I am Bankole Wellington but fans call me
Banky Warrior or Banky W. I’m a singer and record label owner (Empire
Mate Entertainment). I was born in the United States to Nigerian
parents. My family moved back to Nigeria when I was five years old.
After secondary education in Nigeria, I moved back to the US on a
college scholarship, where I earned a degree in Engineering from the
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. While still in college, I won the
Albany Idol Competition and that set the stage for my career in music.
Entertainment in Nigeria
We are doing quite well and we have come
a long way but we have a long way to go and in terms of marketing
music. We have the ‘show’ part but we need to work on the business
part. Nigeria is one of the only places in the world where royalties
are not paid by radio and TV stations. These people make use of music to
run their businesses and make revenue from advertising but don’t pay
us.
Me and artistes
For the ones on my label, I oversee
their musical projects and I position them as brands. We do a lot of
strategic thinking, planning and negotiations too.
A day in my life
I wake up, pray and I work out with my
trainer, Uzi. He is Ikechukwu’s younger brother and he is trying to get
me into shape so that I can look like Peter of P Square! After training,
I’m back home, shower and try to get a healthy meal. I like chicken
breast and sea food a lot. What I do after the morning ritual varies. I
have many activities to attend to and in the evenings, after dinner, I
watch an Arsenal game before I retire to bed.
Leisure
How and where I hang out depends on the
day, sometimes there are events where I have to attend the after-party.
Sometimes, I just feel like letting loose and hanging out a bit. At
other times, I may be too tired to do so because of my busy schedule.
Dislikes
I hate photo shoots! Photoshoots are
annoying to me, the whole process of standing there, posing and doing
other random things. However, I realise that I have no choice in the
matter, pictures are necessary; people have to see the artiste and
connect with his image. Also, the pictures would be needed for CD
covers and press publications. I try to limit them and I only do
photoshoots when I have a new album coming out. At such times, I would
take a lot of different shots that will last for a year or two so they
don’t have to disturb me again. But I love video shoot because I feel I
can play a role; I feel as if I am almost acting.
Style
Style is just an expression of who you
are and how you are feeling; it is how you want to present yourself to
the general public. Comfort influences my style. Even if I am wearing a
suit, I have to be comfortable in it and it has to fit properly. I wear a
lot of traditional outfits these days because I love the way they make
one feel free. Style is all about you presenting yourself in a way you
want people to treat you. If you present yourself like a rascal, people
will react to you accordingly. But if you have money like Bill Gates,
then you can afford to come out looking unkempt and it would not matter
to anybody how you look.
Saddest moment
When I lose a loved one and I have lost one or two.
Relationship
No comment.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS
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