Today is recognized internationally as Children’s Day so it is only right to talk about why we don’t have many child stars in Nigeria.
In the 80’s and early 90’s Nigeria had a lot of child stars from singer Tosin Jegede to actress Yomi Adeyemi-Wilson who starred alongside Olu Jacobs on the detective series 'Third Eye'. Even Nollywood queen Genevieve Nnaji was a child actor back in the 80’s starring in the soap opera ‘Ripples’. We also had Chi Chi of Africa and later on in the 90s Benita Okojie.


Tosin Jegede signed a 25-year deal with Polygram Records back in 1989, a period that saw her as the biggest child singing sensation in Nigeria.

It was not strictly a female affair as we had the likes of Peter Bunor Jnr, the son of late Nigerian actor Peter Bunor and others on our TV screen.

Today the entertainment scene is not littered with kids who are talented in music or acting. The two that readily come to mind are Amarachi, the winner 'Nigeria’s Got Talent' and Ozzy Bosco, an energetic young male singer. Let’s not forget Emmanuella, a budding comic actor whose YouTube videos are popular. There is also Mya K, a female teenage singer.


Amarachi Uyanne, 11, is managed by her mother (Press)

Compared to what we had in the 80s and 90s this is hardly anything. What has happened to kid stars? Where have they gone to?

The disappearance of kid stars might have to do with the structure of our entertainment industry. Things were a lot more organized in the 80s and some parts of the 90s. The music industry suffered the most from the mid 90s. It completely crashed and not many talented individuals stayed behind including child stars.


Even with the glitz and glamour of today’s industry a lot of things are not structured which would make it discouraging for most parents to allow their kids to be a singer or actor.

Today’s industry in Nigeria is too manipulative and capital intensive for child stars to thrive. The business is harsh for grown ups much less kids. Grown men get ripped up in this mad business which is surely not a safe environment for kids.


Former child star Chichi of Africa

Presently the music and movie industries is not conducive for kids. Yeah, we can have a few here and there but the kiddies sub-industry will not be a full blown thing until the entertainment industry is structured.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/05/what-happened-to-all-child-celebrities.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

They became Adults.

Na water happen to them !!!!!!!...


Mark Angel con register Emmanuella

They grew up

they learnt that education is more important