MUSIC, RADIO, TV PRODUCER AND FILM MAKER, BASED IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Executive Producer of Afrika'n Vogue

Obafemi B. Lasode, an audio-visual specialist and film-maker, is the Chief Executive Officer of Even-Ezra Nigeria Limited, and the Executive Producer of Afrika'n Vogue, the audio-visual production arm. Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, on December 4, 1955, Mr. Lasode hails from Ilawo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

EDUCATION
Obafemi Lasode holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration (International Marketing) from the prestigious Kogod Business School, American University, in Washington, D.C. and an M.A. in Communications Arts (Radio and Television) from Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He attended St. Gregory's College, Obalende, Lagos.

WORK EXPERIENCE

A former President of the Performing Musicians' Employers Association of Nigeria, (PMAN) from 2002-2003, Mr. Lasode's professional career started in mid-1981 when he moved to New York and worked as Television Producer, Assistant Television Director, and Editor, with WNYE-TV, Channel 25 on Jay Street in Brooklyn. There he contributed immensely to the production of educational television programmes for children and adults.

In 1983, Mr. Lasode joined the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation, New York, one of the largest Black-owned and operated radio and television networks in the U.S.A.. As Promotions Co-ordinator, Mr. Lasode was WLIB Radio's chief image-maker.

While in New York, Mr. Lasode produced a number of African-oriented radio magazine programmes, including Africa In Vogue, on WNYE 91.5FM - METRO COMMUNITY BROADCAST - NEW YORK. These programmes were geared towards educating, enlightening, informing, and entertaining New York listeners, with the cross-cultural richness, and diversity of the African culture. Amongst his many guests were Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Sonny Okosuns, Chief Oliver De Coque, and Chief Twin Seven-Seven from Nigeria, Toure Kunda from Senegal, Hugh Masekela from South Africa, and Mbilia Bel from Zaire.

In 1995, Obafemi Bandele Lasode returned home to Nigeria and established Afrika'n Vogue/Even-Ezra Studios which presently produces radio and T.V. programmes for T.V. and Radio stations, world-wide.


In 1998, Obafemi Lasode produced and directed the epic movie,'Sango the Legendary Afrikan King' (pronounced'Shango'). In 1999, Obafemi Lasode directed his second movie titled'Mask of Mulumba', a martial arts action-packed adventure movie.

Within the 10 years of its existence, Even-Ezra Audio Video studios has provided audio and/or video support to notable Nigerian artistes such as Daddy Showkey, Majek Fashek, Plantashun Boiz, Fada U-turn, Sunny Neji, Evi-Edna Ogholi, Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, Blackky, Chief (Dr.) Oliver De Coque, Yinka Davies, Princess Cheena Aboh, Francis Goldman, Kola Ogunkoya, Danny Wilson, Pasuma Wonder, Alariwo, Baba Fryo, Daddy Fresh, Stella Monye, Weird M.C, Ayetoro, Gboyega Adelaja, Skidd Ikemefuna, Bola Abimbola, Peterson Agu, Angela Eromosele (African Angel), Queen Change, Lekan'Azeez' Odutan, Rosemary Chukwu, Lady Sybil Sparkle and a host of other musicians whose music genre cuts across Afrorap to Afroragga, to Afrobeat to Highlife, Fuji, Juju and Apala, to Afro-gospel.

Obafemi Lasode has produced over 250 Nigerian locally-produced musical videos, spanning across Nigeria. He has also assisted many popular Nigerian Artistes in producing their musical works.

Obafemi Lasode is also the creator and producer of a number of musical video programmes such as'Chartbusters';'Afrikan Party Jam';'City Rythms'; and'Afrikan Carnival'.

Together with Tony Abulu,and Larry Talbot, Obafemi Lasode is a co-executive producer of a movie titled'Back To Africa' a co-production between Even-Ezra Studios and Black Ivory, based in New York.

Obafemi Lasode is the creator and Executive Producer of the popular comedy series'Paradise Park', which ran on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network and Africa Independent Television (AIT). In 2004, the comedy series'Paradise Park' was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) - Nigeria's broadcasting regulatory agency.

Obafemi Lasode is also the Executive Producer of a number of other comedy programmes currently running on Nigerian television, such as'Salami's Household', which ran on NTA Channel 10, and Murhi International Television (MITV). He has also produced a health-oriented programme,'Facts for Life'; as well as produced a TV soap-opera,'First Family' shown on Africa Independent Television (AIT).

Obafemi Lasode also produces musical shows, drama/theatrical performances, as well as manages musical acts.


DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTIONS
Amongst the television documentaries that he has produced are the following:
Cultural Dances of Nigeria (Performances by the Lagos State Art Council (Pt 1 and 2) (2hrs)
Osun Festival (1hr)
Ogun Festival (1hr)
Susanne Wenger, Austria's gift to Africa (1hr)
RAO Kawawa Of Oshogbo (1hr)
Ifa, the Act of Divination (30 min)
Amazons of Afrika (1hr)
The Search For Sango, the making of an African Epic movie (1hr)
Sango, the real story (Musical Documentary)
Audio-Video production in Nigeria (1 hr)
Solar-Energy in Nigeria (30 mins)
Fishing in Nigeria (30 mins)
Local Soap-making in Nigeria (30 mins)
The making of Golden Tones Concert in Nigeria (1hr)
Mobil Track and Field meet (30mins)
Dr. Dora Akunyili, Nafdac Director General,'This Is Your Life' (1 hr)
Emzor Pharmaceuticals Plc'(Pharmaceutical Manufacturing In Nigeria) (30mins)
Lions Club Documentary (30 mins)
Ambassador Hotel (Leisure Industry in Nigeria) (30 mins)
National Broadcasting Commission (Africast'98)(1 hr)
Health Gate Gym And Spa documentary (30 mins)
Igbinedion School and University, Benin City


OTHER PRODUCTION ACHIEVEMENTS

In the area of television jingles, Obafemi Lasode produced television stations' ID jingles for NTA2 channel 5, NTA Channel 10, ITV Benin, not to mention the extremely popular'Mama, Papa' jingles for African Independent Television (AIT).


"Sango, The Legendary Afrikan King" - An African Epic Movie

In 1998, Obafemi Lasode produced and directed the epic movie, Sango, the Legendary Afrikan King. (Pronounced'Shango'). That same year, the movie was screened during the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, New York, USA as part of the Fourth New York-African Film Festival. It was also screened at the Brooklyn Museum Of Arts, and the Chicago Museum of Arts. This was followed in 1999 with a screening during the 7th Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. That same year, it was featured at PANAFEST'99 in Ghana at the following venues: Cape Coast, Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi and Koforidua. In the year 2000, the movie was shown at a 2-day African Workshop at the Centre of African studies (CAS), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Russel Square, London, U.K. The African epic movie was also selected to open the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, U.S.A.

Obafemi Lasode, directed a second movie titled'Mask of Mulumba', a martial arts action-packed adventure movie, in 2000.

Obafemi Lasode facilitated the production of 8 (eight) videos for the successful Nigeria'99 soccer fiesta, under the auspices of Afrika'n Vogue, Even-Ezra Studios, Lagos, Nigeria. Five (5) of the videos produced for PMAN/LOC were for songs written and sang by PMAN (Performing Musicians' Employers Association of Nigeria) artistes for the global FIFA soccer event, held in Nigeria. This included the theme song and promotional songs.

Obafemi Lasode collaborated with the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to produce the documentary on'AFRICAST 1998' which held in Abuja. He also presented paper at'AFRICAST 2002', titled'Broadcast Entertainment: Projecting the African Image Globally.'

Between 1997 and 2000, Obafemi Lasode, co-produced the video productions for a series of'Golden Tones, Benson and Hedges Music Concerts', held in Nigeria.

In 1999, at the advent of the political transition programme, Obafemi Bandele produced political jingles for Chief Lucky Igbinedion, who became the Executive Governor of Edo State in Nigeria.

Before then, In 1997, Obafemi Lasode actively partook in PANAFEST'97, held in Cape Coast, Ghana.

AS PRESIDENT OF THE PERFORMING MUSICIANS' EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (2002 - 2003)


Obafemi Lasode was elected President of PMAN (Performing Musicians' Employers Association of Nigeria) located at 18, Adebola Street, Anifowoshe, Ikeja, Lagos. PMAN is Africa's largest musicians' trade union on January 31st, 2002. PMAN is responsible for ensuring that there is an enabling environment in Nigeria in which musicians can comfortably ply their trade.

During his tenure as President, PMAN organized two significant events: The first was PMAN's Patrons' Induction Ceremony where a number of influential and well-respected members of the community where inducted as PMAN's patrons; the second was PMAN's Musicians' Hall of Fame where 20 past and living musical legends where honoured, along with a number of entertainment journalists. This was the first of it's kind in Africa.

Also during Lasode's tenure as President, PMAN collaborated with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders' of the Nigerian music industry, to fight the scourge of piracy, which included the supporting of the introduction of the Hologram Scheme.

As PMAN President,Obafemi Lasode was appointed member of'COJA 2003 All Africa Games' Sub-Committee of Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

During his tenure as President, Obafemi Lasode was also appointed a Member of Committee to review Nigeria's Cultural Policy, established by Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2002.


AWARDS
1. INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

In 1998, Obafemi Lasode's song'A Song For The World' was selected along with 21 winning songs in a contest titled'A Song For Peace In resenting Nigeria. The contest organised under the auspices of UNICEF, UN, etc., with the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic and the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee 2000, had a large number of entries from 60 countries all over the world.

Obafemi Lasode was also awarded the Gold Award for the musical video'A Song for the world' which was a winning entry for the 31st Annual World Fest-Houston International Film Festival, Houston, U.S.A. held in 1998. The song was picked from 4,150 category entries competing from 28 countries.

2. LOCAL AWARDS
Obafemi Lasode was the Winner of the award for the'Best First Film of a Director' for the movie'Sango, the legendary Afrikan King', at the 2ND National Film Festival, donated by Elf Petroleum in 2003.

Winner of FAME, AMEN, REEL and THEMA awards (between 1997 and 2000).

MEMBERSHIP OF ORGANISATIONS:
Director of the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN)
Member of the Performing Rights Society (PRS) based in the UK.
Member of the Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN).
Member of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN).

AUTHOR

Obafemi Lasode has recently authored a book titled, TELEVISION BROADCASTING: The Nigerian Experience (1959 - 1992), which has been used by students at TV College, Jos; Lagos State University; University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, amongst others.