The economic situation in Nigeria is not news to anyone as it has become a global topic. Nigerians left, right and center have felt the pinch of the economic situation, with even a Special Adviser to the President claiming that he is broke and hungry as well.
Not left out in the quagmire are entertainers. Nigerians with our flair for extravagant parties and lavish events used to create the perfect atmosphere for a thriving entertainment industry, so much so that music was already competing with the traditional secular courses for number of new entrants.
When compared to artistes from other African countries, Nigerian artistes were simply the best paid by far. Live shows, music concerts, nationwide tours, private events, name it. The demand for their services just kept pushing their prices up.
However, the case is no more so. The entertainment industry has also understood the meaning of the term recession. The numbers are dropping everywhere. Number of bookings and performances, number of endorsements, prices paid for shows and so on. Everything is at the nadir.
It has become so bad that these entertainers are now seeking performances at other African nations where they would never have considered in their heyday. According t them the situation is far better in those countries as Nigerians cannot even afford to pay transport fares, not to mention cut a profit for their services.
Performers usually booked for N350,000 and upwards are now being offered between 30,000 and 100,000 Naira. Weddings have now scrapped live performances, with many using a DJ, who sometimes is just a friend. Such are the new depths Nigerian entertainers are getting accustomed to.
Part of this article originally appeared in the Punch Newspapers.