•SIDOLART Entertainment Boss, SAHEED ADEKUNLE YUSUF
On 20th January, 2023, City People celebrated Sidolart and his friends at Lounge 15.08 in Alausa, Ikeja. Many people showed up at Lounge 15.08 for the event, King Jide Harmony was on the bandstand, the CEO of Sidolart Entertainment and the operator of Lounge 15.08 was there, Dr. Seye Kehinde was there also, many friends and associates was there. City People’s Reporter, Olusola Abiodun interviewed the celebrant, Saheed Adekunle Yusuf aka Sidolart. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Can you tell us your name and who you are?
My name is Saheed Adekunle Yusuf, popularly known as Sidolart, I am the CEO of Sidolart Entertainment which happens to be the operator of Lounge 15.08.
What are we celebrating tonight?
This is an event put together by City People. Dr Seye Kehinde saw me and said, “you are worthy to be celebrated and did me the honours to celebrate me and my Lounge and he said “let us pick a date” which is today.
As a big fish in the entertainment industry, where did it start from and how did it start?
I started as an Artiste Manager. I used to manage Mr Solek and in fact, I am still managing him till now. I started with him in the year 1998, when we were in Osun Polytechnic at Iree. That was how the journey started. At the time, my name in the industry was Sido Solek, it was Sido Solek that metamorphosised into Sidolart, and Sidolart gave birth to Lounge 15.08.
What triggered you to start your own entertainment company?
As I have said earlier, I was an Artiste Manager to Mr Solek and we have organised quite a number of successful shows together. At a particular time, some big artistes in Nigeria, whose names I won’t mention, wondered how Mr Solek was succeeding in his shows, and who are the people managing him? Mr Solek is not based in Nigeria, anytime he comes around, his shows are well organised and fully packaged and his shows always supercede other shows. So, they started scouting for me. There was a particular day, I was sitting in a bar with my friends; I will be specific in mentioning Atorise, we met with Atorise, and my friend introduced me to him, “this is Mr Solek’s Manager,” Atorise was surprised and asked, “how do you go about organising successful shows?” So, we exchanged contact. From there, I met with other artistes.
And everyone wanted me to organise shows for them and plan events as well. In the long run, I thought of starting my own entertainment company and I started organising shows. So far, I have done several shows for Atorise, Kolade, K1 D-Ultimate, Pasuma, Osupa, Malaika, Wale Thompson, among others. At that time, I did not have my lounge. But we do use people’s lounge.
How did you get your breakthrough that made many artistes and people recognise you in the industry?
Breakthrough! Breakthrough!! Breakthrough!!! It’s only God that can give anybody a breakthrough, but the truth of the matter is this; what ever you are doing and you are consistent in it, keep doing it. According to my Alfa, when I was young, he used to say that “ ona ti eda ba n to lojojumo, bi Ko Ku nibe adi mimo” which means the path you walk through everyday will be well known. Anything you are doing consistently, continue to do it. I’m very sure, one day you will be known for it and be great in it. Since I started organising shows, it is all about using live bands and I have been consistent with it through the help of God, and everything has been moving smoothly.
How many years have you been in the entertainment industry?
In the entertainment industry now, this year 2023 makes it 25 years, I started in the year 1998.
What has been your experience during these 25 years?
There have been ups and downs, but I thank God for his grace over me. When I started Sidolart Entertainment, it used to be an entertainment outfit that was running shows in other people’s lounge.
Now, I have my own lounge and things have started going as planned.
As a well known lounge in Lagos, how did it start?
I started this lounge three years ago, and we celebrated the third year on the 15th of August, 2022. We hosted K1 D-Ultimate at the celebration. Most of my friends and people did not believe that it’s just three years since the lounge started operating. Because everything has been booming with God’s grace, with Sidolart Entertainment, which has gained ground before. Most especially, I’m based on live bands, like K1 D-Ultimate, Osupa, Pasuma, Malaika, Obesere, and the rest. All of them have been to Lounge 15.08 to perform. It’s not my doing but God.
How did you derive the name LOUNGE 15.08?
Actually, it is my birth date, which is 15th of August, and that is how I derived LOUNGE 15.08.
How have you been managing Mr Solek? Now that you have your own lounge and entertainment company.
To be said, Mr Solek has given birth to many individuals like Don Jazzy and others who are in the music and entertainment industry. As at December, Mr Solek was in Nigeria, I left everything, including my lounge and entertainment company, we went for shows together in Ghana for three days. So, anytime he comes around, we usually hook up and do things together as we were, He does not have any issue with anybody. If you have a very good boss and he sees your growth as his own growth, there is nothing you want to achieve that will not be the boss’ achievement.
-Abiodun Olusola
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