Until now, I cant comprehend what R2bees did to deserve the kind of input Wande Coal made into the 'Kiss your hand' song. Anyone who has listened to Wande Coal’s album will immediately realize that ‘Kiss your hand’ was pieces of all songs on the Nigerian artistes’ maiden album put together. Wande actually has a song on his own album titled ‘Kiss your hand’.
Chinedu my Nigerian friend had just returned from Lagos on vacation and as usual he brought some of the latest albums making hits in West Africa’s most populous nation. When we met a few days after his return, he told me he had some fresh ‘naija’ tunes for me; then he game me an audio CD.
For more than three months the only album I listen to was the CD my friend gave me. It was Wande coal’s album. I played the album over and over again until I could sing every song on the album. Every single song on it was my personal favorite.
When I heard that Wande Coal was billed for the 2009 Miss Malaika pageant, I was very excited because I knew it will afford me the opportunity to do a story on the artiste whose works has been my good friend for more than a quarter of a year. That night at the Malaika, all I wanted to do was to have a chat with the immerging African superstar.
Just after an hour into the 4 hour show, I strolled to the back stage hoping to catch Wande. I was lucky enough; he was right there chatting with two other gentlemen including D’banj’s Brother K-swiss. Wande was wearing a white long sleeves, a pair of denim and white trainers to match. With broad smiles I approached him and said “Hi wande”? Then he replied with a broader smile “ yea, how far, whats up”?
I had a 15 minutes chat with him and we spoke about his success story. He told me about how Don Jazzy took him and made him. He was also grateful to D’Banj but he was quick to acknowledge God as his source of strength.
He told me that night that he loves Samini and R2bees and thus a single with these two artistes was in the offing. I was therefore not surprised when I heard “Kiss your hand” by R2bees and WC two weeks after that interview.
The next time I saw Wande after that Malaika night was just recently at the Cinderellas Night Club in Labone. I spotted him squeezing through the choked party crowd with his glass of champagne. Then I tapped him on the shoulder and just as he turned and saw me he said he said “ hey… long time.. u dey”?
I saw him a while later outside and I thought it was an opportunity to follow up on the story I got the first time we spoke. I wanted to ask him what happened to the single with Samini since all that was released was the one with R2bees. Just as I approached him one of the R2bees guy he was standing with him pushed me back. Not even Wande could convince him to allow me to chat with him. This R2bees guy was just adamant.
I was very disappointed in the R2bees guy for what he did. It only went to show how narrow minded some Ghanaian artistes can be. I am only a humble reporter seeking a follow up on story. When I first met Wande, even their single was not yet released.
The kind of aggression that was created by these Tema boys just because I wanted to speak to Wande was big enough for a story but I did not write anything about that encounter up until now because of the kind of respect I have for the young Nigerian artiste.
All I can say is that, if R2bees want to build up on the kind of footing Wande Coal has given them, then they need to lift-up their game. They should learn to brand themselves well because in my candid opinion they live as if the music they make is just for fun. I believe they can also learn from Sarkodie, a fellow hood boy who has just over a shot period become the new kid on the block.
By: Selase Attah
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