Music duo, releases new music video “Ileke” with $1000 challenge

After their viral video of cover of Rema’s latest single “Beamer”, US-based music duo of two brothers, Row and Zuwa Agbonayinma known as Roze have returned to the heart of Nigerian music scene with their latest single and video “Ileke” and are throwing a challenge to their followers and fans on their Instagram page (rz.roze) to come up with the best artistic content to complement or amplify the substance of the new musical video.

The single and video “Ileke” dropped simultaneously on all digital platforms on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 and it has further reaffirmed the brothers’ prime place in the Nigerian music landscape. The title of the song “Ileke” simply means the African waist beads but beyond that, the duo explores the function of the ornament in relation to a woman’s bum, the sexuality and how it defines and accentuates it during dance.

Roze threw the challenge hashtagged #ilekechallenge with a one thousand naira bounty to the good for the winner or the winners.

According to the brothers who are signed to U and I Music, owned by their father, “This challenge is to give everyone an opportunity to showcase their talents; such as using the song “Ileke” to be creative, with dance videos, art, drawing, skits, comedy, TikToks, duets etc. (videos with creative content). The best content creators will stand a chance to win all or part of the money. The challenge will be going on from Tuesday (May 5th) till Sunday (May 9th), and may be extended if need be. We will decide the five best content creators and the fans will get a chance to pick the three final winners. The 1st winner gets $500, the 2nd winner gets $300 and the 3rd winner gets $200. During the period of selection, creators and fans will be able to tag as many people as they want to vote for them in the comment section.”

On how they produced Ileke, they said, “On our recent journey to Nigeria 2019 December, we made Ileke. Ileke was not just done by Roze but with the contribution of an artist named Lez. There were a group of us at the Eko Hotel. The likes of our father and Team ROZE. Producer Mekoyo made the beat on the spot and his friend Lez worked with us to create the track Ileke. We had arguments on what Ileke meant. Till now we “ROZE” are not sure if Ileke means the strength of a woman or if it means beads.

After the music was recorded, days later we met up with Clarence Peters. He worked with us all day to shoot the video. We actually shot two music videos that day for a song that will be released soon.

We can’t wait to be back in Nigeria to make more and more content!

Since the COVI D-19 global lockdown began, the brothers have been present on Instagram, doing all sorts of giveaways and bringing top entertainers on board. The last person to join them on their last Instagram Live session is Ayo Makun who was given a task to unravel many mysteries around the African “Ileke”.

When the duo did a cover of Mavin’s Rema’s “Beamer” in April the ovation for them was so loud even Don Jazzy himself had to commend them for the effort. Some people who saw the cover on Instablog9ja begged the Mavin’s boss to organise a remix of the song, collaborated between Rema and Roze.

“Just listen to what you did with Rema’s song on Instablog9ja. I think you are underrated. Had to search for your page. Well done, the sky is your starting point,” one @awopepe amongst many others commented.

The music duo, born Eghosa Rodney Agbonayinma (ROW) and Osazuwa Michael Agbonayinma (ZUWA) popularly known as Roze are children of politician and music lover, Hon Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma. They were born in Houston, Texas, January 11, 1998 and July 30, 1999 respectively.

Other songs they have done include: Too Much, All These Things, The Whole Night, Good things, Impressions, Stranded and Patience.