LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA) – Akunyota Akpobome, a veteran Nigerian actor and comedian professionally known as Alibaba, has voiced his dismay over the escalating decline in moral standards among aspiring artists in the country.
Ali Baba expressed his deep concern during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program last Friday. Ali Baba bemoaned aspiring artistes now taking to occult practices prior to getting signed by a record label.
In a compelling statement, the seasoned entertainer underscored the crucial importance for talented individuals to withstand the allure of such pressures. He emphasized the necessity of resolutely defining their purpose and unwaveringly upholding the deeply ingrained values that guide their artistic journey.
He said: “For me, there are some things that you would not want to do, and you must stick with it. It is the same thing with some of these artists, some of them do rituals now.
“As an artiste, you must define your purpose, you must hold on to some strong values you’ve been brought up with.
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“If you are someone who is in a position with your creative abilities, you don’t need that kind of pressure. You don’t need somebody making you sign or take an oath for you to be creative.”
“People just want to blow; they want to be seen, they want to be heard, they want to make money, they want to belong. And because of that, they step back from the values they have been brought up with and do what they shouldn’t do.”
Alibaba stated that certain artistes are surviving and thriving despite the pressures of the entertainment industry.
“They don’t smoke, they don’t hold cigars, they don’t hold the glass cup and drink whiskey in their music videos and they insist on it.
“Even if the choreography says it would add colour to the video, they would say no.”
AliBaba’s comments follow a surge of public outrage over the reported abuse suffered by the late singer Mohbad before his passing on September 12.