THISDAYonline

When Dayo Olomu, the Chief Executive Officer of DO & Associates, an outfit which managed King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal aka KWAM 1 relocated to London, the place of his birth, he had a shocker waiting for him. A 419 conman was impersonating him. This con man bears his name and does business in the entertainment circles of London. This was one obstacle he had to before he got back to business.

Though he was born in IsIington in North London he came to Nigeria at the age of two, studied at the University of Lagos, Morris College of Journalism and the University of East London, and has attended many management courses both in London and the United States of America. He started his career in the entertainment industry with ideas Communication Limited, where he worked as the project coordinator in charge of concert in 1989 and later moved to DP Lekki where he was head, Media Relations. At the age of 26 he became the promotions manager of Premier Music, promoting the musical works of the artistes on Premier label. Because of his skill in executing his job, within time, he became the most celebrated youngest promotions manager in Nigeria. He was the executive producer of Premier Prime Time presented by veteran broadcaster and a renown journalist, Mr. Benson Idonije on OGBC-2, Abeokuta - a program which highlights and creates awareness for all artistes on Premier label and their latest efforts as it was being released into the market.

Having made his name and fame, though fortune was yet to smile on him, he started with his outfit, DO & Associates which not only promoted KWAM 1 to a the point that his music was accepted by both indigences and non indigences, but to the level that KWAM 1 who had never won an award, became a winner of twelve awards within the three years, he was his artiste manager. Over time Wasiu became an artiste to watch out in the international market. As he advanced further, he took steps which later became miles. Having successfully managed artistes he delved into shows. He organised the yearly Saint Florence Concert between 1993 and 1995, featuring big time artistes like the late Afro beat King Fela Anikulapo.

His efforts in the Nigerian Music Industry was rewarded with many awards, among which was Fame Music Award for outstanding Artistes Manager of the year 1993.

In 1996 he relocated to London the place of his birth. Most people felt the death of his brother Wale Olomu, the erstwhile entertainment editor of Fame was responsible for his relocation. Dayo relocated to continue his entertainment career, he was one of the eighteen expatriates who left London to organise the yearly Benson and Hedges Gold & Tones concert in 1999. He was the assistant stage manager and concert reviewer. In 2001, he co-produced and co-ordinated Queen Salawa Abeni's first concert in London. He also promoted the debut, United Kingdom (UK) tours of two juju stars, Wale Thompson in 2001 and Dele Taiwo in 2002.Why is it that it's only artistes who plays Juju that he promotes for international shows. Only indigenous artistes works are in high demand. In this side of the world, there are lots of what the young artistes are trying to imitate. Though there were speculations that he has parted ways with KWAM 1, nothing like that ever happened, KWAM 1 and I are good friends till tomorrow, he said.

Does he see a situation in the near further where most of the recording companies will come back alive as in the eighties. There's the need to sanitise the environment in which they can operates. Pirates kill most of these recording companies.

Dayo came to Nigeria to launch M & M, a magazine, meant to promote the works of Nigerians in music and movie correcting all negative images created abroad about the industry and the individual personalities and these magazine will be circulated round most countries. How does he access the Nigerian movie in London. They've done well so far. Most of the Nigerian Movies are doing very well.