Music, from the earliest times has served to influence emotional reactions in humans either therapeutically or as pure entertainment.

Over the centuries, music has changed and evolved conforming to existing trends and bridging cultural divides globally.
To celebrate the dynamism and reach of music, Make Music Day, more popularly referred to as World Music Day was born in France, 1982 to encourage continued inclusion in the joys and art of music by having musicians from all crops of life come together to learn and perform annually.

This year, we be celebrate World Music Day by acknowledging the dynamism, evolution and influences of Nigerian Music.

Over the years, Nigerian Music has evolved so much so that it has gained international acclaim. From its unique music styles spanning Afrobeat, Juju, Fuji, Highlife, to the other more generic styles such as Reggae, Hip-Hop and Pop and Soul infused with a healthy dose of the Nigerian flavour, Nigerians have come to reckon with the profound and far reaching impact of their music especially on the African continent.

The 1960s and ’70s
This period saw Nigerian music begin to introduce new instruments and techniques, including electric instruments imported from the United States and Europe. Renowned musical artiste, IK Dairo was known to infuse elements of Western music styles such as Rock N’ Roll, Soul and Funk into his Juju music adding to its undeniable appeal.

Although more trado-cultural forms of music were still widespread, more popular styles such as highlife and jùjú were at the top of the Nigerian charts in the ’60s.

In the more traditional genre, the likes of Apala’s Haruna Ishola was becoming one of the country’s biggest stars and Hausa Dan Maraya, was so well known that he was brought to the battlefield during the 1967 Nigerian Civil War to lift the morale of the federal troops.

Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” was a pan-African hit that sold more than 13 million copies, an African record at the time.

Read more: http://www.post-nigeria.com/world-music-day-celebrating-nigerian-music-over-the-decades/

Nigerian music is changing with time. We no more have good music like we have in those days