As 2018 gradually comes to a close, we take a look at some of the songs that hit your airwaves during the year and analyze seven top songs of 2018 which aptly describes the state of present day Nigeria. It need be said that all of the songs on our list are from A-list music stars. All together, these songs tell the Nigerian story; some point to the average Nigerians, others calls out to the government by stating the flaws of the government and telling the government what needs to be done to develop the country.

7. At number seven is Erigga’s ‘Kettle'(the story of Okiemute).

The 31 years old Emirate Empire star who have had a great 2018 after dropping hit songs like “Motivation” in which he featured Victor A.D. and “Kettle” where he featured Graham D. “Kettle” tells the story of Erigga’s friend, Okiemute, who like millions of Nigerians do all in their power to travel abroad in search of greener pastures. In “Kettle” which is one of the tracks in Erigga’s 2018 album “Okorowanta”, Pepperboi, as he is popularly called, explains that so many people sell all they and their families own to go abroad only to get there and realize that diaspora is in fact not a bed of roses
Erigga states in kettle that the fact that one person made it in Ghana or anywhere doesn’t necessarily mean others would make it if they take such steps. Thus, claiming that those in diaspora do all sort to get paid. He ends the song by advising that if you don’t have money you shouldn’t hide your face as Davido had earlier advised, because hiding might give your helper an hard time locating you.

6. 9ice Promise & Fail



“”Promise and Fail” throws massive shades at the change agenda promised by the ruling government”. “Promise and fail” states that the government at all level have failed the populace who voted them into power. According to 9ice, the government plays the masses by feeding them with lies and false hopes. When elections are close our leaders (jaguda as 9ice called them) come close, but when they are eventually elected they would not give any attention to the voters. 9ice presumes that Nigeria in true is a one party society because leaders only fight in the media but behind closed doors they work jointly to exploit the masses. He concluded by stating that the only way out of this tragedy is to make politics less lucrative and creating stiffer sanctions for politicians who are caught on the wrong side of the law.

5. Sound Sultan Naija Jungle


“Naija Jungle” as the song is titled is self explanatory. In this single released in mid 2018, Sound Sultan labels Nigeria a Jungle. He states that Nigeria possesses all the characteristics of a jungle; one of which is the survival of the fittest. According to Sultan “Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop”, he sees the masses as monkeys and the elites as baboons who have eaten the country aground. In his opinion, Naija jungle has lions, and cheetahs who would do anything to cheat their fellow countryman. He prays that the jungle “Nigeria” would not scatter in the face of present realities like terrorism, hatred, envy, insecurity, poverty, starvation and the likes.

4. Olamide Poverty Die


It is no more news that 2018 saw Nigeria leapfrogged India, thus becoming the headquarter of poverty. It must be said that the number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty increases by six every single minute. Also as at May 2018, reports suggested that Nigeria had well over 87million people living in extreme poverty and an alarming rate of out of school children which is estimated at 13.2million. Olamide’s “Poverty die” clearly describes the feeling and prayers of so many middle class Nigerians who work hard and pray even harder for poverty to die.

3. Femi Kuti Na Their Way Be That


Femi Kuti, the son of Afro beat king Femi Anikulapokuti, no doubt “inherited his father’s zeal for music and activism” and most of his songs, like that of his father, focus on addressing social and political issues facing his country Nigeria. The track “Na Their Way be That” which is on his 10th long play album titled “one people one world” released in February 2018 is indeed no different from his previous songs. “Na their way be that” emphasizes corruption, oppression and suffering of the people as the way of the ruling class. Noting that no matter how much the proletariat try to change things as Karl Marx espoused, the bourgeoisie never yield because they are unreasonable, lacking respect for fellow humans, and their bad characters will always be displayed even when they try to pretend.

2. Illbliss It Is God


This track by Illbliss explains the bitter reality so many Nigerian youths have been or are still being subjected to. “It is God” opens with the words “they don’t care about us, if we live, if we die, if we eat, if we starve, if we make it this year”. The Ibo Boy as he is known had so much to say that he asked where he should begin; should it be the senseless violence? the persecution of Muslims and Christians alike? or headsmen killings? To him, the coat and flag of our darling Nigeria is stained by the blood of the innocents. Our oil which used to be a gift has become a curse giving rise to so many militant groups in the Niger Delta region.
In the second verse Illbliss uses a personal experience with the notorious SARS to paint a picture of what so many suffered in the hands of this parastatal. The constant violation of human rights, endless stop and search and extortion are amongst many ills perpetuated by the notorious Federal SARS. Illbliss wanting to know why a young man could no longer enjoy after a long day work, he asks if it was a crime to be young or to be rich?. According to him, Nigeria is no longer a country because our leaders run it like a company; the country has become a corporation, yet, nothing works! Crime rate is increasing, dollar rate is increasing, inflation rate is increasing, young boys grow up with G boys as their role model because society now celebrates anyone who can make it to the top regardless of the means.

1. Sitting pretty at number one is “This is Nigeria”



a song inspired by “This is America” by Childish Gambino. Falz the son of prominent Nigerian SAN, Femi Falana uses “This is Nigeria” to address and vividly describe the Nigerian situation. The song which was banned by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission N.B.C highlights some of the germane issues his country Nigeria currently faces, some of which includes; corruption, violence, police brutality, headmen killings, kidnapping, and not forgetting drug abuse and internet fraud which is rapidly reaching its apex in the country. The song is also a frontier attack on churches and religious leaders who Falz lashed for establishing schools that average members can not afford to send their kids. In true non of the issues raise by Falz in the song is false. In fact the song perfectly highlights the social ills in 21st century Nigeria and indeed Africa.
Although it is difficult to get meaning in some Nigerian songs, the seven analysed songs have shown that some songs by Nigerian artists also mirrors the society. The analysed songs are not only entertaining but also highly “educating and didactic” because they do not only show the Nigerian predicaments but also proffer possible solutions to Nigeria’s germane problems.

©2018 Enuesike Samuel N

https://sammamishinfotainment365./2018/12/26/music-a-mirror-of-the-nigerian-society/

Noted!