Olumese
Night crawlers and fun loving Nigerians, who have been missing the ambience of NiteShift Coliseum since it was gutted by fire on December 18, 2003, will soon return to their darling club with smiles permanently etched on their faces. After one and half years of inaction, the upscale club which prides itself as the number one events and entertainment venue in Africa, is now fully set to return to business and take over its front-row position.
In this chat, Ken Calebs Olumese, the confident and stylish Guv’vor of the club disclosed that the leading club is 98% ready for business. He also talked passionately about the unique things to expect from the now bigger and better club, after conducting us round the new improved highbrow hangout. And as usual, the boisterous entertainment guru also hinted on what he has been doing to keep body and soul together since that mysterious inferno ravaged Niteshift Coliseum.
Enjoy the interaction!
Congratulations, work is going on at the Coliseum very fast. When exactly are you throwing open the doors of the club for business?
Well, the job done so far is 98%. You can see everything for yourself. We shall be opening very soon. I don’t have a date in mind now, but it will be ready for opening very, very soon. I don’t even have the authority to give the date except I clear from the resource team. They have the authority to announce opening date.
You said work done is 98%, we would like to know the few things that are yet to be completed.
What is left now is the air-conditioners, it will be supplied this week. That is the only thing left. We are already doing the finishing; you can see the chairs, the stage and many others. We shall give you small demonstrations before you leave (he did). All these are to tell you how far we’ve gone. Even the chief engineer is here, he flew in from Stiers, Munich, and he is Mr. Francis Kofi Okpu by name. He’s been around since three weeks ago. He has successfully completed his job. All the lightings came from his company and he did all the installations too.
Since you will be opening very soon, we would like to know the activities lined up for the D-day.
Again, I don’t like to count my chickens until they are hatched. You have to wait for the resource team to come out with the event’s programme. I can’t give any information on the activities lined up for the D-day without consulting the resource team. We are meeting very soon and I know we are also coming out with a tight package for the grand reopening.
A lot of people would have given up after watching their hard-earned millions going up in flames. What kept you going despite the misfortune?
The first answer is that I have no other job. I have been jobless for one and half years. Also, I don’t carry brief cases around for contracts, so I decided to do what I know how to do best and that is running my club. I’m a professional entertainer and nightclub owner; that is my profession and job. And whatever it takes for me to achieve this, I would do. The second point is this; I think I have some goodwill, which I don’t want to squander. I’m also sure you know that I’m not a rich or wealthy man, but I think I have enough goodwill that has seen me through my tribulations which is normal in life, anyway. So, I was not expecting life to be as rosy as people might think.
I want to ensure that my friends, the club members, the media, and everybody that has helped me morally, financially and otherwise they should be convinced that they have not thrown away their solidarity on me. I want to be sure I satisfy friends and myself. Again, people always accuse me of being arrogant or too boastful. I’m only a confident man. When this place went up in flames on December 18,2003, I told all who came to grief with me that I will re-build it. And of course, I have rebuilt it better and bigger too. I’m the best in this business. I’ve lost one and half years, but I’m not bothered. I’m now coming back from retirement (general laughter), to take back my number one position. I’m the best in this business.
We would also like to know the major things that would distinguish this new Coliseum from the old one that was gutted by fire.
So many things. We have had some structural changes; all the columns and pillars are gone. We have also expanded the place. The club used to accommodate 1,400 people before. It is now 1,600 people. We have also enlarged the DJ’s cubicle and imported more high-tech musical equipment. We also have high-tech and modern lightening facilities. All these equipment are top-of-the-range. This club can compete with any other one in any part of the globe. It is not a child’s play to fly in an Engineer from Germany, to come and assemble lightening. It costs a little bit of money. All these will show you the seriousness we attach to our coming back. We are doing all these to ensure that Niteshift Coliseum remains the number entertainment and events venue in Africa.
Will the normal club hours and days remain or they are going to be changed completely?
Some will go, while others like the Wednesday Live Music Band will remain. Also, our Friday and Saturday nights will remain. The resource team is also coming out with some other interesting programmes. I can’t be very categorical about some of the new things they will add. The Grand House Reception (GHR) and other top of the range events will remain too.
Life without Coliseum in the last one and half years must have been dull and boring for you. How have you been coping?
The truth is that I have not been dancing and drinking in the past one and half years. But I have been in these premises in the past one and half years. Apart from two months ago when I traveled abroad to finalize on my musical equipment and lightening effects, I have not left these premises. I breeze in everyday from 10am to 3am midnight, supervising and knowing how the cables are being laid. I don’t want to be an absentee club owner. I want to be fully involved because I want some perfection in whatever I do. I still visit other clubs and hangouts. I’m still enjoying myself by going to other clubs in town.
So far, like how much has been sunk into the re-building of the burnt Coliseum? Maybe, a rough estimate of the funds spent?
That I can never tell you. At the beginning I gave a figure, but whether it has changed or not I won’t tell you. I said that when I was looking for the funds, I have re-built Coliseum and we had passed that stage. I can’t be talking about the money that I have spent. You should be talking about the money I’m supposed to be making now. I’ve lost job for one and half years, so I won’t tell you the amount spent.
Okay, can you quantify the revenue lost in the last one and half years?
I cannot give you a rough estimate, but it ran into several millions. You know how much you have spent for not coming here in the last one and half years.
The moral and financial support from friends and patrons of the Coliseum since it got burnt, has it been encouraging or below expectations?
The money that is not yours, you can’t talk about it. I’ve already told you I have a lot of goodwill, moral and financial supports coming my way because of the goodwill. They are encouraging depending on what you mean. It is not only the money; the moral support also counts, just like what you are doing now. The hardest things to maintain in this world are women and friendship, so if you have been my friend in the last fifteen years, it costs a lot of sacrifices from both sides to maintain it. I believe that my friends and the members of the club have contributed a lot to give me the strength and courage to carry on. I’m highly encouraged by their contributions. Although, there are some friends that promised to give me, so, so and so and have not done it. I can’t blame them, because if somebody also comes to me for financial help now, I can’t help.
Can you also tell us the amount donated so far by your friends for the re-building for the club?
I cannot! Can you tell me your salaries? Maybe, I can do that when I get permission from the donors (another bout of laughter)
You look more relaxed, any secret (s)?
Why can’t I be relaxed when I’m the governor of this empire? It is my empire and I’m fully in control.
How does your normal day begin since the club got burnt one and half years ago?
I wake up around 9am and drive straight to the club after having my bath and breakfast. I arrive at the club at about 10-11 a.m. every day and leave around 3a.m. It has been so since one and half years ago. I have fun and enjoy myself here on daily basis. Then weekends, I go out with my friends to other clubs. And every evening my friends come in to greet me and pay solidarity visits or courtesy calls. I’m quite relaxed. I once told you that the business of entertainment is all about money, women and wine. It has not changed. Hope you still remember I have only one wife. So, I’m disciplined. I set up this club because of people like you who like the women, wine and have the money to spend. That is the truth it is not for me. Mine is to give you the ambience, the enabling environment, courtesy of the Guv’nor of the Niteshitf Coliseum.
What do you have to say to the patrons and friends of the club who stood firm by you during the tribulations?
We thank them for being steadfast in their solidarity, support and believe in us. We shall not disappoint them; we are coming out very soon with a very big bang to reclaim our number one position, which has not been taken over by anybody. I can say that with all sense of humility. We thank them once more for their support and solidarity.
The Coliseum Shifters Band, is it still intact?
Of course yes! The Coliseum Shifters Band, a twenty-man band made up of international artistes is still intact. We have had some shows outside here since coliseum got burnt. We have played in Sheraton, Ikoyi Club and many other highbrow hangouts. The only difference is that we have been hiring equipments because ours got burnt with the club. We are currently re-assembling all the burnt equipment.
Are you not sometimes scared of the bad economy especially now that you are looking forward to re-open?
Ehm! It is like any other type of business, night clubbing business can’t be isolated from the economy and what is happening in the overall polity. We shall try and make the best out of the prevailing situation. By the way, if I leave the business of night clubbing now, what will happen to those already hooked to the Coliseum. So, I pity you (General Laughter).
First published, June 2005.
Culled from Azuh Amatus’ best selling books, FAMOUS FACES…
