In a captivating interview on Adesope LiveNigerian rapper and music pioneer Eldee shared an extraordinary story about his father’s groundbreaking contribution to technology in Nigeria. Eldee revealed that his father was instrumental in connecting Nigeria to the internet and setting up the country’s first cyber café.
Reflecting on his early music career, Eldee recounted the challenges he and his crew faced due to limited access to advanced technology. “I was doing a lot of directing for my music and trying to pick up skills like mixing and mastering,” he said. “We didn’t have access to high-quality production tools or the ability to shoot food videos. These were the gaps I focused on filling.”
Eldee then dropped a remarkable revelation: “Fun fact: my dad was the first person to connect Nigeria to the internet. He set up the very first cyber café in Lagos State. People often debate this because they don’t know his name, but he wasn’t the type to seek recognition.”
He added that his father’s pioneering work extended far beyond a single achievement. “The first internet connection for mobile networks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and even the government? That was my dad. He was a trailblazer in technology in his own space.”
Eldee explained how his father’s work created opportunities for him to explore technology that was otherwise unavailable to most Nigerians at the time. “We had access to cutting-edge technology, which allowed us to push boundaries. I had a room in the same building where my dad was working, and that’s where my music studio was set up.”
He also highlighted the ripple effects of his father’s innovations. “Bro Mayowa, a Nollywood pioneer, was also breaking new ground because of the technology we had around us. We were the first to start nonlinear editing because we had internet access to download the necessary software. It positioned us to achieve things at an incredible level,” Eldee concluded.