Nigerian Entertainers: Stoking The Flame Of Immorality

Hashim Yussuf Amao, Ibadan

Marilyn Mason, with his insightful messages, maintains a spot in the league of iconic singers. The American musical maestro, in one of his essays -"Is Adult Entertainment Killing Our Children? Or Is Killing Our Children Entertaining Adults? "- posed a thought-provoking question to his fellow artistes across the globe, and societies that seem unbothered about the immorality children are exposed to via music - "music that fails in ethics and ethos".

If Marilyn's sermon and those of well-meaning others fly around making impacts, they most likely took a pause at the Nigerian borders in fear of the deafening ears and "anyhowness" of Nigerian Entertainers. "Secure the bag by all means", which could be likened to what Author James Cook regarded as "ignoring dangers while making money" is a syndrome Nigerian Entertainers, ditto some of their audience, battle. "I don't care if I'm doing it rightly or not, if a soul is getting healed or damaged, if my music poses grave dangers or not, if i promote decency or place immorality on the shredder; i must make my money, my purse must get filled to full. Fvck anything. After all, owo ni koko". So their self interest foments.

How "Kala, Daju, Wuwa Ika" (Stay aggressive, vicious, and perpetrate wickedness) emits the mouth of a musician who meant well for the society beats one's imagination. Laudable it is, that few among these artistes pass awesome messages, address societal issues and make giant waves across the world, but the vast majority sing to inculcate bad morals. No good message, no morals. Just vibes, beats and bushwah.

Cyber faud has become latent among Nigerian youths. Nigeria loses about $500m yearly to cybercrime, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission. Sadly, this accounts for 0.08 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. A major contribution to this: bad music! Songs like 'Cashapp' by Bella Shmurda, 'Living Things' by 9ice, 'Am I Yahoo Boy' by Naira Marley and all sorts have all preached nothing but cyber fraud to (un)suspecting youths. The ban summoned on these songs by the National Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC) could only curtail their play over the air, the songs have done great numbers over streaming platforms. The more the listeners, the more potential cyber criminals. There are hundreds of these immoral songs released weekly and monthly by Nigerian artistes, little wonder the pride of most youths now rides on cyber fraud. Like the Gombe State 16-year-old Gabriel Michael who was apprehended for cybercrime on September 4, 2019, and revealed he was inspired by the music and lifestyle of Naira Marley. Hear him: "The lifestyle of Naira Marley, the way he spends money, influenced me. Marley talks about being a Yahoo boy (cyber fraudster). My addiction to computer started at the age of seven." Millions of Michael have slipped off track, no thanks to indecent Nigerian songs. The ripple effects of Nigerian Musicians over youths, indeed, pose a grave concern.

August 18, 2017, was only one day among the many days of "ineffective banning" by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). "Wo" by Olamide was banned after a tweet from the Federal Ministry of Health that the song was in violation of the Tobacco Control Act, 2015. Olamide's 'WO' is not the only song that has encouraged youths to dabble in the intake of hard substances, 'Science Student' by same Olamide, 'Kush' by Phyno, 'Drug Test' by Naira Marley and lots more have made hard substances so appealing to the youths. Another reason abuse of drugs and hard substances have been on the rise.

Many ladies on the streets have been body shamed and assaulted; no thanks to music like "Asopọtoyi aṣọ l'ẹfi bo" by Naira Marley. In the spring of November, 2019, Mr Kehinde Aremu, the Anambra State camp director, made a stealth warning to male corp members at the state's Ummuawulu Mbauku Orientation Camp. The bitter complaints from female corp members who were being body shamed and assaulted by their male counterparts - with the then trend of "Aṣo pọ toyi" - propelled Mr Kehinde's warning. This is what music is badly doing to Nigerian youths: gripping them by the scruffs and seizing them by senses - all in the name of entertainment and staying "wokè".

"Madira o Iku pa ẹ" (stay fortified, lest you get killed) - an unhealthy sarcasm - is currently making waves across the social media tribune. It was a word of one Oba Solomoni, an elder in the entertainment industry. It seems the Yorubas did not have Solomoni and his ilks in mind when they said: "Agba kii wa lọja, ki ori ọmọ tuntun wọ - an elder does not exist somewhere and watch things go awry. With Madira oo, Solomoni had glamorized voodoo to (young) Nigerians. It baffles mind if Efunsetan Aniwura, Kurunmi IJaye, and other highly-fetish men and women were not headhunted, in spite of their voodoos. Igboho Oosa, Sunday Adeyemo - in spite his braggartism about voodoos - is currently on the run at the fear of being sent to the gulag by "Ijọba amuni m'ogun"; the government that apprehends powerful men and their voodoos.

Nigerian Entertainers - especially musicians - should reconnect the dots of their moral sense and stem the immoral and damaging contents they dish to the society. Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Nico Mbarga and other legendary singers are revered till date because of how they weaponized their musical content against: immorality, oppression, bad governance, apartheid, national disintegration, youthful exuberance, among other noteworthy causes. Current Nigerian Entertainers can take a cut off these legendary (wo)men's styles.

Bringing this to a close, dear Nigerian youths, "No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting", posited the foremost writer, Mary Wortley. The act of seeking entertainment to pass time, or to seek a sharp ray in gloomy days, should not becloud one's sense of uprightness. Many productive actions like reading books is entertaining and comforting too. It will make you rather than break you like wack entertainments do. Seek enjoyment in productive actions, that might open your eyes to the bad immoralities you embrace from Nigerian Entertainers. Before it all turns gloom, zoom off doomful songs.

Hashim Yussuf Amao
Twitter: @LegalBard

https://thenationonlineng.net/nigerian-entertainers-stoking-the-flame-of-immorality/

Omo to be honest... I didn't read the post. I think this is my first time dropping a comment on a post I didn't read.. make una no vex, the person below might read and explain.

Honestly the entertainment industry has suceeded in promoting unhealthy societal values from drugs and nudity to internet fraud. Even artistes who claim to teach societal value and emancipation from mental slavery swith their lyrics still lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Next in entertainment industry is the comedy industry it's no longer comedy nowadays but an avenue to sexualize themselves.

Comedies no longer make people laugh but creates an avenue for perverted human beings to satisfy their sexual curiosity. Artistes now release sex tapes to promote their artistry. The music and comedry industry has been infiltrated by talentless individuals who now claim to be musicians and comedians to create avenue to spend and clean their dirty money without fear of anti grafts agencies.

The entertainment industry is plagued with mediocrity, it no longer celebrate Good talent and artistry, but mediocrity, moral and sexual immorality.

Nigerians from this our generation that would make heaven wouldn't be more than 10.

This I have seen.

Spot on, was lucky to stay amongst folks with eye for great music and I can confirm to y'all that Brymo is so very underated, dudes a living Legend in his own making.

Let's get this movement rolling

Lots of useless songs in circulation..

Everything that is good about entertainment ended in 80s/90s

From music to entertainment

Nigeria is not an Islamic Republic

Hearing my teenagers sing, I feel sorry for this generation

The New Nigeria we are building will keep them busy and positively build them.

They live recklessly, they die recklessly.

Very true

Throwin' morality outta the window, I'll say Yahoo helped curb robbery and savage cultist clashes. Now, all 'em "rugged" are busy making money through cybercrime and flexin' on Tiktok, no one is interested in robbin' with gun or fighting for some cult.

On the dark side of the note, fetish acts are being normalized. Back then, if anyone heard you were into anything fetish, everyone would distance themselves from you. Now, visiting Baba's houses to get potent charm soap is like buying Dettol cool from aboki - it's been normalized.

In 2030, this will be the norm

Chase: I been wan use my mama before but I dey pity the woman.

OG wire: Mtcheeeew... Use your gf then. Then the next one, mama go don enjoy enough, you fit use her renew.

Chase: True boss, e be like say na my gf I go use.

[30 days later...]
Chase's gf: (Thin as a broom due to ritual effect will post on Tiktok) "Gave my boyfriend my glory, and he's making the mulla for us. Love you boo, till death do us apart.

Some sane ones will kick against her post, but other girls will back her saying "It's her choice, stop shaming her. Live and let live".

lol na musician and artist teach Nigeria aw to Bypass dere electricity meter abi...


You will see a so called pastor bypassing a prepaid meter...

People wey don dey corrupt nd dey immoral buh u dey find ways to look for someone to pin dere sin on....

You can’t be in the heat of the kitchen and don’t get sweaty!

The people, their culture, their values and beliefs are a product of their collective psyche.

These songs are only popular because the reflect the current state of morality in the country. Not the other way round.

Please how can someone comment on nairaland

It's really annoying and disturbing and it's funny how even Adults vibe to these songs as if they can't hear the lyrics of the songs they are dancing to.

They play some of these stoopeed songs even at weddings were you have family members and you see old and young dance to them.

Atimes I wonder the way we think in this country...

Mediocrity is highly glorified and exceptionality is being Envied or looked down up on.

Wdym Nigerian entertainers? Entertainment the world over has the same motive.

Content wise, there's a dearth of lyricism like we are too ignorant to decode some lyrics, it's watered down to meaningless chants and stupid chants.

Some of the skits these days are nothing to write home about.

Lol

the world is sexualized !

Yawn. I did not read. Another journalist flexing his skill from boredom.