Saturday, 30 May 2020 05:42

Entertainers bemoan losses as nightlife dwindles amid Coronavirus restrictions

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Sensei Uche has earned a living for the last three years as a “hype man” in Nigeria’s entertainment capital Lagos, standing alongside the DJ in bars and clubs and whipping up dancers’ enthusiasm.

But the Coronavirus pandemic has cut off his livelihood. Nigeria’s government, like others across the globe, has shut bars, nightclubs and restaurants since late March to curb the spread of the virus.

“Now we have to start thinking if this will become our reality,” Uche said.

He is now plying his skills online. Wielding a microphone, he works alongside a DJ playing music for “isolation parties” at weekends. The party-goers are the 1,000 people who typically watch the videos posted live on Instagram of Uche and the DJ.

But while the online parties keep his brand alive, he is unable to monetise them. The problem is shared by bar and club owners.

Rotimi Kuti, a representative of the Cubana Group network, said his club in Nigeria’s Victoria Island business district usually hosts around 700 people on Friday nights. Since the lockdown, he only makes money from food deliveries.

He is hopeful the situation for the entertainment industry will improve, be it through the easing of restrictions prohibiting gatherings of more than 20 people or support for businesses.

“Businesses are bleeding money so everybody will come to a compromise as how to help and make sure we aren’t keeping people unemployed,” he said.

Uche is hopeful too - but he is looking for a medical breakthrough.

“I just hope we can find a vaccine in time so we don’t make this the new normal,” he said.

 

Reuters

December 20, 2024

Naira expected to weaken further, says CBN business survey

Nigerian businesses anticipate further depreciation of the naira through early 2025, despite maintaining overall optimism…
December 20, 2024

Atiku questions alleged hack of NBS website, says timing suspicious

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the recent claim that the website…
December 22, 2024

How to know if your memory lapses are serious or not

The older I get, the more panicked I become when something slips my mind. Is…
December 21, 2024

‘Professional Back-Scratchers’ charge up to $130 per hour

The Scratcher Girls is an unconventional relaxation therapy studio that charges clients up to $130…
December 21, 2024

NAFDAC busts illegal rice repackaging operations in Nasarawa, Abuja

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cracked down on…
December 22, 2024

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 443

Israel and Hamas appear close to a ceasefire deal. These are the sticking points Israel…
December 20, 2024

OpenAI launches voice and text access to ChatGPT through new phone service

OpenAI has introduced a novel way to interact with its popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence system…
December 17, 2024

Ademola Lookman named 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the year. These players won in other…

Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles winger, was crowned the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.