Wednesday, August 17, 2011

...FOR THE LOVE OF NAIJA MUSIC...

A baby butterfly breaking out of its cocoon and it's steadily growing bigger. A constant feed of talents coming its way enlarging its abdomen. Different splashes of colours appearing on the wings, making it appear more beautiful against the glaring sun of the World Music Industry in general. Desperately trying on many things just to find what i'd term 'our stlye', we have flown in many directions...wrong ones, right ones, all with the one aim of getting worldwide recognition and respect.
The industry had managed to stay feebly active through our own local music; the likes of Fuji, Juju, Afrobeat e.t.c. the public was hungry for change, we were bored. I must not forget to point out that the brands went far, they got the recognition and respect worldwide, the kind that our newly found 'adapted' type of music desperately crave for,snatching nominations during grand awards. They passed the test of time, they are vintage classics getting new meanings, translations and appreciation as decades rolled by.
Styles emerged like football players charging into the pitch, fresh, new and raw, fueling the wobbly legs with strength and hope. The dance and groovy style emerged first in the race with the others tolling in its wake. The acceptance of the leading style by the public was enormous, it contained more of rhythm, rhythm sells more here in Nigeria at the moment. Most of the songs are lyrically dead, rhythm falls victim to time, chips away at it until it is extinct. Production called attention ( let me mention that it's getting better and bigger), without it the industry would stand at ease. this part of music plays a huge role in shaping up styles. It teaches you to listen to the rhythm and appreciate the creativity, unfortunately here in Nigeria, it had made both the top and upcoming artists weak lyrically. The trend now is; get good production, throw in some slangs and back it up by shooting a tight video abroad and you have arrived.
A good combination of both lyrics and rhythm create classics, classics gets recognized, classics wins awards, classics make legends. We have a few new classics to our name, you will know a classic album when you hear one... take the dreadlock princess for your example.... Kudos to our International stars repping us outside the continent, though not all are lyrical enough (moi opinion, folks). They got what it takes, they could be better, but most of the top nigerian musicians make music from the head not from the heart, the head puts the quid first, while the heart puts the music first.
The commercial acceptance of the style brought the conclusion that maybe we've eventually arrived at our destination...we got a style! We don't officially have a name for it, but for now it is termed 'naija dancehall', i think.
Can these hit songs stand time? Okay, we now have former hit songs we call 'old school', but to be frank when you listen now, it's more of comedy than songs....it's so empty. We are at a junction where junks are starting to be recognized, though the song may be groovy at the moment, meaning eludes quickly.
For the love and the growth of 'naija music'...... put the music first, then the quid follows. Whatever we call our style, we shouldn't have boundaries......every part of the industry should grow, not some. We'll be huge on the World Music Map, joining the likes of the Latinos, Jamaicans and even surpassing them. Let's tell the world that 'we are here!' If we shout loudly enough, we'll be heard.

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