It’s the 63rd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule and ears are perked up for music - both old and new - that reflect the current state of life in the beloved motherland.
It’s the 63rd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule and ears are perked up for music – both old and new – that reflect the current state of life in the beloved motherland. As the Nigerian music industry keeps expanding its global fan base, our eclectic discographies have become increasingly under scrutiny for their ‘substance’.
In today’s Guardian Music special, we highlight a selection of contemporary Nigerian evergreen songs that reflect the country’s current socioeconomic realities, while also retaining a mainstream appeal that’s usually unanticipated with conscious music, and have actually had an impact in positively stimulating the public.
Dubbed ‘Hov’, tributing the American rap veteran Jay-Z, Rema takes a swipe at Nigeria’s elite ruling class with lines like, ‘My neck don dey fold like Dino/ I no be politician but I don dey see their kind of money/ Any legal money was once upon a time illegal money.’ He charms his way through the song with impeccable falsetto and cadences that help him serve his perspectives with the right pop appeal.
“I come from a place where they/ Used to chill/ Under the stars it was/ Quite the thing/ But everybody locked up/ Because they heard the gunshot/ Everybody just run/Nobody wants to go down/But I can see/It’s chasing me:And the politics discouraging,” the 25-year-old’s voice rings clear on the song.WHILE an apple doesn’t fall far away from the tree, some actually evolve into better versions that are novel to their species.