Eric Obuh

Vocal Slender is no longer signed to Dery Entertainments as an artist. He earlier signed a contract with the UK based entertainment company on May 9, 2011. He terminated the contract on the 7th September 2011 through his legal team, Legal Consortium in Lagos, Nigeria. Vocal Slender is currently putting finishing touches to his promo album which is expected to be released before the end of September 2011.

Biography: Eric Obuh also known as Vocal Slender or Slender (born 1 December 1980 in Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria) is an aspiring (unsigned) reggae/rap artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. He was featured on Part 1 of the BBC documentary “Welcome to Lagos” aired on BBC 2 at 9pm on 15, 22 and 29 April 2010.[1]

They call me Slender, Vocal Slender, that's my music name. Because I'm very lean in the face, and because I'm always singing.

—Vocal Slender, Myspace.[2]

The documentary features Eric as a scavenger who works and lives in a dumpsite on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria. He makes a living by collecting recyclable materials and selling them.[3] He then saves his earnings to enable him buy studio time to produce a music album. Although Eric acknowledges that the dump has been good to him because it helps him keep body and soul together and make music, he has kept the fact that he is a scavenger from his family and friends, as he wants them to believe that the only thing he does is music to gain their respect[4]

Since appearing in the documentary, his popularity has grown, with fans setting up a support groups for him on Facebook [5] and other websites.[6] He has been featured in articles about Welcome to Lagos in The Observer,[7] The Independent,[8] and in London Metro.[9]

Songs

Vocal Slender sings in Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba, he released his debut album on 10 January 2010. Slender claims to have written so many ‘good songs’ that he still wants to record; “songs about divine love, peace and unity in Nigeria, and others which praise all the girls” He also admires the exploits of big Nigerian music stars like Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, Mighty Mouse, African China, B'Clean, and Nico Gravity who started from the same Ajegunle ghetto.[10] The following songs are available on iTunes.[11]

1. Send Them Come
2. Send Them Come (Slow Version)
3. Owo Yapa
4. Text Message
5. Konto
6. Nigeria
7. Ajegunle
8. All the girls (That Know How to Wind)
9. Sugar Mama
10. Light

References

  1. ^ "glam.com". glam.com. http://www.glam.com/blogs/ladybrille/bbc_featured_scavenger_eric_obuh_vocal_slender_musician_on_the_rise. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  2. ^ "MySpace". MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/vocalslender. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  3. ^ "BBC". BBC News. 2010-04-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8595108.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  4. ^ Howden, Daniel (2010-04-15). "Eric aka Vocal Slender is one of the many people who live on the Olusosun rub". London: Independent.co.uk. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/lagos-inside-the-ultimate-megacity-1945246.html?action=Popup&ino=5. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  5. ^ "Facebook". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113914018637142&ref=ts. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  6. ^ 1&1 WebsiteBuilder (2010-04-19). "VocalSlender.com". VocalSlender.com. http://www.vocalslender.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  7. ^ Akin Ojumu (2010-04-04). "Welcome to Lagos: Nigeria's dirt poor | World news | The Observer". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/04/documentary-film-welcome-to-lagos-nigeria. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  8. ^ Howden, Daniel (2010-04-15). "The Independent". London: Independent.co.uk. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/lagos-inside-the-ultimate-megacity-1945246.html?action=Popup&ino=5. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  9. ^ "London Metro". Metro.co.uk. 2010-08-18. http://www.metro.co.uk/explore/locations/cities/lagos. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  10. ^ Akin Ojumu (2010-04-04). "The Guardian". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/04/documentary-film-welcome-to-lagos-nigeria. Retrieved 2010-08-31. 
  11. ^ "iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/vocal-slender/id362320852. Retrieved 2010-08-31.