Daddy Showkey Vanguard Award nomination moves the Galala pioneer, who credits the newspaper with helping launch his music career.
Veteran Nigerian singer and pioneer of Galala music, Chief John Odafe Asiemo, popularly known as Daddy Showkey, has described his nomination for Vanguard Newspaper’s 2026 Entertainment Icon of the Year award as the most significant recognition of his lifetime, following a presentation of his nomination letter at his residence in Lagos on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The 57-year-old entertainer said the recognition carried special emotional value because Vanguard was among the first newspapers to document his journey and introduce his music to a wider Nigerian audience when he was still an emerging artiste.
Speaking with excitement after receiving the nomination letter, Daddy Showkey reflected on the newspaper’s role in his career, describing the honour as a moment of recognition from an institution that had witnessed his rise.
“They say a prophet is not recognised by his own people. But I am a prophet who is being recognised by the people who built me.
“This is the greatest award I have ever received in my life because it is coming from Vanguard. Vanguard is the first newspaper in Nigeria that wrote about me, when I was nothing. Vanguard played a big role in pushing me to the limelight,” he said.
The singer added that he had often wondered when his turn would come to receive recognition from the newspaper, particularly after watching it celebrate other personalities through its awards.
“Sometimes, when I see Vanguard giving people awards, I always say in my mind, when is it going to be my turn?
“Now, it is my turn to receive the award and I am very grateful,” he added.
For Daddy Showkey, the nomination goes beyond an industry accolade. It represents a personal connection with a newspaper whose journalists helped preserve important chapters of his early career.
The nomination also brings back memories of the people Daddy Showkey believes helped shape his journey, particularly the late Amadi Ogbonna, a former Vanguard Entertainment Editor who was among the earliest journalists to write about him.
Recalling his early struggles, the singer said he frequently walked past Vanguard’s former offices while moving between Kirikiri and Olodi in Lagos.
He remembered making a personal prediction that the newspaper would one day publish his story, a wish that eventually came true when Ogbonna wrote about him.
Daddy Showkey also acknowledged the contributions of former Champion Newspaper journalist Smart Irewudo, who published an early photograph of him during the June 12 political crisis.
According to the singer, the publication unexpectedly attracted police attention, but Ogbonna intervened after recognising him and helped secure his release.
He recalled that Ogbonna subsequently became an important source of encouragement, offering financial and personal support as his music career developed.
The singer said Ogbonna and Irewudo were also present in 1999 when he signed a recording agreement with Dr Obiefula Nwankwo, marking another important moment in his professional journey.
His relationship with Vanguard, therefore, is rooted in more than media recognition. It is connected to friendships, early opportunities and the journalists who helped tell his story when his name was still unfamiliar to many Nigerians.
Daddy Showkey’s journey into entertainment began long before his breakthrough as a recording artiste. He started performing as a child entertainer in 1976, when he was six, appearing in television programmes and showcasing his acrobatic talents.
He later developed into one of Nigeria’s most recognisable street music performers, helping popularise Galala, a distinctive musical movement that blended reggae, dancehall and Nigerian influences.
His first recorded song, Big Belle, was released in 1990, according to his recollection. His subsequent success in the 1990s established him as a major voice in Nigerian popular music.
Songs such as Fire Fire, Diana and The Name helped cement his reputation, while his energetic performances and distinctive dance style made him a prominent figure in Ajegunle’s musical identity.
The nomination comes shortly after the entertainer celebrated 50 years on stage in August 2026, marking five decades since his early performances as a child entertainer.
The milestone celebration culminated in a concert at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on August 9, bringing together established and younger Nigerian music stars.
Among the performers and guests were 2Baba, 9ice, Tony Tetuila, African China, Baba Fryo, Danfo Drivers, Teni and Korede Bello.
One of the memorable moments was the appearance of Baba Fryo, Daddy Showkey’s contemporary, whose performance offered a reminder of the musical era that helped shape Nigerian street music.
Daddy Showkey has also used his anniversary celebrations to reflect on the importance of discovering young talents and documenting their development, drawing from his own experience as a child performer.
His latest nomination adds another milestone to a career that has survived changing musical trends while retaining a connection with the communities and audiences that supported his rise.
For the Galala pioneer, however, the significance of the Vanguard recognition lies particularly in who is giving it.
Describing the nomination as Vanguard honouring one of its own, Daddy Showkey said he considers the recognition a fitting acknowledgement of a relationship that began when he was still trying to find his place in the entertainment industry.
“And it will be the biggest award I will ever receive in my lifetime,” he said.
