~Headz Up With Tony Doe~
Anthony Onwuchekwa is an on-air personality with Radio Continental and Television Continental in Lagos. He began his career with LTV/Eko FM some years back, and credits his mother, who was on the cast of Village Headmaster, as being instrumental to his choice of profession
Why did you opt for the name Tonydoe?
Prior to the switch I was Da Luvchyld, which I carried over from my rap/R‘n’B days. Tonydoe is an evolution and it rhymes with radio. I could give you 10 reasons but I think the rhyme with radio works for me.
Can you tell us about your growing up days?
I grew up in Surulere, Lagos Island and Apapa. I lived with a large extended family - headed by my mum and made up of an elder sister, lots of cousins, housekeepers, aunts and uncles - until I was in my teens. I only had a relationship with my dad from 1995 until his demise in 2004. My parents weren’t married but I bear my father’s name all the same. My mum was the ultimate super parent and I love her.
But it is said in some quarters that you are from a royal family and that your late father was a king.
Let me put it this way, my dad was made a king in 2004 and he passed on that same year. Before his death we had communicated and he had spoken to me like the father he was. And as a result of his coronation as the king before he passed on, it is believed by many that I am a prince.
So, it is correct to address you as a prince and a potential king?
Like I said, he was my father and he was made a king before his death, so, I can be addressed as a prince but in terms of being a potential king, that I don’t know or can’t say. Since he was my father, and he was a king, that makes me a prince according to customs and tradition of the land.
Not many know that you used to be a musician. Can you tell us about your foray into music?
I grew up on the radio. Every R‘n’B hit struck a chord. I discovered my love for writing rhymes in 1992. I started an R‘n’B group in school in 1995 called Crescendo, another in 1997 called A New Generation of Singers (gospel), and another at the Delta State University (DELSU), called Nahara. That one had Faze’s younger brother, Chidi, as lead singer. I created Premium Beatz in 2004 with hip-hop producer A.D.10 and the crew featured on Jimmy Jatt’s Definition album track 10 entitled ‘No Duplicate’. I was on the last rap verse. It’s a funny song that just took us 10 minutes to do.
Why didn’t you stick to music instead of going into broadcasting?
Music, leisure are things I love. I couldn’t dance to the commercial tunes the Alaba boys dictated but broadcasting allows me combine every wordskill and music passion I have. It’s long term and we never retire.
How did you manage to get to the top in the world of broadcasting?
The top? Please! I’m not even recognised in my hood! My strength, I guess, is my passion and a willingness to challenge myself every time.
Who really is Anthony Onwuchekwa?
I think of myself as a proud Igbo man, a southpaw (that is, I am lefthanded) and I’m a fresh, witty and intelligent dude. I’m confident when necessary but arrogant to those who don’t understand my ideals, personality and ways.
What do you mean by being arrogant to those who don’t understand your ideals?
I feign confidence around strangers and it gives off the wrong impression that I’m arrogant. I’m a very good and accomodating personality, I’m very good and those that are close to me know that very well. I can’t and won’t subscribe to the fact that I’m arrogant, I can only tell you that I do that just to ward off unwanted people around me and to give a kind of impression about me.
Do you think such impression is good for your personality?
Well, you need to get close to me to know the real me. Several people listen to me on radio and they form several opinions about me. Some think I must be a chronic womaniser, others think I would be one who drinks a lot but all that is not in my character. So, in order to leave people and fans guessing, I put up the act of so much confidence around strangers and leave them to form their own opinion.
But there are talks that vices such as drugs, alcohol and womanising are the bane of most broadcasters and on-air presenters. How true is this for you?
I’m very much into my own company and I can tell you that I can’t speak for other broadcasters, but what I can tell you about myself is that I am not much of a party animal. I am more of an occasional drinker and a one woman at a time person. I appreciate the female fan base, this is because they appreciate one’s talent and influence one’s style and focus.
Tony will be sharing with us in the nearest future his thoughts......trust me they will be very insightful and interesting!
