FIDEL OSEGHALE – Fidel Castro the Radio Maestro
I got into the business as an intern at Edo Broadcasting Service in 1999. My first real contact was when I was given an opportunity to horn my skill under Sulaiman Aledeh in March 2000 as a presenter of the oldest entertainment programme in Benin City called Breakfast Groove
Words by Sesan Adeniji
In my several years of writing about radio presenters and broadcasting in general, hardly have I come in contact with a character intelligent enough to have presented a music program, sport program and also vastly dependable to be in charge of producing and editing news for about three stations and also politically astute to be a National Assembly correspondent( I need to catch my breath). Seldom can we find anyone in the system like Fidel Oseghale ( a.k.a Fidel Castro ) that has successfully navigated all these responsibilities for close to two decades. This lad who’s presently with Cool FM Group and based in Abuja is a walking encyclopedia.
“I had always been a radio boy, listening to OAPs like the late Fidelis Blackborn Onovugakpor, Samuel Fejoku, and a host of others on Bendel Broadcasting Service in the late 80s and early 90s. But I got into the business as an intern at Edo Broadcasting Service in 1999. My first real contact was when I was given an
opportunity to horn my skill under Sulaiman Aledeh in March 2000 as a presenter of the oldest entertainment programme in Benin City called Breakfast Groove.
It was a musical show where we showcased artistes and their works. Meanwhile at that time, the in-thing in entertainment shows was for presenters to play foreign artistes because the hip-hop industry as it was then was just starting. I mean this era. So there were no phones, Internet was sort of elitist so we depended on magazines like Billboard, Encomium, Hints, GQ and the likes.
But the turning point was sometime in 2001 when my co-host (Andy Bello) and I decided to play only Nigerian songs in our show which was then aired every Sunday morning from 8-9.
At that time, it was a taboo to do so. But it clicked and we became pioneers in the new school era. Then audios were on cassettes, which videos were on VHS tapes. I ended up spending 11 years of my life on EBS (March 2000- November 2010) even though I had a stint in between with the Seaside station, Rhythm 93.7fm Lagos newsroom under the tutelage of the late Momoh Kubanje in 2005.
During my EBS days, I had practically interviewed every known Nigerian musician, comedian, actor or entertainer except Lagbaja and Femi Kuti. I was also a finalist at the 2006 AMSTEL Malt Box Office reality TV show that was eventually won by OC Ukeje. I was one of the South-South judges at MTN Project Fame (Seasons 1, 3 and 4). In 2011 I moved to Abuja where I joined Kiss FM as Deputy Head of News, then moved again in 2013 (till date) as News Editor for Nigeria Info FM, Cool FM and WAZOBIA FM.
Besides being a news guy, I started doing comedy skits (as a means of escape) on Instagram which has sort of made me a local star with entertainment heavyweights like Ali Baba, Daddy Showkey, I Go Dye, I Go Save, Maleke and a whole lot endorsing me. In the skits, I just re-enact how a renowned Edo man talks in a character called BOBAY” – Fidel
What’s your perception of the industry and your plans are in the coming months?
I think the entertainment industry have grown in leaps and bounds since 2000. The music industry has gone haywire with the introduction of technology and especially social media. The artiste are more respected
internationally and well paid for gigs. Gosh they even headline their own concerts across major cities of the world, do international collaborations and all of that. Even the movie industry has evolved. Clearer pictures, the
actions are more real and a whole avalanche of talents being employed everyday as well as discovery of new talents. Entertainment is now big business and I wish government could see it and harness its numerous
potential.
As for my plans, I just take every day as it comes. Haven spent nearly 20yrs in the industry, I hope to remain a radio boy and maybe make a return to Lagos God-willing. But I am open to other things, sitcoms, movies,
hosting gigs, etc.
Socials
Instagram – @fidelcastrohbk
Twitter – @fidelcastroHBK
