OzzyBosco Wonder-kid
Is this another Michael
Jackson?
By JAMES EMMANUEL
jemedia7@gmail.com
jemedia7@gmail.com
 |
| Ozzybosco |
Today, having wowed and dazzled music lovers with several
outstanding stage performances in high-octane events across the nation and a
number of wave-making singles to his credit (featuring the likes of Olamide,
Flavour and Lamborghini), even the “Thomases” in the Nigerian music scene are
no longer in doubt of OzzyBosco’s talents and musical prowess. Stylishly,
gradually, the youngster is on his way to winning many hearts, if not all.
As rightly pointed out by the French music scholar, Jules
Combarie, music is the art of thinking with sounds. In this regard, the new kid
on the block whose real name is Oziomachukwu Favour Mojekwu, began thinking nay
singing barely three months after birth. As disclosed by his mother and
manager, Elizabeth Nonye Mojekwu the lad would often shake his body to anything
that sounds like music and this caught the interest of everyone around him,
especially the mum who recorded all these memorable moments and developments in
her camcorder.
True their expectations, the coarse to soar high and
professionally embrace the music industry cleared for the kid dynamite in the
year 2011, when he emerged winner in a talent hunt competition tagged “Kids Got
Talent” at the age of four. The competition featured kids between the ages of
2-15 and OzzyBosco’s victory became a pointer for him to unlock his hidden
potentials as him immediately launched himself to fame.
Today, two years after winning the coveted prize, Ozzy,
apart from having three impressive singles to his credit- Tinini, featuring Olamide;
Sweet Mama, featuring Flavour; and Superstar, featuring Lamborghini-has
also been honoured with so many awards.
Some of such accolades includes: Youngest African
Entertainer – Classic African Merit Awards, 2012; Outstanding Young Performer –
Bold Step Award, 2012; Most Creative Young Person Awards – City Pride Achievers
Awards, 2012; Youngest Distinct Style Artiste – The Distinct Styleborn Awards;
Most Creative Pupil in Class (Schools Merit Award); Most Talented Young Star –
Dynamix All Youths Award, 2012; and two gold, one silver and two bronze medals
in track and field competitions.
Apart from staging a scintillating performance at the
wedding of Uloma Okorocha, daughter of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, where
the governor, moved by Ozzy’s performances, lifted him to his shoulder and
praised on him, the Wonderkid has also made most Nigerians dance to his upbeat
tones in the following events: Bowler
Hats Bash, Zenith Bank Children’s Xmas Youth Parade, Lagos State Countdown
Event, Ovation International Magazine’s Red Carol and Awards, Dynamix All Youth
Awards, AIT Children’s Day Peace and Unity Concert, NTA Television/Chivita
Children’s Xmas Party, Nigerian Telecom Awards, Chrisland Schools’ Xmas Carol
and Concert, City People’s Fashion Awards, Sisi Eko Beauty Pageant, and so many
others-about 65 in number.
As a pointer to how OzzyBosco is celebrated both in the
industry and in the corporate world, CWAY Foods and Beverages recently signed
the celebrity kid as its Tigo Brand Ambassador. “Signing of OzzyBosco is a
major conquest for the company because this artiste is priceless and visibly
the most sought after child artiste in Africa. With this dynamite kid on board,
our brand will no doubt experience a massive breakthrough,” the company’s group
brand communication director, Auscar Ikoro stated, shortly after the contract
was sealed.
“He has achieved an unbeatable record within the shortest
period ever recorded in African entertainment industry. He is a bundle of
talent, torch bearer for children and good ambassador of this great nation. He
is an all-round entertainer-singer, dancer, actor instrumentalist, and also
very good at sports,” his mother, popularly known as Mummy Bosco paints a vivid
picture of his ‘little boy.’
She further noted that that by their “widely conducted
research, OzzyBosco is the youngest African superstar in the entertaibnment
world. He is endowed with boldness, versatility and charisma.”
How does he manage his music career alongside his education? His
mother, popularly known as Mummy Bosco explains: ‘’Ozzy Bosco wonder-kid is in
primary one and he is the class captain of a very competitive school. He comes
between first and second in the class, despite all his busy schedules. He is
just a genius. We call him the teacher’s teacher.‘’I don’t want to touch his academic career and we are making sure that academically, he remains on top of the class. In his school, before they can appoint somebody a class captain that person must be academically sound. We want to make sure that academically, he is not lacking behind; that’s why he also has a private tutor to himself and if we are travelling, she goes with us because there is time for play and time to work.
“I will also like to advise parents that time has come for them to start supporting their children so that they can aim at where they want them to be. We want to see OzzyBosco on top of the ladder. We don’t want to see his career die. In fact, a lot of them are coming to us now for advise and some are blaming themselves. I always tell them that it’s never too late to support their kids because whatever they will be in future, we will have a major stake in it.
“We want to see the two move on simultaneously – academic and entertainment. I believe with God by our side, we will guide him to his destiny. In every aspect of life, even if you are teaching your child how to drive, you will exercise some fear because if care is not taken, one can have an accident even as a professional driver. There are certain things I want to leave to God and pray about it because they are not under my care. A child that is not into entertainment can also derail, but you have to understand that every child needs mentoring. He is a loving child and we pray for the best for him; we pray that he makes his family, country and the continent proud.’’
As advised by the famous poets, Matsuo bash- Do not seek to
follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought- the celebrity
kid, according to him and his mum, is seeking what his iconic idol, Michael
Jackson sought. It is his desire to replicate the great artiste, often referred
to by the honorific nickname "King of Pop," who started off at the age
of five, and later became a phenomenal, dominating the world music scene for
several years before his death.
While working hard to register his name in the sands of time
like his idol, the self acclaimed superstar, even in his tender age already believes
in charity works-giving hopes to the hopeless. According to OzzyB, who is the
last of five kids, he was born to make an impact in the world, not just in
music but by reaching out to the less privileged ones.
With this burning desire to extend a hand of fellowship, the
Nnewi, Anambra-born youngster recently visited flood victims in their various
camps in Lagos where he sympathised and handed out some relief materials to
them. He has also reached out to kids at orphanages like The Little Saints
Orphanage in Palmgroove, Lagos and St. Monica Orphanage, also in Lagos, where
he sponsored a Christmas party for the kids. In addition, Ozzy, according to
his mother will soon be taking about 10 children on summer holidays to a
yet-to-be named country. “Five of them will come from an unnamed orphanage
home, while the other five will emerge through a competition being staged by
Rainbow FM.”
However, in this part
of the world, so many celebrity kids have come and gone. While some-even as
toddlers-became famous and gradually carved niches for themselves while growing
to adulthoods, others gradually faded into oblivion, as if they never existed.
For instance, in the 90’s, when the likes of Tosin Jegede of
“Bata Mi Adun Kokoka” fame endlessly dazzled lovers of music, she did not
become a mega star like what Michael Jackson of ‘The Jackson Five’ music group
later became. On the other hand, the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, who played the
Harry Potter role in that movie, became a celeb at age of 10.
Though the talented Ozzybosco-after every stage performance-signs off with this powerful declaration of authority: “I’m the youngest African superstar; watch out for me,” how far he can go still remain a question to be answered by time!
Though the talented Ozzybosco-after every stage performance-signs off with this powerful declaration of authority: “I’m the youngest African superstar; watch out for me,” how far he can go still remain a question to be answered by time!
Though filled with lots of swags that are associated with
top Nigerian artistes like D’Banj, Naeto C, P-Square, Tuface, Wizkid, Davido
amongst others, OzzyBosco has one unrealized dream. “He is still nursing the
desire to be on stage with some raves of the moment like Wizkid, Tiwa Savage,
among others,” Mummy Bosco revealed, further noting that, already, his works
are gaining international recognition while his management team is also
currently liaising with a big record company in London.
Is OzzyBosco another Michael Jackson? Time will tell
