I am a Nigerian who lives in Baltimore Maryland. On the 9to5, I work for a big Information Technology (IT) Contractor, and at night I put on a mask and become ..ta da , and on my own free time, I still do the IT thing, but I work on projects that are more interesting, or have been commissioned to do. Out of my freetime interest came the idea for Orbit Shakers, a one person company that I’ve set up as an umbrella for all my IT endeavors.

I’m known by many names, Andrew, Drew, DruTosh, Toyin, Omo, Omo bi Akpere, Oluwa, Super, Superman, ‘Mandru, Supermandru, Arnold, Schwarzz, Schwarzznegger, Akande, The Crab has Come, I could go on. But how did the name Orbit Shakers come about?

Well, my wife (my ultimate inspiration, supporter, critic, she is soon to complete her phd in pathology) works in a Biology lab for a Dr. Hamburger.  On one of the several times I’ve escorted her to her research lab, I noticed a machine known as an Orbital Shaker. I thought it was such a good name, and it reminded me of Fela Kuti’s backup dancers (the way they jig and jerk as if they have no ribs or backbone). At this point in my life, I actually thought I could be a rock star, and I thought the Band “Me First and the Gimme Gimmes” had the best/funniest name in music, so I thought to myself, if I ever started a band, I’d have to give it an unforgetable name. I thought, I’d call the band Dr. Hamburger and the Orbital Shakers.  The band never materialized, because life got in the way, I guess it’s never too late though, maybe when I retire and have some free time, I can still start a band. Like Bob Marley sings.. “where there’s a will, there’s always a way”. 

In the meantime, naming my freelance outfit “Orbit Shakers” will have to do. I did toy around with several other names. akandedesigns, drewtosh, my last name, but I didn’t really settle on a name until my wife suggested, that I use the non-existent band’s name for my freelance outfit. I instantly jumped to the idea.

What it’s all About
So what is Orbit Shakers all about? Well, the idea is to provide IT solutions in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Even though past clients have been in the African Community in the Maryland, Washignton DC area, the clientele focus is not just Africans in the area. The idea is that if the quality of work is decent enough, everyone would take you seriously, whether to support or impede. This is what Orbit Shakers is all about.

How many Orbit Shakers are There?
Looking around the website, you’ll see that there are references to Orbit Shakers in plural (we) form, even though right now, It’s just me. The idea is to eventually hire or partner up with people that have similar interests and visions, but as for right now it’s just me, Andrew, the First Orbit Shaker ;-p. Hope you enjoy the site.