Diana Oputa needs no Introduction in the Nigerian
Showbiz market. She is the wife to the former Performing
Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Charly Boy.
The popular designer who has helped many Nigerian
artistes to design their clothes on sets is also into music
business. She has been in the underground of the business
but now, she has dropped her debut album: All Of Me.
The versatile black American had a chat with Tijani Adegbola on her new album. Excerpts:
Lady D & New Album
Lady D is a very notable showbiz personality in Nigeria. She is the wife of the former Performing
Musicians Association of Nigeria., (PMAN) President,Charly Boy. I just dropped my maiden album on the
shelve recently. The title is called All Of Me. I want to do different kinds of music that was why it a
little bit delayed. I did this for my people and fans to this in the market.
Market Response
I’ve been having a little bit of problem which has not made the music to storm the massive market. But my
fans can buy it at major stores & super market in Lagos and it environs. We can’t really call that
success. But you can say it is successful when your music is everywhere and people are buying it quickly.
So, that is one of the problems I have with the marketing of the work. This is my first album. I’m
basically doing everything myself. The album should have storm the market through record label. But we
later found out that we can’t work together. If I’m still waiting for record label, I wouldn’t have
released my album by now. What I’ve done so far I would call it bi step. I’ve been able to make small
impact in the market. People are anxiously searching for the CD in the market even though they can’t find
it. Tat is the main problem because the demand can’t be fulfilled now. What we are doing now is to try
getting the market in order to look for were the CD should be. There are lots of my fans tat want to buy
the music from the marketers. All these I’m just finding out during my research. Funny enough, I don’t
know anything about music marketing.
Selling Tracks
The CD has 10 tracks. The selling track is Love Na Jeje. I did 7 tracks in Nigeria went to
hana to finis 3 tracks. I featured Sound Sultan. I also worked wit Nally Kin ana,a rap artist. I also did
work wit Omotola Jalade. We should have released some of the video but the person doing did a bad job. The
litin was very bad and when I ask the person that would work on it, e said the litin is very bad. We
spent a lot on tat video. Nally Kin came far from Ana. We rented a club. Unfortunately, it small tin tat
spoilt the whole efforts. Costumes, Make-up,Production crew, all are money on the project. Now,
someone just destroy the whole tin. It is absolutely painful.
Designing Plus Music, Challenges
People know me a lot being a designer. All are art. I can’t really separate the two. I’ve been doing it for
a whole. I’ve many costumes to work wit. Music & fashion are all one. They are interwoven .I’ve done
many costumes & fashion for many artists. I’ve worked for Muma Gee, Ara. I’ve also worked for Oliver de
Coque, King Sunny Ade. So, many of tem like tat, tat I can’t even mention. It is being long I’ve been in the
field. People might be saying I should have made a million. Believe me; I’ve not made tat million.
Nigeria is just coming up to invest a lot in music.Any way, we are just doing our own to contribute to
the development of the industry. Music line is another platform for me to showcase the creativity in me. But
it has been very difficult to combine the two together.
Charly Boy Contribution
My husband has been helping me. He has been inspiring me psychologically. People mitt ink e knows it all.
Even the marketing in which I’m having the problem now, people believe e should be able to help me. Funny
enough, he doesn’t know it all. He is not a marketer.
