Encounter with Benue’s `Michael Jackson’
Dominic Tsafa, 44, is popularly known as Benue’s `Michael Jackson’, having replicated the dance steps of the late legendary music icon. Tsafa, who took after the late king of pop music, Jackson, in thrilling his audience with his manner of break-dance began his career in 1992 while still in secondary school. Military yet to submit […]
Dominic Tsafa
Dominic Tsafa, 44, is popularly known as Benue’s `Michael Jackson’, having replicated the dance steps of the late legendary music icon.
Tsafa, who took after the late king of pop music, Jackson, in thrilling his audience with his manner of break-dance began his career in 1992 while still in secondary school.
Today, he features in many major social events in Benue State to the admiration of his cheering crowd.
Sometimes, he performs alone on stage while at other times, he does so with at least two members of his crew including a young lady.
Over the years, he has built a strong career and established a band known as “Benue Unit Entertainment,” which today consists of 25 crew members – eight females and 17 males.
He has performed to the admiration of his audience in different states in Nigeria and outside the country including Ghana, Malaysia and the Republic of Benin.
It was during his performance at Senator Dino Melaye’s late mother’s burial ceremony at Ijumu in Kogi State two years ago, that the lawmaker picked interest in him.
“After my performance at Senator Dino Melaye’s mother’s burial, he (Dino) helped me to get a job at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
“That’s where I am now as an Executive Officer, Litigation. But, I still dance and my band is intact. Of course, that’s why we met today (a ceremony where he performed in Makurdi) at this function,’’ he said.
Tsafa, married to two wives and a father of nine children, studied psychology at the Benue State University (BSU) from where he graduated in 2007.
He hails from Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State where his band is currently preaching peace to the troubled communities through their artistic performances.
The 44-year-old is ever grateful to God for finding his purpose early in life, as he stressed that his kind of music had not only brought him fame but profit such that he owns three comfortable houses in Benue and now building a three-bedroom flat for his 27-year-old first son.
Already a grandfather by his first son who is married with a kid, the Jackson imitator believes no other Benue-based artiste had been more successful than he is through the proceeds gotten from his music career.
Tsafa said with two of his children as members of his band, he plans to develop dormant music talents in more youths through his dream dancing academy which he hopes to establish by next year.
“I have also shot a video, which would be due for launch next week. I have settled two of my dancers with their own band and they are on their own now.
“By next year, I dream to set up a dancing academy where I will coach younger people as dancers.
“I started my music career from watching Micheal Jackson’s performances in the 90s and copied him. I even celebrated him five years after his demise,” the Benue-born Jackson added.