"I am not bothered. I am just myself. Those who say I am arrogant don't really know me. They don't know where I am coming from; they don't know my background. I am a very proud nigerian. We are a very proud people, with self-confidence which many people from other places don't have", said the presenter with the Cool FM in Lagos.
Dare, believes that he is just being misunderstood or hated because he is real, talented and confident. A recent conversation he had with fellow housemate, Tracey lee is very insightful.
While trying to explain why everyone seems to be mad at his guts, he said: "People mistake confidence for pride. The truth is that I am proud of whom I am. I know what I have been through. I know what kind of money I spend today and I also know what kind of education I had. But the fact is that I am not looking for an avenue to show off. I just have self-confidence. If people mistake my self-confidence for arrogance, it is because they feel insecure. And that's what it is."
He insists he is not presumptuous but just trying to move the team forward, "If there is something that I know how to do, I won't pretend. I'll go straight and do it and even teach others that do not know how to do it. And the problem is maybe there are so many things that we are doing that I believe that I know and other people just feel that I am showing off.
"We should always remember that there is a thin line between arrogance and self confidence. When someone exhibits self confidence, you will know. The truth is that I will never open my mouth to say something that I don't know. But if I know it and I am given the opportunity to air it out, that's not bad at all. We should just try and sit down and get to know ourselves better instead of just jumping into conclusion, especially when we don't even know much about the particular individual we are talking about."
Dare thus submits that for there to be progress and understanding in the academy, contestants must learn to break the ice and open up instead of just hating one another. "We must learn to open up. But the unfortunate thing is that most people are not ready to open up. I think the fear is that we are in a competition and most people just want to hide, you know. But there's no point to winning and not making friends as well as not connecting to people.
"I remember during the first week, I thought some people will never get to talk to one another. Because the fear was there- it was written everywhere. I really want us to wake up and share something that is beyond this competition
"But you must also agree that the competition does not allow us to be honest and truthful. And since we are all coming from different backgrounds, that is also a major problem too. So, we really need to understand each other as well as give each other the space," suggested the dark skinned artiste.
Indeed, the reason for the Darephobic nightmare of even voters and viewers at home, has nothing to do with Dare's performance and participation- rate at learning new musical skills, at the academy.
It is something different; something associated with Nigerians. And something that played a pivotal role in Jid'dah Ado Ibrahim's (fellow Nigerian contestant) exit from the house.
To clear any doubt that the issue here is far from talent (either possessing or lacking it), a succinct review of Dare's performance in the academy is apposite.
He has proven beyond doubt that his stuff- performance, delivery, voice, stagecraft, musical knowledge and mastery of rhythmic progression - is not just qualitative but above the standards of the others in the academy.
A pointer to this fact is his performance at the fourth gala show held on Sunday, July 18. He did not only show that there are lots of talents in Nigeria, he also take members of the board along as they all nodded in acceptance.
The young dark singer, whose mother was also a famous opera singer on radio in the seventies through the eighties, further held both the board and the audience spellbound at the second elimination stage.
In their judgement, as it's often done after the performance of each contestant, they gave their remarks. Dare got the best comment from the second round as they said: "Not only did you wrap everybody with your fingers, you took the audience on a journey and rode on with them."
All through the contest so far, Dare has exhibited so much skills that in the third elimination programme, Jennie a member of the board, who is noted for baring the flaws of contestants, declared: "You have the greatest strength and can adjust your voice to different styles."
So, what's the problem with this talented musician whom many have tipped for the grand prize
For the umpteenth time, Dare has been accused by fellow housemates of being arrogant, proud, egotistical, pompous and uncooperative. It got to a stage that some housemates deliberately avoid him as if he is afflicted with a terrible skin disease. In their (fellow housemates) submission, they could not understand him (Dare); so they stayed off while complaining and lamenting his 'churlish' behaviour.
A typical case in point that drew the irk of contestants was when Dare's towel was missing from the hook.
The practice in the house is that anybody can place his towel on any of the hooks. But the Nigerian insists that he needs a different, personal hook, as he does not like people moving his things around.
Unfortunately, on a certain morning, just before he decided to go to the bathroom, he discovered that his towel was missing from its point. Immediately, he summoned all the boys, querying and at the same time throwing tantrums.
The guys were shocked. They could not figure out what must have infuriated Dare that seriously. They opted to make light of the matter, but the Nigerian takes an aggressive stand.
He passed a strong warning, threatening to do 'something' (the normal Nigerian threat) if anyone dares to cross his path again. The boys were taken aback. They resolved to be extra-cautious anytime Dare is in their midst.
The ladies also know better. They are quick to realise, even in the first week, that Dare is anything but chilvarious. On a certain occasion when he went upstairs - the ladies' hangout with his brief (boxers) on, a vivacious South African female contestant tried to pass an uncomplimentary, randy comment. In reply, Dare browbeat her with his look, before he moved on...
However, it should be noted that before Dare's attitude became a major problem, everybody- housemates, principal, board of directors and viewers at home (even Nigerians) had a problem with Jid'dah, the Nigerian who happened to be the first evictee in the show. What she was alleged of was not very different from what they are now accusing Dare of.
But Jid'dah decided to make hers a major issue when she told the organisers that she wanted to go back home. It was a difficult one for the producers of the reality show. They begged, pleaded and virtually dragged Jid'dah's family back in Nigeria into the scene before she agreed to continue with the programme.
But for the University of Abuja undergraduate, her case is kind of hydra-headed. Though she admitted to be bossy, she still complained that white South Africans are racists. At a press conference held at the Multichoice's office in Lagos, recently, to welcome her back to Nigeria, she lamented the way black housemates were treated, alleging that they were driven in separate cars.
And when she was asked if she learnt anything from the academy, she said: "Yes, I did. What I learnt is that there is no place like home. My stay in the cold, cold academy made me realise how precious home is. There is no place like home and there can't be any place like Nigeria for me."
The truth of the matter is that most housemates seems to have problem with Dare's attitude. And they sincerely believe that his major bane is pride, arrogance. This, somehow, resurrects the literary dictum that a reader/audience gets to meet a character in any work - poetry, fiction and drama by what the character says, does or what other people say about him.
So, will it be proper to conclude that Dare is proud Some in certain quarters have held that the chubby graduate of the University of Lagos is not arrogant but is only exhibiting a certain Nigerian characteristic.
An average Nigerian is not just clever, smart but carries himself, especially in a foreign country, in a way that makes the next man ill at ease. His presence, conversation almost always puts the next person in the defensive.
Some have even argued that South Africans are the major baits. That, at times, they see Nigerians as 'threats', thereby labelling them with all sorts of attitudinal vices.
However, with Jid'dah's exit and Dare's latest defence, it will be only wise for viewers to sit back and see what matters most in the reality show. Could it be talent or guts
Project Fame is produced by Endemol and sponsored by MTN
