Haodi narrates how he found friends, fans in China

Asabre (center) poses for photo with African journalists in Beijing

George Asabre, Nigerian musician, is one of the foreign entertainment acts making waves in Beijing and some other parts of China. His case is that of a stranger finding home far away from his homeland.

The story by his Chinese manager in their Beijing office who said he has a long history of managing and grooming foreign entertainers and that they flow so well and easy with Africans reveals him better.

The Nigeria born entertainer took his steps to explore China, though with a different language, for music six years ago, and according to his tale, the journey has paid off.

He already has won two titles, first in the monthly and second in the annual Chinese national entertainment competitions. He has found his breakthrough in his career, which had been/is his dream of coming to China in 2009. These, he said, have inspired him more.

Photo from Baidu

Fondly called Haodi (good little brother in Chinese), Asabre has been incorporated by one of the six most prominent entertainment groups in the vast city of Beijing, Bamboo Flute Music Culture Communication.

Haodi, who is in his 30s, is becoming the talk of the time in China in the music industry, not only because of his potential but also for being one of the very few blacks singing in Chinese, is today the thrill the clan entertainment sways to.

In an interview, Asabre said his migration to China was no mistake as it turned a big hit almost immediately he arrived because he was soon picked up by the entertainment group after singing in bars and entertainment centers in the city. He started at such centers visited by foreigners and English-speaking Chinese and from there he hit the highways.

In order to make his music get to the Chinese, as the largest audience and apparently almost the only market for his career, Asabre began to learn the Chinese lyrics. He blends Chinese and African lyrics as means of integrating both cultures through music.

Haodi, the trending Nigerian music maker who sings in Chinese and speaks fluent Mandarin too and he started improving when many Chinese were drawn to him, as a foreigner singing in their language, with some inviting him to their entertainment centers and events.

“I am not a professional in Chinese language...I never studied Chinese...but I started learning word-for-word in producing my music for the Chinese to understand me. My work and my interactions made it quite easy for me to integrate and capture the use of the language for me to blend in and do my work. And because the people feel happy and excited to see a black man making efforts to speak their language they gladly taught me,” he said.

Thinking big

Asabre is looking ahead in his career to becoming an outstanding super star in China. He added: “I want to stand on my own as a musician...famous musical star in China.” He explained how it was difficult from the onset when he came to China due to language barrier and other cultural differences; but he had to learn fast in order to fit into the society and improve on his career for his passion in entertainment. He holds a memory so dear and that is how closely the Chinese embraced him for adopting their lyrics.

The Nigerian musician assured that he sings Chinese traditional and modern songs, predominantly with old songs that have to do with the culture. “I am just modernizing them so they will be more appealing to today’s Chinese audience,” he said.

While Chinese lyrics are more medley-like and slower as compared to African or Nigerians rhymes that are faster and more energetic, Asabre said he pursues a task to integrate the two as his role in building a better culture relationship between China and Africa.

Photo from Baidu

At 15 in Nigeria and Ghana, he started singing in church, school, wedding parties and at other events. The praises and appreciation by people for his songs, spurred him to do more. “It all began in the church and stretched to other places. Those early days gave me the confidence that I can sing and after my university days I decided to pursue a career in music and in fact I came to this country all the way from Nigeria to develop myself in music although it had looked impossible given the language barrier and the fact that I cannot recall a Nigerian I know that plays music in China.” Today, that urge is paying off and maturing in full bloom.

He soon expects to release several tracks in his album that is almost set and would hit the market at the end of 2016. The songs will have both Chinese and African flavors in hip-hop forms.

If given the opportunity, Asabre said he will contribute through entertainment in strengthening the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), by spreading the message of one world between China and Africa.

He urges African artists in China and those with other talents to demonstrate their potentials to be recognized in helping to bring Chinese and Africans together for sustainable peace, stability leading to economic growth and development and even the peace of the world.

Through music, he said Chinese and Africans will learn more about the culture of another.

Mr. Yu Xin, manager of the Beijing Bamboo Flute Music Culture Communication, explained that his entertainment institution focuses on grooming potential musicians from foreign countries. Based on the potential of Asabre, his organization wasted no time in incorporating him, and has been happy and proud it did.

Yu said the performance of Asabre and other Africans including a Ugandan in his band has been impressive and as such, his group is highly recognized in the entertainment industry in the country.

The talent groomer who is also an artist and member of the band, admitted challenges in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, but boasted of successes.

He said his group has been in entertainment for 26 years, and has participated in many competitions and at major events such as the 2008 Olympic Games hosted in Beijing. By his words, music has afforded him the rare opportunity of meeting in close quarters with top citizens of the world and China. 

Asabre’s success story is like signpost to promising arena or world talented Africans could explore that China is fastly becoming, a hitherto unknown market for talents of the African world. Asabre had come from nowhere to somewhere, especially after his initial difficulties when he arrived China.