Dan Foster: The man who shaped contemporary radio in Nigeria

With the liberalization of the Nigerian broadcast industry from the ‘90s, a lot of media companies were springing up with their eyes set on the sector that was ripe for exploits. Cool FM, a contemporary radio station that was launched in 1998 was positioning itself for relevance at the turn of the millennium. It was during this period that it signed a new voice that kept everyone glued to the station.

The question at the onset was, ‘who is that guy on Cool FM?’ It wasn’t long before everyone knew his name — Dan Foster, the man who would come to shape the format for contemporary radio programmes in Nigeria. Within just a year, he won the award for ‘Best Radio Presenter of the Year’, and would later win the Nigeria Media Merit Awards for the ‘Best Radio Personality’ in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He was also named ‘Media Person of the Year’ in 2004 and 2005 by City People Magazine.

Popularly known as “Big Dawg” or “Top Dawg”, Foster revolutionized radio broadcasting in the country by infusing an inspirational and conversational style to his shows which resonated with the people. His impact, vibrant personality and contribution to the broadcast industry have been recurring in the numerous tributes that have emerged since his death on June 17, 2020.

“Bursting with talent and creativity, he helped the station break new grounds with his larger than life personality. He set the standard for others to follow. His mark and influence on Cool FM and the broadcasting industry in Nigeria will be felt forever,” Serge Noujaim, the CEO of Cool FM wrote in an official tribute.

If there was a voice that many Nigerians enjoyed listening to on the radio in the 2000s and well into the 2010s before the new crops of OAPs came on the blocks, it was Dan Foster.

There’s a generation of radio personalities like Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi and Oladotun Kayode a.k.a Do2dtun who earned their stripes through his influence and mentorship.

“He saved me my job. Such a story! He kept me regardless.. look at me now. “The Big Dog” Dan Foster put it all in for me and us at Coolfm. What an OAP. The best morning show host till date in Nigeria. This is a big loss,” Do2dtun tweeted.

Although he undertook his longest streak at Cool FM, Dan Foster also worked in a few other stations in Nigeria. After working at Cool FM for nine years (2000 – 2009), he made a switch to Inspiration FM to help jumpstart the station. He worked as both the OAP and Head of Programmes there before leaving the station to City FM in 2014. He created the Sunday Praise Jam while at Cool FM and it grew to become a yearly concert.

Foster made yet another move to Classic FM in 2016, where he hosted the Classic morning show as well and Sunday Morning Talk on Lagos Talk FM. He was hatching a plan to build his own radio station before his death.

Back to the beginning

Born in Washington DC, USA in 1960, Daniel ‘Dan’ Foster was raised by his father alongside three other siblings. His mother died when he was just ten and he split some time living with his grandmother in Baltimore. He became rebellious as a teen but was able to turn his life around by joining the US Marine Corps.

While serving as a Marine, he started practicing how to present on the radio with radio equipment on the ship.

“During my service, I started doing mock commercials; I would read adverts on magazines and put some music behind it. I did it so well that guys wouldn’t believe that was my voice,” he said in an interview with Osagie Alonge on the Netng in 2014.

Foster had signed up for the US Marine Corps to earn a scholarship to study broadcasting and drama at Morgan State University. While at the university, he met an influential radio personality and executive, Cathy Hughes who gave him a spot on the campus radio station, WHUR.

“I was hitting people with inspiration and unique songs and she’d always come in and say, ‘you have a talent for picking these unique songs and developing a good mood, hang in there Dan, you’re going to go places someday, I like what you do.’” He recollected.

He’d later go on to work at Mix 106.5 radio in Baltimore before moving to the Virgin Islands to take up a spot at WTBN.

Coming to Nigeria

Dan Foster could pass for a Nigerian, and was quite often seen as such. He immersed himself in the Nigerian urban culture and owned it completely. The radio legend who was a native of Washington DC, USA, had no links with Nigeria until he mistakenly picked a radio gig at V.I, thinking it was at the Virgin Islands. Surprisingly, the V.I turned out to be Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria.

“I wasn’t going to come because there was an advisory saying Americans shouldn’t travel to Nigeria… they said there were some negative things going on in Nigeria,” he revealed to Osagie Alonge on Netng.

This was back in 1999 when Nigeria was transitioning from military rule to democracy. Chris Ubosi, his contact in Nigeria who was working with Cool FM then was able to convince him to make the move after promising him luxurious accommodation and other benefits. He took the offer and when he arrived in Nigeria, he confessed to have never seen so many black people before. After settling into the country in 2000, he set to work at Cool FM, and through many ups and downs, he fell in love and made Nigeria his home for the rest of his life.

Beyond Radio

As Dan Foster’s influence grew in Nigeria, he started branching out to other endeavours. With his compelling style, he was invited to be a judge on the first ever Idols West Africa show which had the likes of Timi Dakolo and Omawumi as contestants in 2007.

“That was the best reality TV show ever, a lot of people came out, there was Timi Dakolo, J’odie, Omawumi and all of them were good,” he said.

He was also one of the judges on Nigeria’s got Talent in 2015, and was featured in a Nollywood movie, ‘Face of a Liar’ in 2001.

Setbacks

Foster’s success as a radio personality did not come without its own challenges. He parted ways with his first wife with whom he had a son, Joshua. His wife had joined him in Lagos and didn’t quite like it there. She eventually left with their son when Foster insisted on staying back in Nigeria.

“I told her ‘honey I know we’re going to break up but I have to do this, it’s a job thing’.”

After some years of working with Cool FM, his departure from the station was marked with some controversy that almost forced him to leave Nigeria in 2009.

In the years leading to his death, his influence began fading in a rollercoaster of issues with his work. He was accused of becoming truant in his days at Inspiration FM. According to a report by Encomium, he allegedly missed advert spots frequently without any show of remorse about it.

He moved stations much more in his last decade than he did in his first. At some point, he was no longer available on the public radar as before.

Family

After some years of trying his hands on controversial relationships, Foster finally settled down with Lovina Foster (nee Okpara). A former banker he met at Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. The couple got married in April 2009.

They both had two daughters together; Kayla and Daniella, and a son, Somtochukwu.

Foster still kept in touch with his first son, Joshua who is now 20.

Dan Foster’s Death

In a shocking circumstance, Foster was reported dead from COVID-19 complications on June 17, 2020.