Afro Hip-hop; made in Nigeria
I was, about 24 hours ago, racking my brain to write on an issue that really summed up 2005 in a social context, and I slapped myself two minutes later in disappointment. How come I even had to ‘rack’? Nigerian hip hop had settled in so nicely that I almost lost sight of the massive leap it experienced this year. Proudly, I tagged it “Afro Hip hop; made in Nigeria”.
So, what made the immediate past year different?
To start with, I must state that hip hop has been in Nigeria. I can’t even guess how long. Most of what I see in the Nigerian artists are styles, concepts, and themes adapted from foreign (especially American) artists. However, the real ingenuity is revealed in the use of pidgin English blended nicely with the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or any other local language, to produce melodies just as nice as any of the foreign ones we have craved all these years. The most improved area of the business was the music videos. The production was television-worthy; I mean internationally. That’s the key for export, and that’s why it was exported. A few Nigerian artists are unbelievably popular and adored in so many African countries; thanks largely to MTV Base, and Channel O who beamed these artists to the world on satellite TV (predominantly DSTV® for Nigerian viewers). Hey! I must also add, to the credits, Soundcity, our local alternative for those of us who do not subscribe to satellite TV.
2Face, D’Banj, P-square, Rugged Man, Faze, Styl-Plus, Ruff Rugged n’Raw, Majek Fashek and a host of others were the star names. In particular, two artists: Sunny Nneji and Lagbaja caught my attention. I singled them out because I can not exactly classify them as hip hop. Sunny Nneji captures highlife in Rhythm and Blues, while Lagbaja does the same to Afrobeat, or Afrocalypso as he calls it. Hence, they both appeal to a wider age range of audience, whereas the others have the bulk of their fans as youths.
2Face was undoubtedly the ‘Revelation of the Year’ as the Kora® Awards puts it. ‘Best African Act’ according to MTV; and that gesture by MTV is probably what shot 2Face well ahead of the others. He is indeed, at the moment, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the game.
Despite all the accolades of the hip hop scene, Lagbaja remains top on my list. A high export value. His concept is unique; the man without a face who speaks for those without a voice. A masked man; the only visible details are his eyes and mouth. That, alone, is sufficient to instigate interest and suspense. The orchestra of percussionists, the brass section, and the melodious coarse voice, defines this persona.
The radio stations had a rich harvest. For once they had good reason to play a lot more local content; an issue encouraged by the government’s regulatory body (NBC). The DJs virtually play Nigerian and the preferred foreign music back-to-back, and most importantly, leaving you still tuned in.
The image which this Afro hip hop portrays creeps up as an afterthought. Is that what music in Nigeria is all about? NO, but it is the popular music because it is unremittingly on the air, which in turn is aligned with our desire as a developing country to keep up with the Joneses. There is a massive variety of Nigerian music out there yet too unrefined for outright popularity, in the commercial sense.
Besides the national football team, Super Eagles, Afro Hip hop might be the proudest ‘Made in Nigeria’ product a lot of youths here can identify with.
So, what made the immediate past year different?
To start with, I must state that hip hop has been in Nigeria. I can’t even guess how long. Most of what I see in the Nigerian artists are styles, concepts, and themes adapted from foreign (especially American) artists. However, the real ingenuity is revealed in the use of pidgin English blended nicely with the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or any other local language, to produce melodies just as nice as any of the foreign ones we have craved all these years. The most improved area of the business was the music videos. The production was television-worthy; I mean internationally. That’s the key for export, and that’s why it was exported. A few Nigerian artists are unbelievably popular and adored in so many African countries; thanks largely to MTV Base, and Channel O who beamed these artists to the world on satellite TV (predominantly DSTV® for Nigerian viewers). Hey! I must also add, to the credits, Soundcity, our local alternative for those of us who do not subscribe to satellite TV.
2Face, D’Banj, P-square, Rugged Man, Faze, Styl-Plus, Ruff Rugged n’Raw, Majek Fashek and a host of others were the star names. In particular, two artists: Sunny Nneji and Lagbaja caught my attention. I singled them out because I can not exactly classify them as hip hop. Sunny Nneji captures highlife in Rhythm and Blues, while Lagbaja does the same to Afrobeat, or Afrocalypso as he calls it. Hence, they both appeal to a wider age range of audience, whereas the others have the bulk of their fans as youths.
2Face was undoubtedly the ‘Revelation of the Year’ as the Kora® Awards puts it. ‘Best African Act’ according to MTV; and that gesture by MTV is probably what shot 2Face well ahead of the others. He is indeed, at the moment, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the game.
Despite all the accolades of the hip hop scene, Lagbaja remains top on my list. A high export value. His concept is unique; the man without a face who speaks for those without a voice. A masked man; the only visible details are his eyes and mouth. That, alone, is sufficient to instigate interest and suspense. The orchestra of percussionists, the brass section, and the melodious coarse voice, defines this persona.
The radio stations had a rich harvest. For once they had good reason to play a lot more local content; an issue encouraged by the government’s regulatory body (NBC). The DJs virtually play Nigerian and the preferred foreign music back-to-back, and most importantly, leaving you still tuned in.
The image which this Afro hip hop portrays creeps up as an afterthought. Is that what music in Nigeria is all about? NO, but it is the popular music because it is unremittingly on the air, which in turn is aligned with our desire as a developing country to keep up with the Joneses. There is a massive variety of Nigerian music out there yet too unrefined for outright popularity, in the commercial sense.
Besides the national football team, Super Eagles, Afro Hip hop might be the proudest ‘Made in Nigeria’ product a lot of youths here can identify with.
posted by Ebele | 1:19 PM
1 Comments:
Ebele,i quit agree with u. thanks 4 this concept its really heart worming... keep it coming yearly i asure u high up above the sky is Afro Hip hop,made in Nigeria limit..... Don Leo Dada. From Spain i shout a biggg uppp to Nigga Hip hop.... NA OUR TON TO RUN DI SHOW.....
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