Since the death of Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, musical advocacy is fast fading away. How would entertainers channel their lyrics and script to position the society and the government for a better future? ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes .

Wyclef Jean is one of the most respected musicians in the world today, not because he has the best music but because of his musical advocacy around the world. His song “Diallo” went platinum and his other song, “Rwanda” talks about the plight of the people and children of Rwanda and the world.

There is no time one listens to his songs that something meaningful won’t come to mind.



On instagram, the artiste remembered his people and how they have been marginalized through the years. Though some of his fans disagreed with his point of view, the touching message moved lots of his followers that he was used as a yardstick to judge other entertainers around the world.

@wyclefjean: “My Uncle Raymond Joseph, former Ambassador of Haiti to the United States would be “denationalized” today if he had accepted the offer of a Dominican citizenship that was made to him in 1976 by the Dominican Consul in New York. Having attained some notoriety at that point in his career as a highly regarded political activist, organizer and Wall Street Journal reporter (in the mid 70’s), it was unfathomable at that time for him to renounce his Hatian roots to become a naturalized citizen of the Dominican Republic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFC-IANwcQI
“As a point of historical reference, Mr. Joseph was born in the Dominican Republic in 1931 and was never issued a birth certificate. As such, he entered Haiti when his parents fled the Dominican Republic (after the 1937 massacre of thousands of Haitians) by the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. It is noteworthy to cite that this Caribbean holocaust has never raised the ire of the international community to date. Furthermore, in 2015 it is absolutely unconscionable that the world has assumed a passive stance yet again while Dominican officials perpetrate ethnic cleansing and, in effect, are setting up a form of apartheid at the doorstep of the United States – while the Dominicans continue to benefit from billions of US dollars being spent annually on tourism, trade and real estate development in the region.

“This is reprehensible. Dominican officials should endure the effects of their gross violation of the human rights of thousands of victims who have toiled for decades to ensure the prosperity of the Dominican Republic. At present, it remains evident that the Dominican Republic should revoke posthumously, the citizenship of José Franscisco Peña Gomez who was born of Haitian parents in 1937 and died in 1998. For he is still considered one of the most highly esteemed politicians of his country. Twice elected mayor of the capital of Santo Domingo, it is widely believed that he would have been elected president were it not for the colour of his skin. His name should be removed from the Santo Domingo airport.” The message reads.

While he is still considered one of the best artistes in the world, Nigeria has lost a generation of musicians who have channeled their efforts in propagating change to the world.



Music

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who died on August 2, 1997 was and still is extremely popular among African workers and youths for the radical and revolutionary content of his lyrics.

Fela’s musical life spanned through a period of almost four decades, from the 1960s through to the 1990s. When he first started in the 1960s, his brand of music was the ‘Highlife’, which he performed with other artistes in many night-clubs in Lagos.

However, in the late 1960s to early 1970s, he went to the United States where he came in contact with the Black Panthers and the ideas of Malcolm X and co. By the time he came back to Nigeria his musical orientation had started to have ‘a Pan-Africanist’ content.

In the same vein, the previous political activities of his parents had definitely had an effect in shaping his political outlook later in life.

Today, musicians though are entitled to the lyrics of their choice, what they have been able to channel to the public are lyrics that comprise morality, promote nudity, riches, sex, hard drugs, guns, thuggry, flamboyance etc.

The core values of music had been relegated to the background and the people who they are supposed to protect with their music are seen as just fans who want songs that would quench their party thirst.

Who said Nigerians don’t want to listen to good inspirational music? Everywhere you go, even like a song cry, Godwinby Korede Bello and Ojuelegba by Wizkid have become like a ghetto gospel?

Good lyrics make people think deep and they shape people’s mind for better tomorrow.

Many Nigeria musicians fought against injustice in South Africa and Africa at large Just like the reggae legend late Bob Nesta Marley.

When LEADERSHIP Weekend asked Koleman Revolutionaire, Oritz Wiliki, an icon in the Nigerian music industry why there are more socially conscious music then than now? The dreadlocked Itsekiri reggae artiste, songwriter and music producer who is an epitome of resilience responded emphatically: ‘Yeah, there are lots of changes because music goes in circles. It is like fashion, it evolves. What we sang about 10- 15 years ago has become worse now. As at then, we thought it was bad but now it has become the order of the day. Fela once sang about it, but he didn’t know it would get to this point. However, the youths came with something different to take our minds off the many troubles of the nation. They have taken over the music industry, but I believe some people are tired of hearing them and have been yearning for better music. If the media can help out and start playing highlife music, you’ll see most young musicians would want to do something in high life. The DJs too have a lot to do in order to regulate the kind of music people listen to.’ He explained.

Nigerian artistes must go back to the drawing board so as to weave-in something positive that would enhance growth and development in the society. People tend to compare America with Nigeria not realizing that Americans sing what they sing because they don’t have the social problem Nigeria has. They do what they do because they don’t lack social amenities and political backwardness. It’s time to wake!



Movies

Nollywood has the potential of selling the Nigerian culture and heritage to the people of the world. With his massive fan base across the globe, the industry could channel its influence in script writing advocacy.

Just like the Indians, Chinese, Koreans, South Americans, its culture and value could be propagated with precision to boost more influence.

The Nigerian film industry that was rated third most valuable in the world 2013 after generating a total revenue of NG1.72 trillion (US$10 billion) in 2013 alone, placing it behind India and the United State and worth about NG853.9 billion (US$5.1 billion) as at 2014 produces hundreds of home videos and films per annum.

Most of the movies that emanated from the industry are, according to veteran actor, Jibola Dabo, what the people want.

But the truth is, do the people want to watch something that wouldn’t benefit them in the long run? Why can’t Nollywood practitioners help in sending a message to the government and people through their movies?

Nigerian cinema is Africa’s largest movie industry in terms of value and the number of movies produced per year. A flashback would see people learning from soaps, and other movies sold to the public.


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