Why Entertainment Industry Does Not Thrive in Ebonyi----MC Fines

By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy

The popular Enugu State based Ebonyi indigenous traditional musician and Master of the Ceremony, Comrade Sunday Nwine a.k.a MC Fines in this interview bare his mind on the challenges facing the growth of Entertainment Industry in the fastest developing state, Ebonyi and what should be done to favourably compete in the thriving industry, hear him.
(Part 1).


Can we meet you Sir?

I am Comrade Sunday Nwine,  a.k.a MC fines , Member Actors Guide of Nigeria Enugu State Chapter and a native of Ochafu in Igbeagu Community, Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State, an Enugu State based entertainer with over ten years in the industry.

Recently we learnt you launched your new traditional music album, how is the market in Ebonyi?

Ebonyi State has alot of talented Artiste but marketing is one of the biggest challenges we are facing, if you go to Onitsha, Alaba, or pound Road Aba you will see that none of them is interested in marketing our dialectic movies and music because they will tell you that the management is very poor reason being that talented artist doesn't get sponsorship here because nobody is interested to invest in all these upcoming so they produce poor work that will not compete favourably in the international market.
But there's another issue hindering our growth, it baffled me that in all these markets, some of the major marketers are from Ebonyi State but they don't like marketing our products because many of them don't want to be identified as Nwa-Abakaleke, a syndrome I grew up to meet in the industry and as an Artiste who is based in Enugu, I know how difficult it was getting to migle as Nwa Abakaleke because there's serious stereotyping in the industry.

What do you think should be done to overcome these challenges?

I think if government should put their eyes in the movie thriving industry as a way to curb unemployment and youth restiveness with the mindset of encouraging youth development, thereby, start supporting and promoting of talented Artists that will help our youth alot to see themselves equal before other fellows especially in part of Igbo land who look them with an eyes of inferiority and disdain. Coming to talk of music thesame thing , if I should mention all our Artiste that had made sincere effort but ended half way because they lacked sponsor with nobody to encourage them and the most annoying part is that the same people who need to sponsor our Artiste are promoting foreign music everyday against our indigenous ones.

Are you trying to say that those states doing well in terms of entertainment got their support from govt? 

Yes, because enabling environment and fund outside already existing talented Artists are what movie makers need to produce quality work, though, not only government that assist them but individuals also show support like Anambra State, the governor recently awarded a movie village contract which work is ongoing and same thing with Lagos but our people end up being consumers of all these foreign products while we have people who are super gifted here but laying awaste. Individually, many business men and politicians there help them but here the story is different. They are only interested to help someone who is a trouble maker may be to get them out of jail or prison and such has motivated many youth to join cultism and engage in various social vices hoping to get help from their Boss and they always help, I wonder how we will escape from the growing syndrome if our big men don't encourage talent.

What do you expect Ebonyi State Government to do to encourage those in the industry?

You see, Imo State for example has Bongo Square and with that government is promoting their local music and encouraging talented one to preach their culture using music and we all know how Bongo took over the music sphere.
Talking of individuals, once they noticed that you are talented they will invite you to sing for them in marriage, birthday, burial, wedding and other parties thereby appreciating the musicians which is what motivate them, so, both government and individuals can help upcoming by giving them support and sponsor.

In Ebonyi what do you think should be done for our indigenous movies and music to meet regional standard or compete favourably with others internationally?

It is all about funding, everything about entertainment boils down to sponsorship for the movie or music producer to get quality work which if do, nobody will embarass us when such work is taken to the marketers, rather, they will be the one begging us to market our movies, after all, we are of advantage with Ebonyians scattered in all parts of the country and our dialect understandable comparing with some of our Igbo sister's state like Imo and Abia which we patronize their musics and movies.
Our big men here are not interested in supporting Those in entertainment generally be it music, movie or comedy and that has been the reason our entertainment industry is nose diving and it is clear they want everybody to join politics which is not possible.
It will interest you to know that our entertainers had done alot of good works that would have taken them far and made many millionaires but these jobs were poorly produced because they don't have money to pay for quality job and when they take them to the market nobody will accept marketing them and that will be the end of the person's career.

What was the most embarrassing moment in your course 
Career?

That was when I was doing my music and my parents publicly denounced me after they tried convincing to bury the idea of entertainment, but surprisingly, after few days my musical album posters were seen everywhere they welcomed me at home when I returned with suprise of what I have done.

As a multi Talented Artiste where would you like to be found in the next five years?

I love all the areas but movie is my most encouraging side because I love characterization, simply, anything acting.

What type of music do you sing?

I sing highlife as well as traditional music and I wish to say that music is not listened by the beat or rthythm but a wise man listen to the message in music and that's why our forefathers do not play with folktales because it comes with lessons and that's what our traditional music does, such has helped control incessant suicide common now in Nigeria.