Nigeria’s Independence always makes me think about how far we’ve come as a people. From the Days of our forefathers, when some of us weren't even born, or most of us, from diverse cultures, various beliefs, and religions. Truly, uh, the nation has come a long way, and we can dispute the fact that in all these, we keep on thriving.
But there's one part of Nigeria that I so much appreciate and pride in and that is our entertainment industry. Years ago, our music and films were mostly for us at home, but today thanks to our entertainers, our entertainment industry has traveled far beyond our borders, carrying tiny pieces of our culture into the world.
First, let's talk about our Nigerian music industry. The Afrobeats as we know it now originated with the legendary Fela Kuti. Fela was known for how he used his Afrobeat to challenge the government and inspire the coming generations. Right from then till now that fire hasn’t gone out. It grew into what we know today as a global phenomenon called Afrobeats.
Afrobeats has gone on to become a sound that’s listened to and even copied everywhere. From the clubs in London to being in the American award shows.
Today, Burna Boy, although he claims not to be inspired by Fela Kuti, sells out stadiums in Europe and the Western world, singing his hit songs that sample a whole lot of Fela's beats and lyrics.
Another great Nigerian artist, Wizkid, broke records with One Dance alongside Drake, and Essence alongside Tems with the afrobeat genre.
I can't forget Davido’s Fall that went on to become a global anthem.
One thing I love about these men is that they aren’t just entertainers; they are cultural ambassadors, exporting our culture to thousands of people miles away. Today, we see Westerners humming our melodies and dancing to our rhythms. Trying to speak our pidgin English.
Just the way our music industry is booming globally, we can still say the same with Nollywood. Once known for their hurried productions back in the early twenties, today it is one of the biggest film industries in the world.
We've seen them thrive with movies like King of Boys and Lionheart on Netflix. These movies tell Nigerian stories on global screens. For once, the world doesn’t have to imagine Africa through someone else’s lens. Gone are the days when Africa was viewed as a Stone Age continent. Today, though, our entertainment exports, the world now sees who we are.
Beyond politics, beyond headlines, for me, this is worth celebrating on this Independence Day. Our music, our films. They show the world our joy, our struggles, and our dreams. And in doing so it shows the world that we're not just a country full of fraudsters but a country filled with talented acts making legitimate money.
