Author: Mustapha Attractive
Nathan Kwabena Anokye Adisi, popularly known as Bola Ray, has etched his name in history as the first African to host the legendary BBC music show, Top of the Pops.
During a recent episode of the Leadership Podcast hosted by Stephen Akintayo, Monitored by Journalist and Blogger Attractive Mustapha (Andre Mustapha NII Okai Inusah), The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EIB Network and Empire Foundation, Bola Ray shared the inspiring story of how he became the first African to host the iconic Top of the Pops on BBC.
Reflecting on his journey, Bola Ray emphasized the power of positive affirmation and speaking goals into existence. “I believe in speaking into motion. It happens,” he said during the podcast. He recalled his early days as an entertainment prefect in school, where he would humorously pretend to be a BBC presenter during dining sessions.
“I remember in school as the entertainment prefect, I’d go round during dining with a spoon in hand and say, ‘You’re welcome to Focus on Africa on the BBC, my name is Bola Ray,’” he reminisced.
Although his peers laughed at his aspirations, Bola Ray remained steadfast in his dream, and in 2004, that dream began to materialize in an extraordinary way.
In 2004, Bola Ray visited the BBC’s Bush House in London. As fate would have it, his distinct voice caught the attention of a BBC staff member, who was captivated by his delivery. “Someone heard me and fell in love with my voice. There and then, that person asked me to do a lineup for him to promote a show. I went in there, recorded it for him, and did my tour,” Bola Ray recounted.
What followed was a turning point in Bola Ray’s career. The very next day, he was invited back to the BBC to record a jingle for the network’s flagship program, Focus on Africa—the very show he had envisioned hosting.
“The next day he asked if I could come over to the BBC, and that someone heard me and wanted me to do a jingle for Focus on Africa. I said why not? I quickly took it up,” he said.
During the recording session, Bola Ray’s passion for African entertainment caught the attention of the show’s producers, leading to a series of discussions about the industry across the continent.
Impressed by his insights and charisma, the producers extended an invitation for Bola Ray to appear as a guest on Focus on Africa.
“When I was recording, the producers came in and we interacted. We started talking about entertainment on the continent and suddenly they asked if I could be their guest on Focus on Africa,” he revealed.
Bola Ray’s journey from a determined young man with a dream to becoming the first African to host Top of the Pops on the BBC is a testament to his perseverance and the power of belief.
