By Nneka Chile
LAGOS, May 29 (Reuters) - Sensei Uche has earned a living
for the last three years as a "hype man" in Nigeria's
entertainment capital Lagos, standing alongside the DJ in bars
and clubs and whipping up dancers' enthusiasm.
But the coronavirus pandemic has cut off his livelihood.
Nigeria's government, like others across the globe, has shut
bars, nightclubs and restaurants since late March to curb the
spread of the virus.
"Now we have to start thinking if this will become our
reality," Uche said.
He is now plying his skills online. Wielding a microphone,
he works alongside a DJ playing music for "isolation parties" at
weekends. The party-goers are the 1,000 people who typically
watch the videos posted live on Instagram of Uche and the DJ.
But while the online parties keep his brand alive, he is
unable to monetise them. The problem is shared by bar and club
owners.
Rotimi Kuti, a representative of the Cubana Group network,
said his club in Nigeria's Victoria Island business district
usually hosts around 700 people on Friday nights. Since the
lockdown, he only makes money from food deliveries.
He is hopeful the situation for the entertainment industry
will improve, be it through the easing of restrictions
prohibiting gatherings of more than 20 people or support for
businesses.
"Businesses are bleeding money so everybody will come to a
compromise as how to help and make sure we aren't keeping people
unemployed," he said.
Uche is hopeful too - but he is looking for a medical
breakthrough.
"I just hope we can find a vaccine in time so we don't make
this the new normal," he said.
(Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Angus MacSwan)