Mr. Uwechue is not the first foreigner to have made a name for himself in China, but he is the first African to have reached widespread success here. Some music industry experts in China credit part of his fame to the close economic and cultural ties — including friendship and exchange programs and other joint ventures — that have long existed between China and some African countries

When Mr. Uwechue took his first album to his friends and family in Nigeria, they were, he said, “a little bit surprised, yet proud” to learn that he had become a pop star in China. He recalled his mother’s response: “‘China? Wow! I never could have imagined.’ ”

mohumyta:

This guy is a British born Liberian?Any explanation that he can be a Nigerian

mohumyta:

This guy is a British born Liberian?Any explanation that he can be a Nigerian

Who told you Hao Ge is Liberian?.

Mr. Uwechue got his start singing in the choir at House on the Rock Pentecostal church in Lagos, Nigeria. After receiving a degree in engineering, he decided to pursue music against the wishes of his father, who “disowned me for a while,” Mr. Uwechue said, adding, “He thought I was throwing my life away.”

A Chinese friend, Li Yayu, who was working in Lagos at the time, was aware of Mr. Uwechue’s interest in singing. When Mr. Li moved back to Henan Province in 2001 to open a hotel, he called Mr. Uwechue and asked him if he wanted to visit.

Mr. Uwechue accepted in 2002, and eventually started performing in bars and hotels in Henan and Hebei Provinces. He got his big break when Liu Huan — a top producer in the music industry here who helped pioneer pop music in China by performing and composing for television — discovered him singing one night at the Big Easy, a bar in Beijing that has since closed. With Mr. Liu’s backing, Mr. Uwechue became a devoted student of Mandarin and eventually gained a following. It was his performance in 2007 at the wildly popular Lunar New Year Gala, seen by hundreds of millions of people on television, that made him a star. It’s the Chinese equivalent of the Super Bowl and China’s highest-rated broadcast event of the year.

eku_bear:

I'm surprised no links to his songs, aloy/emeka 

basher:

Hehehe! I wan die

Scenario 1: Hao Ge is a Liberian who "adopted" the passport of a Nigerian - Uwechue Emmanuel, to gain entry into China.

Scenario 2: Hao Ge is a Nigerian who creatively aquired a Liberian passport with his original name - Uwechue Emmanuel, to gain entry into China (probably with refugee status)

Scenario 3: Born of Nigerian parents in Liberia or settled in Liberia at a young age.

Scenario 4: A Liberian with name or surname Emmanuel, who decided to adopt or was given the name Uwechue.

Scenario 5: who cares anyway?!!!

mohumyta:

This guy is a British born Liberian?Any explanation that he can be a Nigerian

Google is your friend!!!

samsilo:

I am surprised to read this and no one seems to know that Tinie Tempah, the biggest new musician in the UK and winner of Two Brit awards(UK Grammys) is of Nigerian parentage. His Real name is Patrick Chuckwuemeka Okogwu

samsilo:

I am surprised to read this and no one seems to know that Tinie Tempah, the biggest new musician in the UK and winner of Two Brit awards(UK Grammys) is  of Nigerian parentage. His Real name is Patrick Chuckwuemeka Okogwu

slap1:

The guy is from Rwanda, he uses an Iraqi passport.

samsilo:

I am surprised to read this and no one seems to know that Tinie Tempah, the biggest new musician in the UK and winner of Two Brit awards(UK Grammys) is of Nigerian parentage. His Real name is Patrick Chuckwuemeka Okogwu