Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has explained the inspiration behind adopting his mother’s name as his stage name.

Recall that netizens have questioned the stage name as it’s often associated with a feminine name.

The YBNL signee stated that his friends were the reason he adopted his mother’s name.

“My friends started using it to play with me, and they said, ‘Omo Asake, omo Asake, Asake came yesterday’ and you know students can be funny, so at the end of the day they removed the ‘omo’ and started calling me Asake”, he revealed.

“So it’s so easy for me [to adopt the name] because when I’m introduced on stage, people expect a beautiful lady or a nice girl. I just like the feeling and the shock on their faces. Also, I love my mother and the fact that people call my mother’s name through me”, Asake further revealed.

He also stated that his music is tied to his upbringing.

“I fell in love with theatre as a child; my father used to be a singer and my mother dances a lot, so it’s a family thing; although my parents didn’t do it professionally, they only did it for the fun of it”, he said.

Pursuing music over dance

Afro-fusion artist, Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, reiterated that his choice of pursuing music over dancing was driven by his financial aspirations.

Also known as Mr. Money, the singer clarified that he opted for a music career as he was uncertain if dancing would yield the financial success he aimed for.

“The main reason why I left dance is for the love of money. I know I want to be very honest. Dance is something that I love. I can even do without moving, but I feel like the kind of money I want, I’m not sure dance can give me”, he said.

Asake emphasized the significance of integrating music with dance, stating that one without the other could be perceived as dull. However, he reiterated his preference for music over dance due to his strong desire for financial success.

“I think both music and dance work together because, in a video without a dancer, it’s like this song is boring. Even if you want to make it so gangster-like and there are so many people bumping, you still need to use the dancers. So, as they work together, I think for the love of money, I’d rather be singing”, he noted.

Asake Asserted that he would opt to do both music and dance simultaneously, to maximize his potential to earn more money.

Earlier in the year, the Dramatic Arts graduate said as a youngster, his love for dancing and everything about dance informed his decision to study it in school and even forge a career out of it.

He, however, admitted a slight change was introduced along the way when he ultimately fell in love with ‘having money too’.

Mr. Money confessed the desire to make as much money as he wanted to influence his decision to embrace a career as a singer which he gets to combine with his first love, dancing.

Asake, Tobi Amusan, and Victor Osimhen are among the famous people nominated for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) 2023.

The award recognizes a new generation of innovators, philanthropists, activists, technocrats, and creatives who are working together to change the African narrative.

This year’s award nominees represent 25 categories and 128 persons who have been subjected to three rounds of rigorous judging.

Other notable names on the list were Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Broda Shaggi, Hilda Baci, TG Omori, Olumide Oworu, Layi Wasabi, Ayra Starr, and Bosun Tijani.