Who said that? Goodluck Jonathan? No. The Jackson Brothers? Try again. The FocusKids? That’s it. A music group made up of four confident, talented and focused kids of the same parents, aged between nine and seven years.
At such a tender age, the average kid would be prowling the neigbourhood, playing to his heart’s content, blissfully unconcerned about “big grammar” such as patriotism, selflessness, vision, and focus. But not theGbadebo Fowope kids.
Right from the beginning the quartet – Oluwarimi, Temiloluwa, Moyin Oluwa, and Oreoluwa – have been involved in music with abiding passion. Just like Venus and Serena Williams flourished as tennis players under the guidance of their watchful Dad, the Fowope’s have been blooming like roses under the watchful eyes of their dotting Dad.
One of the high points of the fledging career of these starry-eyed singers was unarguably their memorable encounter with the music icon, Tee Mac , on May 29. According to Mr. Gbadebo Fowope, not only did Tee Mac appreciated the youngsters, budding talents, he regaled them with the exploits of other notable kid starlets. Including the ‘Sunshine Sisters’.
No less memorable was the FocusKids’ recent encounter with Laviva, the presenter of a popular programme on Rhythm 94.7 radio station. So moved was the presenter by the kids’ innocent charm, confidence and creativity that she reportedly shed tears during the programme.
“What particularly affected her was the heart-touching and inspiring lyrics of the children’s hit song, ‘The Dream’,” disclosed a source close to the young singers. “So touched was she, in fact that Laviva later offered them a ticket to perform at the Children’s Day party held at the Silverbird gallery in Abuja last week and, needless to say, they were a sight to behold!”
Truly so. Not a few of these at the classy occasion marveled at what one of them called “the accomplished performance of such small children.” Mr. Sadiq Kingsley, a musician of the wave-making “Next 2 Next” band, added that since he joined the music arena nearly one decade ago, he had never come across such a group of “remarkably talented and supremely confident kids.”
It was, however, not only the performance of the “fantastic four” that elicited the standing ovation which trailed them that day. Consider their song. Unlike the typical song which is crammed with plenty of sound and noise signifying nothing, every lyric of the Fowope’s “The Dream” was like a dream come true: inspirational, motivational, and as enlightening as they are educational.
Indeed, according to an insider, “their mission is not just to sing, but to sing songs that are embedded with life-changing messages.” She added: “the central focus of their message is the conviction that with godliness and faith in God, Nigeria shall rise above our challenges and become as great as envisaged by our founding fathers.”
The kids’ father cum manager, Fowope, added that “their faith is now rooted in many t6hings that God promised to do in Nigeria and through some Nigerians. Their anticipation and preparation for these great things that are bound to happen in this land are well outlined in the song titled ‘The Dream’
“In fact for the FocusKids as a group, their prayer is to sing and spread the “Voice of Focus” message to all Nigerians. As we do so our focus will be more clear and gradually but steadily we will all get to the top that God has prepared for Nigeria.
“Our message to people out there is that ‘there are thousands of distractions out there, all you need is ‘Focus’. With proper focus, coupled with godliness, faith and, of course dedication and hard work, the sky is our limit.”
This message is particularly imperative at a time like this when a nation is grappling with a myriad of seemingly intractable challenges. Insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping, inflation, decaying public utility, armed robbery and the like have taken the nation by the jugular.
Caught in the midst of these unprecedented challenges are children and youths alike who are generally like sheep without shepherd. Enter the Fowode ‘Fantastic Four. With their names all ending with the divine appellation (Oluwa) one needs not be a rocket scientist to divine the direction which Mr. Gbadebo Fowope is deliberately steering his offspring.
Just as it is said that “godliness exalts a nation,” this gentleman strongly believes that “armed” with a generation of disciplined, well mould youths, ‘Naija’ would soar high like an eagle as never before. Like Dad, like kids. Watch the quartet in action and you would be motivated to the brim with messages of hope, inspiration, possibility, and triumph.
Indeed, their remarkable song, ‘The Dream’, which has been enjoying generous play on many radio stations across the capital city and beyond, “showcases the strength, wealth and achievements of Nigeria, including the Super Eagles’ recent African Nations Cup victory in South Africa.”
Even as they continue to focus on their budding musical career while paying due attention to their studies, the FocusKids’ message to fellow kids is simple: Let’s be focused and together we shall actualize our noble dreams sooner or later.
By Sonde Abbah of Peoplesdailyng.com
