Julius OkorieFor those conversant with the musical twin Peter and Paul Okoye otherwise known as P-Square, their impact in the Nigerian music cum entertainment scene and beyond is not one to be dismissed with a wave of the left hand.
Known for their energetic dance style, they were widely regarded as one of the most influential African acts of all time and one of the most successful music groups from Africa.
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Born to clergy mother, Josephine Okoye and Businessman father, Pa Moses Okoye from Anambra State but raised in Jos which at one point was the destination point of talented youths who excelled in different areas from football to music and athletics etc. They had actually started as a dancing group in the 1990s.
It will interest you to know that the duo equally had interest in football encouraged by the exploits of the likes of former Super Eagles Captain, John Obi Mikel, who equally grew up in Jos. Their dream of making waves in the round leather game did not click but that of making music did and big too.
Break Through
Following the disbanding of the dance group, Peter and Paul founded P-Square in 2001, emerged champions in a talent show and signed a record deal with Timbuk2 Label where they released their debut album in 2003.
They later founded their own label and released hit albums like Get Squared, Gameover, Danger, Invasion and Double Trouble. “Gameover” album, which explored multiple societal themes such as Love, Regret, Assurance and Political Criticism, reportedly sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
It made history then as the only 2000s project from Nigeria to have surpassed 30M streams on Spotify, and has been considered a timeless body of work by music critics. Other songs that seized the airwaves with panache include “Personally,” “Chop My Money,” “Beautiful Onyinye,” “Alingo,” “E no easy“ “Shekini,” “Do Me,” “Temptation,” “Bring it On,” “Testimony,” “Bizzy Body,” and “Gimme Da.”
Expectedly co-writing and co-producing most of their songs as most twins tend to have things in common, P-Square did not only win the hearts of many music lovers within the country but outside the country.
They were not just songs writers but singers and dancers. This multi-tasking became added advantage to the twin who had already become popular in 2003 at 22 having been born on November 11, 1981.
In 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon’s Konvict Music, selling more than 40M Album records as of 2011.
They were nominated for BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, MTV Europe Music Award, MOBO Awards and they have won KORA Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, and Channel O Music Video Awards.
They were also the first Nigerian to peak at top 5 on SNEP – French official chart and top 10 on Ultratop – Belgium official chart in 2012 with the French Version of “E no easy” featuring Matt Houston. The song was the First Afrobeats Summer hit in France.
Featuring in top five in musical chart in faraway France and top 10 in the musical chart of Belgium is by no means mean achievements and underlines the impact the twin made on the international music scene.
Boasting The Nation’s Image
During a recent visit to France by Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the French Presidential band delivered a very popular track from the collection of P-Square ‘Testimony’, during the Presidential dinner hosted by France President Emmanuel Macron.
The delivery resonated among fans of the Nigerian music duo even as the presidential band got accolades for their flawless presentation of the song.
It was nostalgic for those who love original P-Square with passion. The occasion did not just end up as a presidential dinner but also served as an opportunity to re-echo the relevance of Nigeria her contribution to the entertainment industry on one hand and the impact of P-Square as a unique group with unique selling point.
What does these accolades mean if not progress which every individual or group seek in the course their chosen career or running their businesses. What should such a group do order than to consolidate and count their blessings?
READ ALSO: French Presidential Band Thrills Tinubu, Macron With P-Square’s Testimony
The Split: Why Change A Winning Horse?
In 2016 it emerged from the rumour mills that the twin Peter and Paul were going their separate ways. However Peter’s Personal manager refuted the rumours that the twin brothers are still together, he said, “Peter is still very much with his brother, changing his name to Mr.P has nothing to do with breaking up with his twin brother or going solo.” The Duo’s Publicist, Bayo Adetu, also maintained that there is no official statement regarding the viral rumours from the public. As if to furthe prove that there is indeed no substance in the rumour, the twin came out with a catchy song titled ‘Bank Alert.’ It features cameo appearances from Veteran Musician late Onyeka Onwenu and Nollywood Veteran, Mr. Ibu, that was in September 2016. But like it is often said there is no smoke without fire.
By early February 2017, it was no longer a rumour the dynamic twin were headed for different directions and cancelled their USA/Canada tour
In the same period, Peter of P-Square indicated his intention to cancel his contract with the ‘P-Square Brand’ He stated in his letter to their lawyer, “What I am about to do has been a very difficult decision to make. I have decided to use this medium to terminate the agreement between Psquare. The split unfortunately became a reality as the duo went separately solo as Rudeboy (Paul) and Mr. P (Peter).
Although the now separated twin did release solo songs, this venture into the wilderness lasted for about four years before a re-union in 2021 to the delight of some of fans who insisted they prefer P-Square and were uncomfortable with Rudeboy and Mr P episode.
But it turned out that it was not yet uhuru after the twin split again less than two years after the re-union, it was the second split in five years.
Revealing the second split Paul Okoye said he has parted ways with his twin brother, Peter, after the latter expressed disinterest in continuing as a duo. This marked yet another blow for lovers of the unique group now battling to share the love hitherto reserved for and indivisible twin.
Crux of the Matter
Building is difficult and painstaking but destroying is very easy. As hydra-headed as the P-Square saga is, submissions from all the characters involved show that the problem bothers on four different issues.
*Accusation of financial mismanagement especially concerning their elder brother and manager Jude Okoye, who manages the P-Square brand and who was accused of floating another company unknown to the twin and to which only he and his wife Ifeoma were directors and signatories.
While the original company is said to be Northside Entertainment, Jude and wife were accused of floating Northside Music as a parallel outfit unknown to the twin and used to divert funds.
*Family /wives involvement: In 2013, when Peter got married to his wife, Lola, it was reported that some members of his family were not happy with his choice, particularly because she is nine years older than him.
However, Peter like one in true love, has never been shy about his profession of love for his wife. On their fifth wedding anniversary in 2018, Peter wrote, “I remembered you gave me your official car a few weeks after we moved into Lagos and started dating. That was the first time in my life experienced a car with air-conditioning, and every night I would sleep inside the car. Thank you for my first air-conditioned car experience
“Maybe divorcing you to make you a baby mama will make some people happy and me unhappy; sorry, that is not our portion. ‘Tufiakwa’! Remember love sees no colour, love has no age limit nor race (sic). But one thing is sure, I am here to protect and defend you from all those insults.”
Showing signs that there were cracks in the extended family’s relationship, Paul had, shortly after the birth of his twins with his estranged wife, Anita, issued a warning to an unnamed lady, accusing her of making efforts to disrupt the peace between brothers. He wrote on social media, “Back to Naija. Don’t take my silence for granted…only a woman can come where brothers are working in peace and destroy it.”
In what is believed to be a response to Paul, Peter also wrote, “People who can’t stand to see the success of others will never experience their own.”
*Professional conduct dimension: Rudeboy alleged Mr P stole his song ‘Winning,’ a track that was supposed to be a significant part of their comeback album and a symbol of their reconciliation.
However, an hour after Mr P announced the song’s release to his fans, Rudeboy claimed ownership of it on his Instagram page.
Justifying his claims, Rudeboy claimed that the track in contention, ‘Winning,’ was one of six songs he submitted for P-square’s album in 2021, the year they reconciled.
Failed Peace Moves
That the twin singers are loved by their fans and by some many highly placed individuals is not in doubt. These individuals including the Presidential candidate of the Labour party in the 2023 Presidential election and former Governor of Anambra State , Peter Obi have intervened to broker peace to no avails.
The Irony
The twin brothers have admitted that just like many of their fans believe that they made more money as P-Square than they did working as solo artistes. As P-Square, their songs usually had between 40 million views and over a hundred million views. The big question will be if you are making more impact and more money as a dynamic twin while allow trivialities and discord that can be settled amicable in a family meeting throw all that away.
Why allow this Pull Him Down syndrome come in the way of progress. There is nothing you have that is not given to you from above according to 1 Corinthians 4:7. It then went ahead to ask why do you boast as if you did not receive it.”?
As one of the fans on social media said GreenArrow@Bisping_Chad
“At this point they need to be forgotten. 25 years plus hard work been thrown away cause of jealousy, envy, hate between twins”
Sir Emmanuel@Nuel_Onyedika added on his part “These guys don’t know what they have…. they just threw it away”
Hope Not Lost
Granted that a lot of musical groups like Plantashun Boiz, Infinity, The Remedies and Maintain among others made waves in the past and split, with some of the members fading into oblivion and others making it solo, they were mostly group of friends who came together to form music group it is not the same.
The twins were unique by virtue of being twins and siblings. Many believe that if friends who came together to form a group should split; it should be the last thing to be heard of from identical twins. Die-hard fans of this unique duo still believe that there will be another re-union and that this time it will last the distance especially if those sowing seed discord and fanning the amber of disunity can mind their businesses.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
