By Babajide Awoyinfa

Some veteran musicians have called for  a unified body and  purposeful leadership to unite the old and new generation of musicians in the country.

They made their opinions known on Thursday in an online group known as  ‘Entertainment Gurus’,  created by veteran musician,  Innocent Onyemauwa, popularly known  as Daddy Fresh.

Veteran Nigerian musician, Mike Okri, who dominated the music scene in the 1980s and 1990s with hits like ‘Rhumba Dance’ and ‘Time Na Money’, said “no one can completely exist without the other.

“Just like other parts  of the world we need a unified union with a purposeful leadership to unite the old and new generation. That is the missing link between the two.

“No one can completely exist without the other, as the very foundation of the industry depends on the rich combined wealth and colourful culture of talents of both.

“Remember, experience remains the best teacher, knowing also the young artistes  themselves will one day become old-school.”

According to Daddy Fresh, not all old or evergreen artistes are selfish.

“I started my career and I know the multitudes I carried along with me to have their way to limelight and with the help of God.

“I know so many elders here today who also contributed to my success and growth today as a vocalist to reckon with in our industry till date, Uncle Mike Okri is one of them,“ he said.

Another veteran musician, Jas Kelly, also called for a better relationship and communication between both generations.

“You see, to conquer in life, we need to let love lead. There will be no solid foundation without good relationship. Let’s try to relate, communicate with one another, both old and new generation musicians.

“There has not been right relationship between us, everybody is  just doing things in their own way, believing,  I’m too old in the show biz to have to do with the new generation musicians, forgetting that we all need each other to succeed.

“So the answer here is love, humility and commitment,“ he said.

Also, Samuel K. Wright said the older generation musicians did not have a lot to learn from the present young generation musicians, because they had more access to assets than their older counterparts.

“What social media has shown over the past few years is that today’s younger musicians are not only more inclined to upper-class tastes, but they also have more access to it as well.

“The entertainment industry today has devised ways in which to usher them into the fold alongside their older music mentors.

“Another significant difference between older generation musicians and younger musicians is how much access they have to music promotions and styles, compared to their parents musicians and grandparents musicians.

“Being more educated and worldly than their predecessors, young musicians these days have had to develop new ways systematically in which to get their project’s musical sound through the major musical doors.

“There are some new bands that are doing it the old way and God bless them for trying,”  he said. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran