Opinion: Nigerians and the Noise Called Music

Music is a universal language that people of different backgrounds, ethnicity, tribe, race or even nations of the world can relate to. One does not necessarily have to understand the language in which a song was sang before he can appreciate the melodies coming from such a song.
Music as a phenomenon on its own helps function as a lot of things, one can find solace in music during desperate times, find the sweet melodies a source of joy and also to rock to when we just want to party. Whatever mood you may be, there is a song that would fit that mood and help make that moment count.

The Nigerian music industry has come a long way from what it used to be having broken into the international community with songs being doled out by Nigerian artistes appreciated by the foreign community. Good and talented musicians have gone ahead to be nominated and even win international awards in recognition of their outstanding talent when it comes to the world of music. Some top notch musicians have organized sold out concerts within and outside the country to fans who appreciate the artiste’s talent.

In as much as I would like to keep praising the achievements of the music industry in its quest for international dominance in the world of music it is sad to note that Nigerians in their usual habit are beginning over do things and now the music industry if not careful would have some of the good things it has built up destroyed due to the greed of Nigerians for wealth. It is common knowledge that once someone does well in a particular thing, multitude of people tend to rush in that direction with the belief that they can quickly tap into the success and the music industry is gradually becoming saturated with mediocre talents and people that have no business being there in the first place. We all know how rich the musicians seem to be these days as compared to them being seen as jobless people who don’t have a better use for their lives; musicians now smile home with millions as their paycheck and their bank accounts grow fatter with each passing day. Mouth watering deals and contracts are signed daily and we all wish for the ‘fabulousity’ of their lives.

Most of these artistes in the quest for success and fame have lost sight of what music is originally meant for as gibberish after gibberish seems to be what fills the airwaves these days and it saddens me to hear arrant nonsense belting out the stereo.
Many young and upcoming artistes seem to have sprung up out of the blue and everybody is suddenly into music overnight. Some radio stations and television stations that should help act as gatekeepers to guide what the people listen to are not performing in their duties with most of them after the cash offered to them by these people. Day after day the good old songs that could be said to be evergreen are being replaced with the club beats and hyper songs that I see as alcohol. Just like alcohol these songs help you to feel happy for a while then the euphoria wears off and you are left feeling empty and not the better off for it. Making sorrier this case is the social media which gives free reins to everybody to do as they like. All most of these artistes need do is upload their songs to major blogs to get massive downloads as in the case of a certain actress.


Sadly most artistes that could connect with our raw emotions and make us feel the importance of music have gone with the trend and become commercial after all man must chop. Who does not know that only the commercial artistes are listened to, Nigerians would rather listen to a man under the influence of marijuana screaming about his insane mentality than listen to an evergreen song like 2 Face’s ‘African Queen’ or even Darey Art Alade’s ‘Not The Girl’ for instance. I know many people would be wondering why I haven’t mentioned names or songs but all that is just to avoid this write up being tagged libelous or a victimization of certain artistes.

The attitude of Nigerians doesn’t help matters as it seems we all enjoy the noise being dished out to us as music, the few elites who understand the importance of good music would rather listen to the foreign artistes who although have their own number of thrash songs still have artistes that are respected as musicians of value. What is saddening the most is the commercial and profit-orientation of our artistes after all there are many foreign artistes who sing commercial songs but yet can still sing evergreen songs that has rocked their careers to the limit.

This is but a mere lamentation of a Lagos boy and knowing it is not going to change much about the state of the noise called music that we are being served as Nigerians, I can only hope that as the supposed future of this country we can learn to distinguish between sweet noise and good music.