The 2025 edition of the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards and Roundtable (WOMA-R) commenced on Saturday, 13 December, with a robust and introspective discussion on ‘The Impact of Entertainment Reporting on Musical Careers: Our View’. Broadcast live on TopRadio 90.9 FM, the Roundtable brought together artistes, journalists and media executives to interrogate the power, pressures and possibilities of entertainment journalism in Nigeria’s creative economy.
Moderated by media veterans and WOMA Steering Committee members, Tokunbo Ojekunle and Femi Akintunde-Johnson, the conversation underscored the shared responsibility between artistes and the media in shaping public perception. Multi-award-winning singer and media executive Wunmi Obe reflected on her dual experience across both worlds, observing that ‘he that controls the media, controls the mind’, while stressing that collaboration, not conflict, should define the relationship. ‘Balanced reporting is key. There are positive things artistes do that are newsworthy, not just scandals’, she said.
Afro-soul singer Kayefi Osha echoed this call for responsibility, noting that misinformation has long-term consequences beyond fleeting headlines. ‘If you do not tell your story, others will tell it for you – and it may not be accurate’, she warned, adding that integrity in storytelling is essential to ‘pass good influence to the coming generations’.
From the perspective of a globally recognised performer, Aralola Olamuyiwa (Ara) drew attention to the fragility of careers in the digital age. ‘It is so easy for one’s career to go down now. How you are reported determines how your career goes’, she said, advocating balance and restraint in reportage. She also challenged assumptions about gender bias, stating that ‘artistry, not gender, ultimately shapes perception’.
Broadcaster and digital media specialist Jimi Akinniyi offered a newsroom-grounded view, emphasising product over personality. ‘I have always been attracted to the work first, not the individual’, he said, while acknowledging the reality that ‘artistes want to control the narratives about themselves’ in an increasingly digital-driven ecosystem.
Cultural writer and strategist Jide Taiwo pushed the conversation beyond ethics into sustainability, arguing that entertainment journalism must be treated with the same seriousness as political reporting. ‘We need new business models if entertainment journalism is to command the value it deserves’, he said, adding that ‘whatever role we play today – as artistes, journalists or leaders – will leave a legacy that must be worth defending’.
Publisher and media executive Olumide Iyanda reinforced the boundaries between journalism and publicity. ‘A journalist is not a PR person’, he stated, stressing professionalism and respect as non-negotiables. He reminded participants that journalists ‘play an important role in the lives of artistes’, a responsibility that demands ethical clarity rather than sensationalism.
The discussion also touched on interview preparedness, media literacy and lifestyle choices, with the consensus that misinformation, sensationalism and poorly managed narratives remain among the biggest threats to artistic longevity. Collectively, the exchanges highlighted the urgent need for balance, professionalism and foresight in entertainment reporting – not merely as a career catalyst, but as a cultural archive that shapes how stories endure beyond the news cycle. The Roundtable set a reflective and purposeful tone for WOMA 2025, themed ‘Unsung Legends Who Shaped Today’s Glory’.
Attention now turns to Saturday, 20 December, when the Wale Olomu Memorial Awards ceremony will honour three Lifetime Achievement recipients and five Special Recognition awardees for their enduring contributions to Nigeria’s entertainment industry. The ceremony, airing live on TopRadio 90.9 FM, continues WOMA’s mission of preserving legacy, recognising excellence, and amplifying the often-uncelebrated architects of Nigeria’s cultural evolution.
