State Of The Music: Has Nigeria pop music done enough to uplift the ... - Pulse Nigeria

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While listening to the new “Spotlight” album by Reekado Banks, I was struck by the patriotism and hope that runs through the song ‘Change’. The Mavin Records singer runs through the song, preaching, educating, and loving the public, consciously seeking to change us.

It’s a coincidental artistic expression of the new national Government-sponsored campaign – ‘Change Begins With Me’- which has been duly rejected by the Nigerian public, and left for dead via maligning and a ceaseless stream of arguments. If only they had signed up Reekado Banks for the campaign, and used this song as the theme-track, then perhaps they would have achieved better luck with the marketing of the campaign.

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Reekado Banks

(Instagram)

 

The second verse reads: “Everybody listen to my talk o, Surulere I must to talk o. If we come together na our luck oh, if you no go hear katapot oh. Falz go say it’s our work oh…we must come together and work oh…so we go fit enjoy with…to get the change we must change ourselves.."

Nigeria is ruled by the APC party, who rode on promises of change and sold a vision of national betterment to the party. They rode to power in the 2015 General Elections, sweeping through all arms of government as the leadership of the country was changed via voting. It’s been over a year since they celebrated their victory at the polls and assumed their offices, but the promised change has not come. Instead, they have been forced to deal with a dwindling economy, which in 2016, entered recession.

There’s a need for change all around the country, at all levels of dealings. Songs like ‘Change’ highlight this, and if properly promoted, can be a driving force for unifying the nation. Pop culture in Nigeria is not known to carry around this level of depth and consciousness to their elements. Only a few artistes dare look at the times, and create music to speak through the darkness and despair in the hearts of their fans.

Reekado Banks’ ‘Change’ stands as one of such songs. But it is too few.

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Davido 'Skelewu' used as Original Soundtrack for Disney movie

(Instagram)

Elsewhere, we have had a lack of other pop artistes creating music for a higher purpose. The ones who do get to hide it in an album, with very little promotion given to it. 2face Idibia, M.I Abaga, Waje and more have in the past, presented the idea of hope and strength through their music on an increasingly accessible scale, inspiring and facilitating unity in a very distressing national economic and societal landscape. They have spread this by constantly telling people to look on the bright side of things always.

Regardless of how they are passed on, these messages of hope and faith in the goodness of the world that are quickly disappearing from the pop creators are indicative of a growing need to remind the  musicians of the importance of these messages.

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2face Idibia and MI Abaga performing at Buckwyld n Breathless

(Instagram)

 

Being culture influences and all that, these artistes need to create art to mark the times, and shine through as beacons of light. They need to provide the nation with a sense of hope and direction out of this despair via art and connection.

This new generation of artists need to be reminded that no real change can be made until we are inspired to seek change. Their art can help this process.

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