Etcetera Ejikeme

Paschal Uche Ejikeme (/ˈʊtʃeɪ/ /ˈeɪdʒikɛmɛ/;born December 14, 1975), better known by his stage name Etcetera Ejikeme, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, social activist, columnist and radio personality. Born in the Niger Delta town of Warri, Delta State to a father who was a Prison Warder and a mother, who was a petty trader. In 1998 Etcetera Ejikeme discovered his talent for music as a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church Kirikiri Town, Apapa Lagos, Youth Organisation Band. He later began pursuing a musical career in 2000 by enrolling to study music at MUSON (Music Society Of Nigeria) in Onikan, Lagos.[1] In 2004 Etcetera Ejikeme met OJB Jezreel and Joekaynie to record his first studio song Michelle, which gained nationwide airplay. That same year, he recorded two more songs, Love Should Last and Life For You. In 2007, he met Steve Babaeko through a friend and signed to X3M Music on a three-year and two albums contract that expired in 2010.[2]

Etcetera Ejikeme
Etcetera Ejikeme in Baltimore, Maryland July 2020
Background information
Birth namePaschal Uche Ejikeme
Also known asEtcetera
Born (1975-12-14) 14 December 1975
Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
GenresAlternative Music
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • radio personality
  • columnist
  • social activist
Years active2004–present
LabelsX3M Music
Associated acts

Personal life

Etcetera Ejikeme was born in Warri, Delta State and is the seventh of nine children of David and Cecilia Ejikeme. His father was a prison warden and his mother was a petty trader.He is of Igbo descent and hails from Amiyi in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. He had his primary education at Dogho Primary School Warri, Delta State, Nigeria from 1981 to 1984 and Central Primary School Kirikiri Town Apapa, Lagos State, Nigeria from 1984 to 1987 respectively. His secondary education was at Dr. Lucas Memorial High School, Kirikiri Town Apapa, Lagos State, Nigeria from 1988 to 1994. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland United States of America in 2016.[3][4]

Controversy

Etcetera Ejikeme took his social activism to his column Etcetera live in The Punch. He often called out the government of President Muhammadu Buhari over his fight against corruption and his style of government.[5][6][7][8][9] This resulted in the alleged threat to his life.[10] It was said that the alleged threat to his life was due to his constant criticism of the Nigerian government over the level of corruption and insecurity in the country as a columnist for The Punch. This led to his emigration to the United States of America in 2016.[10][2] Etcetera Ejikeme also stated in one of his articles that Nigerian gospel songs are not uplifting enough.[11][12] Even former President Goodluck Jonathan was not spared by the social critic. He extensively criticised the former Nigerian president for spending public funds on Nigerian entertainers as opposed to the millions of hungry citizens of the country.[13] Etcetera Ejikeme described the attitude of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,an apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria in the 2015 Nigerian general elections as a betrayal of their mandate to Ndigbo.[14]

Feuds

Etcetera Ejikeme has engaged in online altercations with several celebrities, like M.I Abaga[15][16][17][18] Tiwa Savage.[19][20][21][22][23]Wizkid[24]Daddy Freeze[25][26][27] Olisa Adibua[28][29] Yomi Black[30]

Career

Etcetera Ejikeme's musical journey started in 1988 as a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church Kirikiri Town, Apapa Lagos, Youth Organisation Band. It was during this time he learnt how to play the piano and decided to pursue a career in music. In 2000, the adventure led him to study music professionally at the Muson Centre for 2 years.[3] He was signed to X3M Music on a 3-year 2-album contract from 2007 to 2010.[31] It was during this time he released his first 2 albums. The self titled album Etcetera in 2007 which includes the hit track Michelle produced by himself and OJB Jezreel and Yes i am, in 2010. He Parted ways with X3M Music at the expiration of his contract.[32] In 2011 he became a radio personality with Top Radio 90.9 FM, Nigeria. He extended his radio show Etcetera live to a column in The Punch in 2012. In 2014 after being away from music for 4 years he collaborated with Nigerian rapper Vector (rapper) on a single titled P&G. His column in The Punch and radio show on Top Radio 90.9 FM, Nigeria kept him away from music until 2016 when he emigrated to the United States of America. Etcetera Ejikeme has been of the opinion that there is no Music industry in Nigeria but rather just a bunch of individuals making a way for themselves in music.[33]

While in the United States of America, in 2018 he released 2 singles titled “No Virgin in America” and “Free Your Mind and Your Feet Will Follow”.[10] The songs are an extension of his usual criticism and how he is part of a campaign to rid Baltimore, the state where he is based in the United States, of crime and hard drugs.[34][35][36] He is currently working on his third studio studio album, which is yet to be titled.[1]

Etcetera stated that he has started works on his third album which will be released in 2021.[4][2][1] He has also announced plans to release his first book in 2020. A book he says is about "new-era of colonisation; the repackaged form of Slave trade, how the slave masters revolutionised their act to get the world's approval.[1]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Etcetera (2007)[2]
  • Yes i am (2010)[2]

References
  1. Ihekire, Chinonso (2020-07-25). "'Alternative Music Has Transcended Into A Whole New Plain'". Sunnewsonline.com - The Sun. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  2. Nwafor (2020-07-18). "A look into Life of etcetera". Vanguardngr.com - Vanguard. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  3. Cyril (2020-07-31). "The rise and rise of Etcetera Ejikeme". Sunnewsonline.com - The Sun. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  4. Correspondents, Our (2020-07-26). "Growing Up As A Prison Warder's Son Shaped My Music –Etcetera". Sunnewsonline.com - The Sun. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  5. Ejikeme, Etcetera (2016-04-02). "Time to change the change". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  6. Ejikeme, Etcetera (2016-02-27). "Buhari won't succeed with this corrupt judiciary". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  7. Ejikeme, Etcetera (2016-02-20). "Etcetera Live: President Buhari should be very worried". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  8. Ejikeme, Etcetera (2016-04-16). "Buhari might be the last President of Nigeria". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  9. Ejikeme, Etcetera (2016-03-19). "Chasing corrupt politicians isn't enough". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  10. Editor (2018-04-07). "Etcetera returns with No Virgin In America". guardian.ng - The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-18.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  11. Orenuga, Adenike (2014-07-07). "Nigerian gospel pastors and songs cannot lead you to Christ – Etcetera". Dailypost.ng - Daily Post. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  12. Orenuga, Adenike (2014-05-15). "Nigerian entertainers played a part in the Nyanya bomb blast – Etcetera". Dailypost.ng - Daily Post. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  13. Icons, Golden (2015-03-22). "Outspoken 'Etcetera' to President Jonathan: 'The larger part of the society are equally hungry….Why feed just the entertainers?". Goldenicons.com - Golden Icons. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  14. Ezeh, Maryjane (2015-04-18). "Etcetera Rains Abuse On Igbo Leaders Over The Last General Elections". Thenigerianvoive.com - The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  15. Esho, Wemi (2015-12-03). "Rapper sheds light on beef with Etcetera". pulse.ng - Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  16. Haliwud (2015-02-14). "MI Slams Etcetera Over His 'Political Prostitutes' Article, Say "You Should Be Ashamed Of Yourself"". informationnigeria.com - Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  17. Eboigbe, Kingsley (2015-02-14). "MI Slams Etcetera for tagging some entertainers "Political Prostitutes'". gripng.com - Grip Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  18. Jonathan (2015-02-14). "Rapper reacts to Etcetera calling him, Don Jazzy, others 'political prostitutes'". pulse.ng - Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  19. Fayemi, Daniel (2014-05-13). "Etcetera vs Tiwa Savage: Second hand husband fallout". encomium.ng - Encomium. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  20. Jonathan (2014-05-05). "Tiwa Savage Blasts Etcetera For His Article About '2nd Hand Husbands'". pulse.ng - Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  21. Orenuga, Adenike (2014-05-14). "Tiwa Savage slams Etcetera for saying she married a second-hand husband". dailypost.ng - Daily Post. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  22. writer, Staff (2014-05-04). "'2nd Hand Husband' Tiwa Savage And Husband 'Tee Billz' Blasts Etcetera". newswirengr.com - NewsWireNgr. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  23. Haliwud (2014-05-05). "Tiwa Savage Fires Back At Etcetera Over '2nd Hand Husband' Comment: "I Don't Know You As a Musician"". informationnigeria.com - Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  24. Entertainment (2015-01-15). "My grouse is against the song, not Wizkid –Etcetera". informationnigeria.com - Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  25. Usaini, Nebianet (2014-05-05). "Freeze Fires Back At Etcetera". silverbirdtv.com - Silverbird. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  26. Mark, Kunle (2014-06-25). "YOU ARE SHAMELESS AND A MORON – Freeze coolfm call out Etcetera". 9jas.com - 9jas. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  27. Tolu (2014-06-26). "OAP Freeze Blasts Etcetera- "This Moron Insults Celebrities, Writes Daft Articles Yet Failed Woefully As A Musician"". informationnigeria.com - Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  28. Daniel, Jo (2014-07-02). "Olisa Adibua also slams Etcetera, calls him a nobody, a failed artist". informationnigeria.com - Information Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  29. Legit.ng (2014-05-02). "You Are A Failed Artiste – OAP Olisa Adibua To Etcetera". legit.ng - Legit. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  30. Ayoola, Simbiat (2020-02-12). "Filmmaker Yomi Black slams Emma Ugolee and Etcetera after tribalism comment". legit.ng - Legit. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  31. Entertainment (2010-07-23). "Etcetera's LP Ready". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  32. Entertainment (2011-02-23). "X3M Music, Etcetera Part Ways". Punchng.com - The Punch. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  33. Ikeji, Linda (2014-08-13). "There is no music industry in Nigeria' - singer Etcetera says". Lindaikejisblog.com - Linda Ikejis Blog. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  34. Balogun, Hazeez (2018-08-25). "Etcetera Lends His Voice To Save Baltimore City". Independent.ng - Independent. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  35. Editor (2018-08-25). "Etcetera Spews New Tune Against Gun Violence In Baltimore". Tribuneonlineng.com - Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-18.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  36. Raphael (2018-04-22). "Etcetera takes his criticism to America in New Single". Sunnewsonline.com - The Sun. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
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