For renowned percussionist, Lekan Babalola and award-winning filmmaker, Biyi Bandele, signing new deals with wave-making talent agency, Temple Management Company, is a career boosting venture.
The two-time Grammy award-winning musician as well as the Half of A Yellow Sun producer recently signed separate deals with Temple Management in London where they are both based.
The widely travelled Babalola, who Washington Post described as a “wizardly percussionist”, is one of Nigeria’s biggest music exports. He has worked with many renowned acts such as the late Prince, Cassandra Wilson, Ernest Ranglin, Branford Marsalis, African Jazz All Stars, Roy Ayers, David Byrne, Damon Albarn, and Tony Allen.
Since it set up shop last year March, Temple Management Company has positioned itself as one of the foremost players operating in the creative sector in Nigeria and Africa at large. The full-service company, which boasts of a team of young professionals, has offices in Lagos and Nairobi as well as a presence in London, New York, and Johannesburg.
According to Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe, Temple Management’s CEO/Founder, the company will work with Lekan Babalola and Biyi Bandele to put Nigeria on the world map of jazz and film respectively.
Commenting, Babalola said he had spent many years looking for an indigenous company that shared his values and now he’s delighted to work with Temple. “I am delighted to work with Temple Management Company and I strongly believe the company’s contribution to my artistic success in Nigeria and Africa is highly important. I look forward to the partnership.
“I became sold when I stumbled on the impressive way that TMC executed the King Sunny Ade’s Sunny On Sunday Concert and I believe that TMC’s involvement is a pre-requisite for the success of my artistic career in Nigeria and Africa,” he stressed.
On his part, Bandele expressed optimism, describing his new deal as a strategic synergy that will raise the bar in the African creative sector. “I have been looking for representation not only for my film work but also to engage in commercial opportunities across Africa. Temple is the perfect fit and I believe we can export world class entertainment from the continent to the rest of the world,” he said.
Also lending his voice, Mark Redguard, TMC’s Head of Entertainment, said the opportunities are limitless to work with two of the biggest creative forces out of Nigeria to the world.