Last week, Naij.com met up with Rhythm FM’s Omalicha (real name: Anita Ifeoma Isedeh) and the OAP chatted about her journey into broadcasting, plans to start up a Vlog, what she fancies most in a man, among others.
During the campaigns towards the last elections, Omalicaha’s was privileged to interview the now-vice president of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbanjo on her show which has quite a huge youth following. She talked about how she got him on air.
‘Osinbanjo is a great man,’ she says. ‘He is an amazing man. He just rang me randomly one of those days and introduced himself; you know how he randomly reached out to Nigerians in the wake of the elections? So I felt he was kidding so I told him to come over to my show if he was for real. We fixed a date and he came through, that’s how I had him on air on the day.’
Omalicha also gave her view on the current state of Nigeria and what she thinks of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
‘It’s been fine so far. From all indications, this government appears a disciplined one. And as a broadcaster there’s a limit to what I can say but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the coming months hold. We can see that it’s been an overhaul in certain areas, so we can only watch and pray for the best. So far so good it feels like a strict one, a serious one and I’m happy about it. The government is great with communications in that they have kept in touch with the media sector in a bid to foster transparency and growth, which is a good thing really.’
A graduate of French from the University of Lagos, she recounted how she got her first break in radio with the help of super-producer, Cobhams Asuquo.
‘I recorded my voice on Cobham’s laptop, we were in school together and he was dating a friend of mine so we all used to hang together and chill. So I did a bit of an audio voice over type stuff on his computer and then he took it with him to a meeting. Somehow, the tape got into the notice of a few bigwigs at Rhythm FM and that’s how I got started.’
She, however, has plans to move beyond radio. She told Naij.com that she was working on kicking-off her Vlog, starting a cooking business as well as try her hand on acting and writing.
Still, in spite of these, she doesn’t see traditional media fading away anytime soon.
She said. ‘I believe radio especially is going to be here for a while, a long time actually. Because it has the power to connect the minds of the people… the music and sounds are nothing you can compare to anything else. Do you know the power of music to the mind? It’s like a drug, a rush, a panacea. It’s undisputable. And I believe radio will be relevant for the rest of our lives.’
Frequent listeners to Omalicha’s shows on Rhythm are familiar with her hearty laugh; she explains the reason behind her almost constant cheer.
‘I have a happy place. I have happy moments. I don’t think I can be sad for long and all that. It’s hard to make me sad. Plus I always find things that make me bubbly. For instance, a plate of beans and plantain can get me smiling. Or maybe a clean, nice-looking, young man with a bit of belly and a buff frame,’ she said giggling.
The always ‘real’ radio personality did not hold back when it came to talking about her preferences in men, sex and relationship.
‘I love a real man, a man who is a goal getter. But my idea of a perfect man is this… you see, he will have flaws. I want to see and know his weakness and help him deal with them. My perfect man will love me, and love God first. I don’t want much, basically a cool, nice guy who is down to earth and driven. I will love him for who he is. Having understood his weaknesses, we can work things out. The most striking thing I look out for in a man is his soul… I need to be able to connect with him on deeper levels.’
She disclosed that she was currently emotionally invested in someone in the creative industry, but she refused to comment beyond that.
‘He isn’t so popular. But then I don’t care if I’m dating a popular figure or not. It’s about the both of us and the connection. It’s a personal preference. It’s two people coming together to accept something as it is, not living in denial, so that we can live together and face the challenges as a pair when they come, as they always will. I think what matters the most is the understanding and commitments.’
She was clear on her views about celebrity marriages: ‘I basically don’t have anything against celebrity unions. Why? And to be real, you can find happiness with anyone from any sector.’
She also gave her opinion on her counterpart, Toke Makinwa whose ‘celebrity marriage’ was thrown into the limelight recently, following reports of Makinwa’s husband, Maje Ayida’s affair with a woman currently carrying his baby.
‘If I were in her shoes… I dunno what I’d do really. Because, you see, when you love you love someone.
‘As I stated earlier, my ideal man will come with flaws, but God give me the wisdom and patience to deal with challenges as they come. When I’m eventually ready to settle and all, we will work things out together.’
Anita Ifeoma Isedeh aka Omalicha is an On Air Personality on an urban Lagos radio station. She is colleagues with star OAP, Toke Makinwa, whose recent marriage woes were fodder for gossip columns.
credits: Naija.com
No comments:
Post a Comment