Adedotun Amosan, the Ibadan Most
Love On Air Personality and host of Serenade Show aka Confession time on
Oluyole 98.5FM had a sketchy beginning to broadcasting. In this interview I had
with him, he shares his experience and what growing up was like for him among
other things.
Who is Soul?
My name is Adedotun Amusan, I was
born to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Amusan. I happen to be the only child of
my mother. I was bred here in Ibadan, I grew up around Akobo and I grew up with
a number of notable people - the likes of the sons of Alafin Adetona Adeyemi,
his brother who was the former caretaker chairman of Atiba local government and
a number of other people.
I went to Subola Memorial Nursery and Primary
School. I graduated from there and moved to Ikolaba Grammar School, I left
Ikolaba Grammar School for Basorun Ojoo High School. From there I got admission
to the Federal Polytechnic, Offa to study Marketing that was in 1999.Incessant
strikes, indigenenes against non indigenes fights in the school did not help
matters, so I graduated in 2003 with National Diploma. I joined broadcasting in
2004. A friend of mine invited me into broadcasting after he discovered that I
can talk very well, which is very true.
Being the only son of my mother,
she was a bit skeptical about me going into broadcasting, to her she though
broadcasting will really get me prone to the world, and that she doesn’t want for
her only child. She stood her ground and it was challenging for me but people
stood by me; the likes of Mrs. Laitan Adesesan, Opeyemi Orimolade and Mr. Yemi
Sohunde. The fact that I came into the job free of charge (FOC)was also a
factor that she picked up and she said ‘why would you work in a place where you
are not even paid?’ Mrs Laitan Adesesan spoke with her and she was eventually
allowed me.
While I was on the job, remember
I said I studied marketing, I needed something to fit into the job, I decided
to go for another course at the University of Ibadan. I put in for linguistics
I graduated from there and here I am today.
What was growing up like for you
I must be sincere being the only
child growing up wasn’t easy. If I’d grown up in places like Aremo, Itamerin,
Bere, Oje and the likes it might have been better because in those places there
is nothing like ‘gate house, get inside, don’t go out.’ I stopped being a get
inside boy recently. My mother was overprotective of me. She will never allow
me to go to a party that a mother father son should go. I was always feeling
bad; I thought she was just wicked. It was very recently that I realize she was
only protecting me in her own way.
I remember I have neighbours who
will not want me in their apartment, they use to have to a crowded home unlike
mine, but their mother will stylishly isolate me and make gestures that show
I’m not wanted in their house. I used to ask myself why their mother does that.
It wasn’t as if I steal, I was the only child so I had everything to myself. I
grew up being a lonely person; I talked to myself, and soliloquize a lot. I
still do that today, I still soliloquize a lot.
Studying marketing and ending up talking to the microphone appears
uncorrelated. What really pushed you into broadcasting?
At first when I was studying marketing,
I thought it was the end of the world, I felt it was the best discipline to
practice and I did practice. Besides, as a person, I harness whatever
opportunity that comes my way. Upon graduating from Federal Polytechnic, Offa,
I worked with a multilevel marketing company where we do corporate hawking. You
suit up with your tie and then carry your bag, walk the streets and sell; I was
selling clippers. Again, my mum was against it though. We were comfortable, she
was an accountant with the Water Corporation and she couldn’t stand her only son
hawking, but I felt since I studied marketing, why can’t I sell. I went around
merchandising clippers, I’ll sweet talk my customers and they will buy. There
was a day I trekked from Ojoo to Apete merchandising clippers. Eventually, I
moved from that firm and I started my own marketing firm with N10, 000, I was
selling the same product and within 3-4months the money rose to N120, 000. I
sold to vice Chancellors and accountants, I moved to Lagos then to Bayelsa,
Abuja and some major cities in Nigeria selling clippers. There was something
that gave me an edge while I was selling that was my ability to speak good
English. I hear people say that this guy sells clippers because of
unemployment;some of my customers even buy out of pity.
Soon after that, I stopped
selling clippers because I tried leaving the country, I pumped the money into
plans to travel out, but that didn’t work out.Itwas after that I moved into
broadcasting and some of my bosses will come to me and give commendations, I
felt I wasn’t doing bad and I have never regretted it.
How did you come about your Radio name – Soul?
Most of the people I grew up with
had nicknames, my friend who introduced me to broadcasting was black prince, I
have another friend who is called razor and so many like that. My small pocket
dictionary was my close companion then, it was small and not detailed so I came
across the word soul one day which means ‘one and only’ and being the one and
only of my parents, I picked it and brought it into broadcasting as well.
What the brain behind the program serenade?
I’ll start by saying serenade is
my own way of giving back to the society. The society has given us so much that
we are not giving back to it. I was brought to handle the evening belt of
programs at the station and then I thought within myself that the people are
always calling the radio station, what can I do to be the one calling them,
then the idea of people calling me, telling me their problems and I make live
calls on radio, make the call a bit hilarious and then mediate on their issue.
I shared the idea with my boss, Opeyemi Orimolade who jumped at it and polished
it.
How will you appraise the program since it started?
I won’t’ like to blow my trumpet,
but what gives me joy is not the noise but when people say I have been able to
help them resolve their issues and they are doing well in their relationship.
You know how joyous I will be whenever I attend wedding ceremonies of those I
match make? I have been able to master the wedding ceremony of about six to
seven of them.I have intervened infamilyissues, fightsbetween mum and daughter
etc and it brings full satisfaction when you are successfully mediating in
issues like this. Still I'll saywe aren’t there yet, but we are getting there
gradually.
What are the frustrations and challenges you have faced in the course
of doing this?
The challenges are enormous. The
call card I use on radio, sometimes N5, 000, at times N3, 000, I get them
myself. Sometimes I might not have cash on me and the program will have to go
onair. You know when you spend that much, you are bound to ask questions like
are you really OK? Why would you spend that much calling people you don’t even
know?’ but I am getting off that level and we are still expecting sponsors.
Again, the problem you face with
people can be so challenging.Somepeople can be highly disrespectful, full of
insults and naughty on the phone. I remember calling a girl and the first thing
I heard is “who is the stupid idiot calling me?’ I was shocked. People
listening to me could read it and they told me I got angry. I later made
resolutions that I will never get angry again and that decision has even helped
my personal life.
Another challenge is the fact
that the job is very tasking, it requires that you think on the spot and say
the right words at the right time. You know sometimes people who call don’t
give you full details about the person they want you to call for them, so you
have to be very calculative. Worst of all is phone calls. Having to manage
phone calls outside the studio is hell. You have calls disturbing you all
through the day, even at night, and it is like there is no time that you have
to yourself.
Can any challenge be big enough to pull you out of broadcasting?
Not at all. I have married the
job, for better and for worse, I am on.
Your projections for the next 3- 5 years
It has been strong on my mind to
have a radio station. So I’ll give it to that. Again, I am longing to get more
international recognition, I’ve got it but I want more and that might require
that I leave the country to get international trainings and further studies.
How do you manage your social life?
I am not really social. I don’t
drink, I don’t smoke. I have had instances when ladies walk up to me and ask
are you really the Soul we listen to on radio? Are you sure you are Soul? I ask
why, and they will tell me they were expecting to see a ‘fine boy’. Am I not
handsome? They will tell me it’s not that you are not handsome, but…
The day I got Professor Bolanle
Awe’s award was about the most embarrassing day of my life. Four on-
air-personalities were given awards but my ovation was the loudest. I almost
fell when I was walking to the podium it was at that point I decided to work on
my appearance and composure.
What’s your favourite food?
Oooo mine!!! ‘Oka ni.’ Give me
amala and abula in the morning, afternoon and night provided there is meat and
fish, I will not resist. It is my best food any time any day.
Can you prepare it?
Why not? I am the only child of
my mum, she taught me how to prepare any kind of food and I am not bad in
cooking.
You must be proud of your mother?
I am who I am because of her, her
prayers, disciplines and training brought me this far. I love her so much.
Final words to your fans
Like I always say, you are the
reason while I am here, if you are not there I won’t be behind the mic. I love
you so much. As for many who are aiming to be successful OAPs too, I will
rather advice you to discover yourself, stay close to your passion and then you
build on your strength and work on your weakness. I love my fans so much.
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