Women In the Music Industry we Love
Rima Tahini
The Sierra Leonean Rima Tahini is a senior advisor at Kupanda Capital and Mavin Global's director of artists and repertoire. Rima is well positioned to lead the development of Africa's arts and entertainment business through one of Africa's major entertainment firms by recognising, fostering, and managing pan-African musical talent. She was combining a banking job with a love for entertainment and leisure.
Rima was born in Sierra Leone a few years before the Civil War ravaged the country and destroyed many livelihoods for her Lebanese father and Sierra Leonean mother. Her family was compelled to flee and seek safety in Guinea. During this time, her father's prosperous fabric manufacturing firm faltered, and the family's income plunged. She devoted herself to her studies after they were allowed to return to Sierra Leone, finding shelter from the conflicts in her family and country.
Currently, Rima holds the positions of Senior Advisor at Kupanda Capital and Director of A&R (Artists & Repertoire) for Mavin Global. Established in 2012 by renowned Afrobeats producer Don Jazzy, Mavin Global is regarded as one of Africa's top entertainment businesses. Over the past ten years, Mavin Records has given birth to some of the most enduring classic songs and singers from the continent. Rima's job includes overseeing and maintaining all of the label's artist output, including music videos, live performances, and merchandise.
By placing its artists for greater effect well beyond the continent's borders, Rima sees her position in the entertainment industry as a platform to revolutionise the sector. With Afrobeats gaining popularity once more, Rima is in a great position to promote the development of emerging African artists and help them succeed in the music business. She sees her work as contributing to the continuing cultural transformation of Africa, and she dreams of fully-fledged institutions in the entertainment sector that would spread the stories of Africa around the globe.
Bose Ogulu
Bose Ogulu is the daughter of Fela Kuti's manager, Nigerian music critic Benson Idonije. Ogulu worked as a translator for the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce after earning a Bachelor of Arts in foreign languages and a Master of Arts in translation from the University of Port Harcourt. She speaks English, French, German, Italian, and Yoruba fluently.
Ogulu manages her son Damini, who acts as Burna Boy, and her daughter Nissi, who performs under her own name. She managed Burna Boy until 2014, then took over as his manager again in 2017, earning her the moniker Mama Burna. She has won numerous honours for Burna Boy, including the All Africa Music Awards.
When speaking with the guardian, the assertive business manager said that they had both discovered a formula. She went on to say that it was crucial that Burna Boy fired her at the right time because if he hadn't, he would have had time to go on without her being a part of his career.
"Though I did let go entirely, I still look after the endorsement and a few other things." Yes, we both discovered a formula; he's gotten older, so there's maturity; he's gone around the block, seen, and circled back. He has a saying that when all else fails, you must return home and retrace your steps.
Bose Ogulu is the founder and CEO of Spaceship Collective, which owns Spaceship Records and Spaceship Publishing.
Osagie Osarenz
an expert in the African music industry, Osagie Osarenz. She is currently the Director of A&R and Operations at ONErpm, a full-service supplier of data-driven music business solutions, helping artists succeed in today's global music market. She is a renowned talent manager and an expert in African sound culture and business. Superstars like Wizkid, Skales, Timaya, Aramide, and others were discovered and developed thanks to Osagie's work in the music industry.
Before becoming known as Wizkid's manager, Osagie Osarenz had previously worked as Kel's manager throughout her illustrious career as Nigeria's female popstar.
Osagie told notjustok, "I worked with Tosin, and then I moved to corporate communications at Super Brands, a digital advertising behemoth, where I met the creators of Empire Mates Entertainment, which was Wizkid's first label." Then, for Moments with Mo's first two seasons, I served as an assistant producer. Everything seemed to flow into the next. When I left Moments With Mo, I was certain that I wanted to pursue artist management professionally. I met Clarence Peters at that time, and he had just launched Capital Hill and Capital Dreams, so it looked like the perfect time for me.
Although Osagie's journey in the music industry hasn't always been easy, the renowned talent manager is only concerned with her legacy.