Motolani Alake

Motolani Olusegun Alake, known professionally as Motolani Alake, is a Nigerian lawyer, music executive, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcast host, and TV host, who has also been a pop culture commentator, and journalist. He was the Editor-In-Chief at Pulse Nigeria[1] from March 2022 to December 2022.[2] He currently serves as the chart manager for Nigeria's TurnTable Top Afro-Pop Songs chart. Alake was recruited by the African Union to join All Africa Music Awards as one of its juries for West Africa in 2022.[3][4][5][6][7]

Motolani Alake
Born
Motolani Olusegun Alake
NationalityNigerian
Occupations
Known forPulse Nigeria
Title

Early life and career

Motolani Olusegun Alake was born in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, and raised in Akure, Ondo State, where he had his primary and secondary education. He graduated with an LL.B. in law from Ekiti State University before enrolling at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos. In 2016, he went for his National Youth Service Corps in Eket, Akwa Ibom.[2] Prior to venturing into the multimedia field, Alake practiced law and worked for humanitarian aid and corporate finance organizations. He currently serves as a pop culture journalist and produces written, visual, and audio content. Alake rose to stardom as a music critic at Pulse Nigeria, where he became the Editor-In-Chief in March 2022 and resigned in December 2022.[2]

On 19 August 2022, Alake was recruited by the International Committee AFRIMA, in association with the African Union to join All Africa Music Awards as one of its jury members for West Africa.[3] On 29 December 2022, he was one of the hosts of MTV Base Roundtable, a yearly TV program that ranks the hottest Nigeria songs for the year in review.[8]

Public speaking
  • MTV Base Musicology (2021).[9]
  • Lagos Creative Enterprise Week (2022).[10]
  • Tom Tom ‘Breathe for It’ Summit (2022).[11]
  • AfricaNXT conference (2023).[12]

Controversies

Feuds

On 29 November 2020, Motolani was embroiled in a feud with Tiwa Savage, shortly after he published an article he titled “Tiwa Savage’s faux-pas and her hilarious endorsement of ‘Mungo Parking’”, where he wrote, “Quality and greatness don’t need a megaphone”. Following her album's mention on the Time Magazine, and other international media endorsements, Motolani wrote “She felt foreign media endorsement was a greater representation of what she achieved with ‘Celia’”. The music critic also pointed-out, she deserved more from Nigerian media, and also referred to the release of her studio album ‘Celia’, reminding Tiwa Savage, how Yemi Alade was a bigger trending topic, either organically or inorganically. He closed his opinion, by saying “Instead of endorsing Nigerian narratives that don’t favour her, she’d rather embrace ‘Mungo Parking’ because it favours her”.[13]

On 30 November 2020, Tiwa Savage responded to the article on Twitter, calling out the media house Pulse Nigeria and its editor Motolani, saying, “You know how to diss out but you no fit take am when someone speaks up. Struggling brand ke. Even my son bagged more money than your whole company. I’m glad you know it’s YOU guys I was talking about because say I quiet no mean say I be fool” – don't try and turn Nigerian media against me to hide your guilty conscience,” she wrote. She took to another Tweet, where she called him, her fan, “Guy you came to my house to do interview then you asked for pictures. Bitch you are a fan. fuck you @onemotolani ”.[14]

Personal life

Motolani is a supporter of the football club Liverpool F.C.[1]

References
  1. "Motolani Alake". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  2. Ajasa, Olufemi. "10 Things to know about Nigerian Music Executive, Motolani Alake". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  3. Obinna, Emelike (19 August 2022). "AFRIMA 2022: Adjudication commences as jury arrives Lagos". Businessday NG. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  4. Team, Pride (21 November 2022). "Man Crush Monday: Motolani Alake". Pride Magazine Nigeria. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. Oriowo, Ayomide (4 September 2022). "TurnTable Power List of the Top 30 Music Executives of H1 2022". TurnTable. Archived from the original on 2022-09-04. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  6. Olukomaiya, Olufunmilola. "Music critic Motolani Alake named TurnTable Afro-Pop chart manager". P.M. News. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  7. Oriowo, Ayomide. "Methodology and Policies for the TurnTable Nigeria Top 100". www.turntablecharts.com. TurnTable. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. Obinna, Emelike (23 December 2022). "MTV Base Roundtable ranks Nigeria's hottest songs of 2022". Businessday NG. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  9. Anuforo, Chinenye (29 July 2021). "MTV Base Musicology to explore Nigeria's entertainment industry post-COVID". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. Nwachukwu, Iheanyi (17 October 2022). "Biodun Stephen, Omawumi Ogbe, Motolani Alake among speakers for 2022 Lagos Creative Enterprise Week". Businessday NG. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. "Tom Tom Opens Registration for the 'Breathe For It' Summit to Encourage Youth Passion and Creativity". Zikoko!. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  12. "Music industry experts to speak at AfricaNXT conference in Lagos this February". Music In Africa. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  13. Alake, Motolani (29 November 2020). "Tiwa Savage's faux-pas and her hilarious endorsement of 'Mungo Parking' [Pulse Editor's Opinion]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  14. Augoye, Jayne (30 November 2020). "Tiwa Savage attacks journalist over "Celia" album review". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
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