By IFECHI OKOH

The story of producers making female celebrity acts started with top music producer, Lemmy Jackson who packaged the first-ever album of American returnee, Oby Onyioha of “I want to feel your love” fame in 1981 which made the work of the pretty lady an instant commercial success. Years after, former pioneer PMAN Secretary-General, Emma Ogosi, followed suit with Evi Edna Ogholi-Ogosi, first unique reggae effort on Premier records label. Ogosi who did her this noble service transformed quietly to her husband, perhaps, to compensate him for such good outing. From that moment, it had become a trend for female acts to become wives of producers. Today, Showbiz Xtra will be parading five female celebrity acts who ended up inevitably as wives in the waiting arms of their producers, starting from Omawumi, Ashionye, Kel, Azeezat and late Keefe. Savour the low-down for good!

OMAWUMI

This highly controversial celebrity, who actually had face-offs with some newsmen, is undoubtedly gifted in this concern of music making. It is on good source that she strode into the music hall of fame, following her emergence as the first runner-up in the Musical Reality Show of Idols in West Africa. Her musical skill, dexterity and party lyrics just paved way for her as the next rated act in the celebrated musical award named Hip Hop World Awards as a result of her startling air play singles. Omawumi’s struggles to finalize her works, on her debut, “Wonder Woman” album dragged the vocal act to a fast rising producer, Dr Grabs who may have enticed her with some sweet beats which she fell flat for, leading to her falling head over heels in what could be described as a working relationship with the producer. Before anybody could know it, what was initially a working relationship, had metamorphosed quietly into sizzling romance between them. But sadly, one thing led to another and there was a face-off which put them asunder. However, Grabs was quoted as saying that no matter what, they are still friends. It is obvious that their relationship gave Grabs the psychological kick to put in his creative best which eventually made Omawumi. Oh yeah!

ASHIONYE

Her voice no doubt is her greatest natural asset in the business. Aside from that, she is a smashing beauty. This gait fetches her instant attention wherever she goes. Luckily for her, she has a gifted producer-turned-husband who packaged her properly, making her works marketable anywhere they were showcased. Till date, both of the love birds are believed to be waxing stronger in the show business as expected.

KEL

Before this good-looking lady’s debut album, “Wa Wa Alright” zoomed into focus and popularized Kel, feelers close to the celebrated act linked her popularity to the fact that she was close to Clarence Peters, who packaged her first-ever video which actually did all the magic that fetched her the necessary attention. This too, in effect, shot her high in the ratings of those who matter on the beats scene. Her second work, “Too fine” was undoubtedly an obvious artistic improvement allegedly done by the same Clarence who actually took his time to do just that. However, just like everything which has a beginning, their sizzling romance suddenly hit the rocks when tongues started to wag that Kel was romantically linked with the Mohit CEO, Don Jazzy. That was how their talk-of-town love fell like pack of badly arranged cards, ending everything within the shortest possible time. However, it is on good source that without the creative impact boldly displayed in the video of Kel which was contentiously done by Clarence, she wouldn't have attained the status of an overnight celebrity which she enjoyed for years perhaps.

AZEEZAT

This mystical act who shunned all the visible marital challenges to stick with her manager turned-producer and at last husband, Seyi Allen, undoubtedly deserves an award from close watchers like us for her resilience. Her gist is just a classical example of Romeo and Juliet relationship manager producer-turned husband matter at last. Knowledgeable feelers close to them informed that the duo have been together right from Azeezat’s beginning of career to her stardom, sticking like a Siamese twins till date. When the challenges of their romance zoomed to the fore, they sincerely ignored all the scandalous gists meant to split them and forged ahead strongly. During that evil phase, both were said to have mapped out strategies to return the career of Azeezat to the centre stage for good.

LATE KEEFE

The love story from the romance between late Keefe, the Branama queen, and her producer and ex-husband, Alex Godwin, is simply that of beautiful and a once sweet-soup-gone-sour years after. Despite all the bitterness that inched into their love nwantiti matter at the last second of the historic relationship before Kefee answered the spiritual call, it is on good record that her ex-producer-turned-husband, single handedly brought her to Lagos, nurtured her talent, recorded and made her a celebrity through concerted media hype, before she died. It is obvious that the late Branama music promoter, can’t tell her success story as a celebrity without mentioning Alex Godwin who actually facilitated it through God Almighty.

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