Arevolution may be taking place in the Nigerian entertainment industry as talent agency, Temple Management Company, within two weeks, announced that it had convinced singer, Abolore Akande aka 9ice; Grammy Award winner, Lekan Babalola; filmmaker, Biyi Bandele and ex-Project Fame winner, Jeff Akoh, to management deals.
TMC also manages King Sunny Ade, and artistes under Don Jazzy’s Mavin label, among others. Babalola, one of the new additions, has worked with renowned acts such as the late Prince, Cassandra Wilson, Ernest Ranglin, Branford Marsalis, African Jazz All Stars, Roy Ayers, David Byrne, Damon Albarn and Tony Allen.
Speaking about the deal, he said, “I became sold when I stumbled on the impressive way that TMC executed the King Sunny Ade’s concert and I believe that TMC’s involvement is a pre-requisite for the success of my artistic career in Nigeria and Africa.”
Bandele described his new deal as a strategic synergy that would raise the bar in the African creative sector. “I have been looking for representation not only for my film work but also to engage in commercial opportunities across Africa.
Temple is the perfect fit and I believe we can export world class entertainment from the continent to the rest of the world,” he added. Akoh, who became the youngest winner of Project Fame in 2015, thrilled the audience at Sunny on Sunday in December, thus displaying his ability in the presence of veterans like Awilo Longomba, Sir Shina Peters and Onyeka Onwenu.
He narrated, “With Temple Management Company solidly by my side, I can concentrate fully on my music with confidence and some motivation. It is the joy of every artiste is to have a solid backend and I am happy that TMC brings that and a lot more with strong affiliations with global players in the entertainment industry
