DINMA'S SECRET WISH

New kid on the block, Dinma, has one wish she would want rave-of-the-moment star, Wizkid, to grant her. The 16 year-old aspiring guitarist and singer has confessed that she craves a collabo with the Kpakurumo singer.

“Gosh! I like Wizkid,” she says, her eyes animated with a glint of admiration as she speaks, “I’d like to do a collabo with him; he’s so talented! His story is emotional and nothing short of inspiring. Success for him did not come on a platter of gold; he had to fight every inch of the way and struggled to be where he is today. His story gives me hope that I could make it in life if I work hard; I look up to him.”

Whenever you see the budding act at events, she is always strapping a guitar. The up-and coming act who started music professionally two years ago disclosed that

her passion for the guitar which she is currently learning to play was inspired by Nneka. Now she has decided to brand herself with the string instrument.

“I’ve been playing for the last six months,” she says with enthusiasm written all over her face. “There’s still a lot to learn; it’s huge. Nneka inspired me to pick up the guitar. It’s an instrument that speaks to you.  When you watch Nneka perform, you realise that there is a connection between the singer and the instrument; it’s so amazing,” she says.

Challenges

Like the story of every green horn, Dinma’s story has not been a tea party. She shared some of her challenges with The Entertainer:  “As an up-and-coming act, people don’t really know you so you’re kind of restricted. Consequently you have to hustle for shows on your own unlike those that are made. You have to fight to get shows; you have to fight to perform and it’s kind of stressful.

“As a teenage girl I think I have an advantage. Most people are like oh, she’s a cute girl! Just bring her on stage and stuffs like that,” she says laughing and flashing milky white teeth as her lips part.

“Aside that you also have to be creative and do something that everybody would like; something commercial. And this also puts a lot of pressure on you. I have written over 30 songs to date and still counting,” she adds.

Dinma disclosed that when she chose to pursue music, a lot of friends had rather than encourage her, tried to discourage her. She says she simply dusted them off and moved on choosing to concentrate instead on her career and the love and support of her parents.

Just having fun

When is she going to drop her debut album?

“I don’t know for now,” she says with a wave of the head, “I’m just having fun doing this. I’m working on the video of my track, Crazy. I am an inspirational singer. Whenever I perform on stage I feel great because I am always accepted. I feel my dream is coming through; I can smell it,” she adds with a soft laugh.