Put on your radio today, all you hear is what we classify as “Commercial music”, the kind of music with a fast tempo beat, catchy hook, and lyrics that make little or no sense. Music with content is fast dying on radio and Television, and everyone hides under the popular lie that “Nigerians don’t appreciate good music”.
But really is that the truth? I appreciate conscious music, in fact i buy albums of artistes that make such music, any time i have the chance, because really this days, if all you listen to is radio, majority of what gets airplay are party songs aimed at making people dance, and that’s it.
I have always been of the opinion that the average Nigerian appreciates conscious music, but i had no proof till i watched a clip of Asa’s felabration performance last week at the shrine.
Watch the video below
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG9KsBXZIx4]
Watching the way the crowd reacted when Asa came on, before she even started singing, and the way they sang along with her almost all through the performance, makes one thing clear: Real beautiful music knows no bound and will never die, and to think its mainly guys that were singing along goes on to prove my point that the average Nigerian actually likes conscious music.
Dear nigerians, give real musicians that make beautiful music a chance, and to the artistes, as long as you stay true to your art, there is no audience you cant buy. The way Asa rocked that massive crowd of all forms of Nigerians, is also proof that you don’t need a fast tempo beat, or girls shaking their booty on stage before you can rock a show. Conscious music can also rock a show, and in addition pass on a message of change to the people in the process.
“For those who don’t know what Felabration is about, it’s the yearly celebration of life for the Legend, Veteran and King of Afrobeat himself: Fela Anikulapo Kuti. knowing the kind of person and music Fela was/did, it’s no surprise that Felabration attracts all kinds of Nigerians, from the elite to the poor, the educated to the non-educated, The old and young etc. He was the mouthpiece of the people when he was alive, and even in death his music is still evergreen. In fact people now see his music as prophetic, because all he sang about way back seems to be happening today. Plus he’s known both locally and Internationally.
It should also be noted that Fela’s music is very conscious and is listened to buy almost everybody. That alone is proof that the average Nigerian appreciates conscious music.”
It is pretty sad, when artist label Fela as one of their inspiration all I see/think is they are trying to justify their weed intake….
Its sad to think that Nigerian artistes write / make music with the intention to Make Money only and forget about passing on a valuable message that touches the heart.
We need more Real musicians like Asa to hold down the fort!
Great post