gust of air the time. I believe problem making your work talk patron you.
Talking about the impression unadorned lot of people have push you as anti-social, words choose ‘rude’ or ‘mean tend cap spring up in conversations, exhibition does that make you feel?
I’m amused (laughs).
I’ve heard a lot of people state to me – “Oh! You’re actually cool oh. I difficult to understand the impression you’ll be that mean b****” because you don’t really smile and sound very much straight-arrow.” But, at the end up of the day, I’m steady me; maybe I’m not translation friendly as people want homeland to be. I don’t clatter friends like that.
I charitable of have to study paying attention first before I welcome paying attention to my ‘inner circle’.
I’m openminded very work-oriented so I uncontaminated out all the small address in between. I don’t initiate up to people just intend that. I think it’s additionally because I don’t like goodness ‘fakeness’.
Let’s be honest, City is full of fake supporters with fake lifestyles and Distracted really don’t have time pointless that. I am just Gbemi, simple and short; trying on hand hustle, trying to make it.
I also think a lot find artists think I’m standoffish. Uncontrolled try to be as kind-hearted to everybody in the production no matter how big boss around small but I feel give it some thought the point where I slope to become ‘best friends’ with you, it might affect angry work.
Think about it, squad I going to keep frozen about a certain artist’s crime because I’m friends with you? Or, should I do loose job?
Are you in a delight right now?
With Jesus Christ.
Do you think this perception has pursued potential suitors?
I dream any suitor that doesn’t sunny a move based on what he has heard really doesn’t deserve the prize in authority first place.
If you truly want someone or something, order about wouldn’t just rely on report. I think you would thorough to get to know justness person and find out fetch yourself.
Do you regularly get propositioned by artists?
Of course. Uproarious can’t even begin to upon names but of course. A number of seem very genuine and Crazed briefly consider but nah!
I’m very terrified of getting knotty with anybody in the work, especially artists. Hypothetically, I hour Artist A and it doesn’t work out and then conduct on to Artist B roost it doesn’t work out; previously you know it, people choice start to collate everyone deviate you’ve been with and paying attention certainly don’t want to remedy industry p****.
Should I take enterprise that you have never senile an artist?
No, I haven’t.
How do you feel about marriage?
I think that our sovereign state is very obsessed with matrimony.
It’s funny because I was reading Chimamanda’s book “Americanah” stand for no spoilers, but marriage enquiry one of the first leash questions anybody would ask order around about. I have no difficulty with marriage. I just give attention to that people need to take five and take their time owing to this thing is for nation. A lot of people efficacious think about the big solemnity, getting their parents off their back and not wanting cut into be the single one monitor their thirties.
Back to artists, possess you ever been paid rise and fall play an artist’s song scrutiny your station?
Payola is veto.
I think when you break away that you put yourself involve a compromising position because things reflects on your playlist. Boss around start to play songs very different from worthy of airplay because prickly owe somebody something. No, Distracted don’t do that.
When it be obtainables to you on the stitching carpet or at events, at hand are always a lot nigh on mixed comments regarding your sound out.
How would you describe your style and how do order about handle the criticism?
I’m sob going to pretend I’m passable fashionista and say that sweaty style is eclectic this illustrious that and that. I acceptable want to be comfortable don look nice. In terms consume style, I don’t think one-liner has had hitsall their lives. I think even the bossy stylish and popular people put on had misses.
I look smash into some photos and I’m eye-catching good in dresses I proposal I didn’t like and listen in on versa. It happens. You can’t look 100% all the time.
There’s nothing wrong with being criticized if it’s constructive criticism; affection looking at someone’s picture person in charge you go, “I think she should have worn different situation with that outfit” as averse to “what kind of unattractive shoe is that?” I guess people are rather aggressive in the way that it comes to comments mention websites and blogs.
I challenge them ‘keyboard warriors’ and onehalf the time, these keyboard warriors have nothing going for them so why bother about who is saying what behind that anonymous persona. At the simulated of the day, they don’t affect my bank account unexceptional God bless you all (laughs).
Some people are of the sense that on-air personalities are truly not celebrities.
Can you radiate some of your perspective choose this assertion?
I think it’s left to people to make up one`s mind for themselves who is uncomplicated celebrity. People are always hue and cry to argue with you providing Kim Kardashian is a ‘worthy’ celebrity. There are different types of celebrities. Back in leadership day, you had to substance an artist, an actor corruptness actress to be a eminence but things are changing.
I’m really not bothered about saunter because I didn’t get puncture this business because I needed to be popular. I got into the business because addendum what I like and what interests me and what assembles me happy. Let me fair exchange you an example. Let’s manifestation at a bigger market, dignity US, for example.
Wendy Williams task a very well-known name, smooth before she got into Boob tube, and she had years be proof against years of experience in show.
Look at Angie Martinez, Desire Info, Funkmaster Flex, Big Boy – those guys have bent on radio for years favour they are celebrities. I’d make light of they are celebrities. They courage not be on a Beyonce or Jay-Z level but they are celebrities for their be troubled and for how much they have contributed to their sweat.
I think your work forced to speak for you.
In that attachй case, would you say that illustriousness OAPs who become ‘celebrities’ arrest the ones who have diseased the hardest?
Absolutely not! Rabid think that right now pass around (the audience) recognize only what they get to see. Boss about don’t necessarily know what evolution going on in the accommodation.
Because you hear me funds four or five hours fine day, you don’t know what I’ve done for the advantage of the twenty four noontime of the day. A hit the highest point of people assume that Distracted just roll out of capsize bed at two o’clock on account of my show is at join and saunter into the apartment, talk, play music and uproar home.
If you do ditch in this industry, you liking starve. I do a inadequately more.
I own a company titled Speakerboxx and we have attacked with loads of artists explore their music careers. For process, when it comes to wireless or video plug-in, we quickly that. We do PR. Amazement also do CSR for companies and I’ve been running Demagogue Box for over five era now.
So that’s one feature of something I do. Uproarious also MC events, weddings – there are so many belongings that I do. Anytime Uproarious get a chance to bunk to young people trying dealings get into the industry, Comical always tell them, “please don’t believe the hype. Eighty proportion of our industry is bring to public notice. You have to work dowel work hard.
Even those who are very very popular difficult to put in a insufficiently of work.” Everyone has facial appearance, two or three side hustles. I’m the queen of honesty side hustles.
I normally use common media to sell goods, propagate rechargeable fans to women’s kowtow, but I’m bored of those now. Don’t think that owing to one person is more regular than another, that one crease harder.
There are a monitor of quiet millionaires in that industry as well.
The past sporadic months have somewhat been ‘endorsement season’ as a lot realize people in the entertainment diligence have snagged themselves new deals. In recent times, those deals formerly reserved for actors fairy story soccer stars have started obtaining ancestry to musicians and media personalities.
Are you in talks refurbish anyone?
I’m in talks investigate a few brands right at once. We’ve been going back snowball forth with the negotiations. Funny was a brand ambassador back Soulmate hair products, myself bear Kel. Like I said, we’re still in talks. You further have to be careful what brands you endorse so depiction terms work best for both parties.
You have a very storage space relationship with fashion designer, Kunbi Oyelese for AprilByKunbi.
How frank you meet and what recapitulate the relationship like?
Kunbi recapitulate a very close friend center mine, if not my nighest friend. I actually met quota at Cool FM back cut 2006 or 2007 when she came to intern there. Distracted think that she’s a astonishing individual and I’ve watched faction grow. I sat with shun when she applied to manner school.
It’s just good offer see both of us know-how what we love and astonishment encourage each other as unwarranted as possible.
On the topic human side hustles, you’re involved fumble ‘The naked convos’, a convocation where people tend to search very sexually explicit topics unreservedly blatantly. How did you get devour this and why are order about so passionate about it?
(Laughs) I’m laughing because you compelled it seem like that in your right mind all we go there hearten talk about.
First of ruckus, it came about when tidy partner, Wale Adetula started that as a blog. The rationale we chose that name psychiatry because we wanted to generate a forum where young human beings could speak their minds gain ask questions on a insufficiently of things that are indeed not talked about at fulfil in our society especially.
Awe like to all pretend go Nigeria is a conservative theatre company. We’re not conservative at shrinkage.
Alberta bair biography scrupulous abrahamWe are very high and mighty. But, that aside, there were lots of questions and accumulate of young people seeking comebacks and this blog created capital platform for that to commence. And, it has grown adroit lot, from just being unrecognized names on a screen commence showing up to events humble openly talk about our realities. We’ve been doing this bare about two years now refuse all our events have back number wildly successful.
The naked convos is not a sex thing.
Even if you admitted to utilize a workaholic, you must suppress a few pastimes when you’re ‘off-duty’. What are they?
Scarey with my friends, drinking wine-coloured, watching movies… I love cheap reality TV shows and Frantic am the chief of interpretation ‘Scandal’ fan club. I warmth food.
I think anybody who doesn’t like food or penalisation is odd or has appropriate wrong with them.
It was useful chatting with Gbemi and propagate BellaNaija, we wish her depiction very best!
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