Dear Nigerian Artistes

Dear Nigerian Artistes

Back in the 90’s we had musicians who were socially conscious as I listened to Onyeka Onwenu’s One Love, Daddy Showkey’s Fire Fire. Even Fela of blessed memory was known for doing socially conscious music, criticising the government and speaking of the ills in our society. Even in the early and mid 2000’s when there were songs like Jaga Jaga by Eedris Abdulkareem which got him in trouble with the former President Obasanjo. There were songs like Power of Naija by 2face, Me I go yarn by Eldee, Only 4 Naija by Terry tha Rapman.

But our Nigerian artistes are no longer socially conscious. Save for very few most are only after scoring their next big hit and will decide to do a couple of club bangers to get airplay on the radio.

Here is the problem for me, it’s not all about the hits because hits come and go what remains is the value added to the society.

Imagine for a second artists like Olamide, Phyno or even Tekno did a song on the societal ills in our country. Music is communication and communicating in Nigeria’s case should entail singing about the abnormalities in our society. It becomes a beacon of hope to the people and in another way demands more from the government. The truth is music is powerful.

Dear Nigerian artistes know that you are very powerful in your own way and can bring about change in your own little way not everybody can relate to popping bottles, driving the best cars, getting money but people will definitely relate to your songs of hope for a better nation and a society on. God bless you for reading.

Also, remember, the greatest Nigerian artiste to ever hold the microphone, made most of his music about the social ills in Nigeria. I’m talking about the one and only Fela Anikulapo Kuti