challenges female musicians face today in Nigeria#

Nigerian afro pop singer, Imelda Ada Okwori, popularly known as
Imelda J, has revealed that pursuing a career as a female musician
in Nigeria is difficult because producers demand s*x before they
think of helping one to achieve her career goals and objective.
According to her, she turns such demands down—thinking that
one cannot mix pleasure with business.
She said this has been one of the greatest challenges in the
industry but her passion for music making always get her going
and focus on the future.
“Being a lady in the Nigerian music industry has not been easy.
Somehow, what drives us is the passion. As a female, there are
so many things at stake. You have to give in something or
struggle your way up but basically I give God the glory because
my passion for music keeps driving me on.
“Yes, several times I have found myself in such circumstances
where they demand for s*x. I have to turn it off. I have been to a
point of signing an agreement on a record deal and the sponsor
showed up and said I must have something to do with him and
when I said, No, he said I was difficult to work with and walked
out of the meeting. They want your talent and they also want your
body. This has been the major challenge. But this is business; you
cannot mix pleasure with business,” she told the New Telegraph
in an interview.
The Benue born singer revealed that she has a crush on Dbanj
and would like to cook something up with him.
“I love Dbanj a lot. He is my celebrity crush.
“The funniest thing was that when we met, he just said I am Miss
Endowed indeed. He was lively and I was so happy and the
expectation I had about him before now increased. The qualities
that attracted him to me were his business sense and his music
and I wasn’t disappointed at all. When we met, we just hit it off
and started talking about business immediately. When it comes to
business, Dbanj does not play and I think that is what made me to
love him more,” she disclosed.
When asked if she will do something with Dbanj in the future, she
said; “Of course definitely! But music wise anyway. Yes, I have a
crush on him but I don’t think I would date him. Oh well! I don’t
know, so let’s keep it that way, anything can happen.”