–Bear Grylls
A huge number of Nigerian musicians are heavily influenced by the Afrobeat genre of music which was largely promoted and historically linked to a Nigerian musical legend known as "Fela Kuti". However, today's post is not focused on this afrobeat king but on the "Nigerian Story".
Growing up as a child, my dad used to play a lot of Fela's songs and when they came on, I would sing them as though my life depended on them. Truth be told, a lot of his songs carried very powerful lyrics that mirrored and shared the Nigerian story.
His music addressed certain vital issues plaguing the Nigerian lower class. He was more than just your regular singer. He was indeed a voice of the Nigerian poor masses or as they are economically called the "have-nots".
Yesterday my friend and I spoke at length about the situations we as youths of the country are facing and how this has driven a number of us to either leave the country, commit suicide, delve into illegal money-making means, or just barely survive on a daily basis.
We also spoke about the Lekki Massacre that took place in Lagos, Nigeria on October 20th, 2020. We remembered how tragic, depressing, frustrating, sad, and disappointing that day was for us as youths and as a country.
We remembered our fallen heroes that died while peacefully requesting justice and fair treatment of the Nigerian youth, especially in light of police brutality.
It was a day that threw the whole country into mourning as families lost their loved ones, friends lost their friends, companies lost their workers, workers, lost their colleagues and the nation lost her citizens.
The crazy thing about this is that to date a cover-up of the activities that happened that day is still going on.
We spoke about the general state of things and how the dream of every Nigerian youth is to flee the country at the slightest chance or opportunity that presents itself.
Every day young people are trying to keep their heads above water and survive. That is why Hive has without a doubt been such a huge blessing to the Nigerians that are taking it seriously.
Sometimes we cry and sometimes we laugh in the face of these situations because truly that is what we can basically do. In order not to fall into depression, we make light of our challenges by creating memes or humour out of them. Oftentimes, we have learned to utilize music as a valuable instrument to cope on a daily basis.
Here are a few songs that have shed more light on the challenges the average Nigerian youth faces. These songs keep us going as sometimes we sing them not to feel downcast but to be inspired and keep hope alive for a better tomorrow.
We also use these songs to keep us in remembrance of these humbling times we have encountered.
Something happen with the government
Dem think say we go forget, for where?
Mhm, for Ozumba Mbadiwe...
In this part of the song, he talks raises more awareness as to what happened on that day, at that location, and further states that we would not forget. We would continue to remember the significance of what that day meant to us.
You carry army go kill many youth for Lekki
Na so water o, water runaway my eye
Nothing you go talk wey go justify the case of their murder...
From the beginning of this song to the end, he talks about all that happened on the day of the Lekki Massacre. He did not hold back in calling out everyone that he believed played a role in letting this happen. It is a lot! Just thinking about it makes me emotional all over again.
Casting the Bm being castigated just by trying to noble.
This Nigeria, look at my nation o, Sars stop me for road any explanation you go talk am for station o...
This song is a Nigerian twist of Childish Gambino's 'This is America. In this Nigerian version, he spoke about the harsh realities of Nigerian society. He delved into several aspects and sectors of the country and how the values and efficiency continue to erode on a daily basis
Na person shoot am down
Johnny wey dey innocent
Johnny wey dey new in town
Dem kill am for Jos
For no just cause...
This song mirror the police brutality that is plaguing the average Nigerian youth. Every day young people are killed for no justifiable reason just because of some trigger-happy cops. People with dreams, without privilege, trying to make something out for themselves. However, their lives get cut short because a cop with a gun feels he has power over a person's life.
The Nigerian youth's social media
Yes though good has it's negative impact
Let me first thank you for condemning the wanton killing and carnage that happened at Lekki...
This song is a weapon for social change. He tries to create more awareness to the injustice that took place on the day of the unfortunate massacre.
Why doesn't it break your heart
Can't you see our people dying?
When did this world get so dark?...
This song takes a different approach as it encourages and inspires the Nigerian youth to take responsibility for our current situations. It motivates us to take up the challenges, less talking, and more actions. We can start by effecting the change we want to see in our own little way.
As always, the typical Nigerian youth bonds over our struggles, our joys, our challenges, our triumphs, and our woes. We even make memes out of them to keep hope alive and that is who we are.
We are strong, resilient, survivors, and someday we would share a better Nigerian story re-written by us. We also need to keep in mind that as long as we are the change we want to see, things would get better.
Hey @mipiano, you can see how you have gotten me into the groove of writing about my music-inspired story but I love it. Oh well, have you heard any of these songs ever? Have you been exposed to afrobeat songs from this part of the world?
―Leon C. Megginson.
Till I come your way again.
Love & Light, Hugs & kisses!
Thank you for reading and Have an amazing day!