PROMOTING INDIGENOUS CULTURE IN NIGERIA THROUGH MUSIC

ABSTRACT

This study is an evaluation of the promotion indigenous culture in Nigeria through music: A case study of the Afro Beat Music Genre 1966-2000. There is also a difference between the way the lyrics are presented in Fela’s Afro-beat music and other African styles of music. In Grass Francis Randall’ analysis of Fela’s music lyrics, he pointed out that, in contrast to the humorous, light-hearted moralizing of many other popular African musicians, Fela’s Afro-beat music lyrics sent uncompromising messages of sharp societal observations. This idea is reflected in such recordings as “Buy Africa”, “Black Man’s Cry”, “Fight to Finish”, and others. Though his lyrics still maintain a personal touch that is found in most lyrics of African traditional music, especially in Nigeria, Fela shuns praise songs. Unlike other equally prominent Nigerian traditional music artiste such as Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade (King of juju music), and other popular Nigerian performers, Fela’s music does not sing the praises of anybody (Grass, 1986). His lyrics are also written in Nigerian (pidgin) English or Yoruba or a combination of both. This is reflected in some of his titles such as “water no get enemy”, “chop and quench”, “overtake don overtake overtake”, “trouble sleep, yanga go wake am” and others. His lyrics also adopts the proverbial style in some of his songs such as “trouble sleep, yanga go wake am”.