From Yeyebrities to Celebrities: Fame and Fandom Studies Matter
Yesterday we had part 1 of our panel on "of fame and fandom: African celebrities in Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" at the 6th Lagos Studies Association Conference. Today is part two. Be on the lookout later this evening, Nigerian time.
We had a robust conversation with highly esteemed and established scholars like Professor Saheed Aderinto, Prof Vicki Brennan, and early career scholars like yours truly and Chukwuebuka Kenneth. Each panelist brought thought-provoking perspectives to the panel that was enriching and transformative. They also affirm my conviction that there is more to the field of celebrity studies in Africa than it is currently engaged.
From the secular corridors of fuji, Professor Aderinto demonstrates the many geographies of fame that exceed physical and digital space to imaginaries of fame. That is how famous fuji artists perceptive their fame and how they are, in turn, perceptive by others. Among the provocative ideas shared was how enemies and friends, patrons, patronage, fans, and technology contribute to the artist's success and their art. Professor Vicki took us from the secular hall of fame of entertainers and musicians to the sacred halls of the church to see how power, age, gender, piety, and economics shape celebrity gospel artist fame. One aha moment for me, among others, was her close reading of Alaseyori's performativity of humility and shyness as a means of connecting with the audience and maintaining relevance amid the furor between her and Tope Alabi. Prof Vicki's intimate engagement and familiarity with the world of African religion and Nigerian gospel is inspiring as she draws on current news, blogs, and social media and has interviewed Tope Alabi. Kenneth took us into the world of indigenous African celebrities to underscore that fame is relative and its parameters have changed through time and space. Notably, he reveals the complexities and controversy around his fame of Simone, including his polygamy( married to nearly 60 wives) and his metaphysical practice, which may not sit with cosmopolitan Christian ideas and western-influenced ideas of notions of civilization and progress. This short review may not capture the entire ideas they presented and may even have misrepresented them. But you can watch the Facebook live recording later this week or any time on the LSA Facebook page.
To reiterate my post from yesterday. I breathe, think, read and write celebrities. In 2019 I submitted a paper on celebrity philanthropy EADI ISS Conference: Solidarity, Peace, and Social Justice. The panel I presented in was chaired by one of the leading scholars in global celebrities studies, Professor Lisa Richey My paper was titled "When Charity and Camera Collide: Nigerian Celebrity Philanthropy in the Age of Technology ." Due to COVID-19, the conference did hold and was postponed to 2021. Gladly I presented the paper last year at the virtual meeting. The remark of one of the leading scholars about the paper was. "The paper fills a huge gap in the literature on celebrity humanitarianism. By analyzing the Nigerian celebrity engagement in local and global do-gooding, we can better formulate theories of how these elite actors work across diverse contexts. Of all papers on this panel, this one will be an absolute must to engage!"
Earlier this year, my chapter contribution to an edited volume captures how we may understand the politics of philanthropy from church, politicians, corporate bodies, and celebrities. On philanthropy of the politician, I engaged with "Government Palliatives, Public Distrust, and Politics of Political Philanthropy. With the church's charities and during the pandemic, I question whether religious leaders' philanthropy was piety or performance? With the contribution of a corporate organization such as Access bank, the Otedola's, and Dangote's, I wondered whether their philanthropy was part of Corporate Social Responsibility: Good Samaritan or Robbing Peter to Pay Paul? . Finally, with celebrities, interrogate whether it was attention Altruism and Attention Seeking
Most importantly, I will not be doing celebrity studies without the influence of a hand full of people who are committed to helping me refine my crude thoughts. Today, among these hand full of people, I recognize Professor Saheed Aderinto. I hope one day I can damn the fear of his "reprimand" (which sometimes comes in his Ibadan way of telling you talo bi yin lejo (who ask you) which all mentees fear and write about what his contribution means to my scholarship. Prof believes the greatest gratitude you can offer for whatever he has done is to pay it forward. In 2019, I and a mentee asked him, in that brief moment at ASA in Boston 2019, what would be his greatest reward as a mentor. He replied, "there is so much to be done. Many more people need help. I am trying my best to reach more people every day. It would be great if you all pay it forward by helping your peers and young scholars discover their authentic intellectual selves by helping them secure their own independent and visible seat in the pantheon of knowledge--respectfully and honorably". I remember this verbatim because I journal (if you know, you know). One of his Facebook this spring sent me on a frenzied click to amazon to order books authored by celebrities. These includes
Kaffy Alajota
Toke Makinwa's Becoming
Oyenka Onwenu My Father's Daughter
Kanayo Kanayo The Testator
Jim IYke's "The gift in the Odds
The portrait of a Warri Boy RMD
Nollywood till November: memoirs of a Nollywood insiders: Charsles Novia
This morning I ordered James Brown's latest book, "The chronicle of an African Princess."
The sad part of this is buying these books means that I don't have money for killish, Asun, and peppered goat meat with juice (pronounced as jucee inside jokes). But as he constantly assures us, "you will reap your investment in research if you do it rigorously, ethically, and joyfully."
Posted on Facebook on June 24, 2022
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