MUSIC: NIGERIA VS. THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

I tend to consider myself a die-hard Nigerian. Yes, I know the country has serious problems, but not once have I ever been ashamed to declare my nationality even in some of the most dire circumstances.

However, there is an issue that recently has placed a chink in the armor that is my sense of 'Nijaness'. It has to do with Nigerian music. I am beginning to doubt that current Nigerian artists can truly hold their ground in the arena that is African music.

Don't get me wrong, I can list a slew of venerable Nigerian musicians. For instance, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Majek Fashek, Onyeka Onwenu and the list goes on. These were the artists of my childhood. I remember hearing their music at parties that I was only able to see standing behind a door in my pajamas because I was supposed to be in bed. I do remember my 5th or 6th (or was it my 10th?) birthday party when almost every guest brought their personal cassette copy of Shina Peters' album. Do you remember that song? "Shina peters o ni afrojuju. Afro juju o, the difference is clear o." (Insert wicked riff here). No one brought any American or European musicians. It was Afrojuju that a whole bunch of private school going, skinny little kids wanted to dance to.

When I think of the Nigerian musicians today, they have good music, but I am yet to hear anything that can hold a candle to artists like Salif Keita in terms of originality, Cesaria Evora in terms of sensuality, or even Awilo Longomba or Djouna Mumbafu in terms of good old booty shaking music that bumps so hard it makes you want to move every inch of your body.

To me, there is something missing from current Nigerian music. It lacks identity. It lacks a Nigerian identity. A lot of the newer artists have good vocals, lyrics and even videos. I do not mean to be disrespectful but, I can't help but think that they are simply MTV wannabes. I crave music that is wholeheartedly Nigerian but modern. I crave music that tells me a Nigerian story. I continue to be moved by Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Lagbaja and others who continue to make Nigerian music that implements the best of musical techniques from around the world without losing that sense of Nijaness. Have you heard Osuofia's "I Go Chop Your Dollar"? Just thinking about the song makes me laugh and brings happy tears to my eyes. It might never win a Grammy award, but there is nothing like listening to Nigerian music that is intrinsically Nigerian, no matter what it's subject is. It reminds me of home. Makes me reminisce for the days when the kids from the neighborhood would hang out with eachother and talk about absolute nonesense while watching a soccer match played barefoot.

What new genre of music is Nigerian? Yes, we have afrobeat and afrojuju but when you listen to mapouka, you know which part of Africa it is from. When you hear coupe decale, you know that a bunch of Ivorians are trying to get you to shake your behind. Zouk, Soukouss, Makosa and various other forms of African music continue to be reinvented without losing their soul. What about Nigerian music? Someone please enlighten me, because I am desperately seeking original Nigerian music that will never lose sight of that very important factor - Nijaness.

For a taste of Shina Peters please click on the video below (ignore the first 90 seconds).


Here is a favorite song of mine, "Olufunmi" by Styl Plus.


And of course, "I Go Chop Your Dollar" by Osuofia, the comedic actor and musician.

Further Reading:

-Nigeria vs. The African Continent II - P-Square "Say your Love"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent III - Infinity's "Olori Oko"
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent IV - Tuface
-Nigeria vs. The African Continent V - Ty Bello's "Greenland"