The Nigerian reggae dancehall musician Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, better known by his stage name Patoranking, recalls his difficult journey to fame and how he and his father had to hawk on the streets of Lagos in order to make ends meet.
The Afrobeat musician claimed he stayed focused and overcame all obstacles to reach his ambitions despite growing up in the urban slum of Ebute Metta in Lagos, where he had recently constructed a small stadium.
At the UNDP Goodwill Africa Ambassador for Youth Innovation, Enterprise, and the SDGs inauguration in Lagos, Patoranking made this statement while receiving the position. The UNDP was launching the Timbuktoo Fintech Hub. According to Patoranking:
“I hawked on the streets of Lagos with my father. Many years ago, I used to sell on this street [Kings Way road]. It used to be a very hot spot for trading. Many years after, everything that I pictured I wanted to become, the man I wanted to become is who I am now. So when I was driving down to this place it was a little bit teary moment for me because I saw myself [on this road],”
The ‘Alubarika’ crooner urged the youths to harness their talents in developing their communities and Africa at large, advocating for a borderless Africa, which he said, aligned with “the 4ps – burning borders and building bridges – that I live by.”
Patoranking added:
“That is why I have songs with artistes from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and so on. I accept to be the UNDP Goodwill Africa Ambassador for Youth Innovation, Enterprise and the SDGs. Today I am not just an artiste, I am a voice for many African youths who desire to make Africa work for themselves and their communities.”
