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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC
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Music in Nigeria
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
The major genres of Nigerian music are Ibo dominated highlife and the Yoruban juju and Fuji, but other varieties proliferated from the traditional Hausa court drumming to the funky hybrid sounds of Afro beat, even hiphop, R&B, Reggae and classical or Jazz music also thrive in the country.
Among the pioneer Fuji and juju musicians in the country were Babatunde king, Tunde Nightingale, I.K. Dairo who helped to modernise and refine juju music in the 1950s by introducing new elements like the accordion. He was also decorated as a master of the British Empire (MBE) (The only African artist ever to receive this title).
In the early sixties other juju artistes began to appear, among them are Chief commander Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Segun Adewale and Shina Peters. Dr Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Ayinla Kollington and Adewale Ayuba among others.
In the highlife genre of music, Bobby Benson is the first major Nigerian star who formed his first band in Lagos in 1947, he was elected the first president of the Nigerian Musicians Union formed in the independence year of 1960 and was active in music till 1983 when he died.
Other major highlife names who began their careers in the 1950’s were Cardinal Rex Lawson and Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, Sir Victor Uwaifor, Sonny Okosun, Oliver De Coque, Celestine Ukwu, Dr Ganjah Owoh and the Oriental Brothers among others.
On a completely different spectrum, the 1970’s saw the emergence of Nigeria’s number one provocateur and musical gadfly, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the nation’s most controversial musician. He formed his Afro 70 band and began pumping out his unique brand of firebrand lyrics free jazz saxophone riffs, 15 minutes instrumental grooves and the funky African musical hybrid he dubbed ‘Afro beat’
Since then we have produced a lot of musicians both in the juju, Fuji, highlife, hip hop, R&B, jazz and what have you. Nigerian musicians have also made their mark in the international music scene and has attracted many international musicians to the country for one musical concert on the other.
Among the international music stars are James Brown,, Hugh Masekela, Jimmy Cliff, Shalamar, Kool and the gang, Dr Fresh, the hip hop deity Wyclef Nel Jean, Usher Raymond, Awilo Logomba, Shaggy and 50 cent and his Gorilla unit, courtesy of Star Mega Jam.
Nigeria has also produced local musician who are recognized internationally they include Edris Abdul Kareem, 2 Face, Rugedman, Zoo le Zoo, Lagbaja, Tony Tetula who are into Hip hop and R&B among others.
Speaking on the development of the music industry since independence, an internationally recognised Reggae Crooner and President of Reggae World in Rivers State, Ras Chidi Umeh gave kudo’s to Nigerian musicians for their various achievements in music within Nigeria and beyond which has given them a pride of place in the industry. He stressed that they could do better if given the desired assistance and encouragement by government.
He however noted that the entertainment industry in Nigeria is still growing adding that there are a lot of sectors in the entertainment industry that needs to be developed for instance live shows involving local and international artistes as it is in Lagos where they have two or more of such shows every month.
Ras Chidi also noted that Rivers State is a cosmopolitan city with a lot of expatriates, therefore there should be cultural exchange as this would not only boost our cultural heritage but encourage tourism.
He also lamented the lack of Reggae clubs in the oil city. According to him Reggae musicians world over preach Black consciousness and emancipation from White slavery and has helped to give the Black man his identity despite all odds and called for its promotion and encouragement by government and the general public through patronage and financial assistance.
CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT
The Director of Culture, Rivers State, Mrs Flora Job said culture simply means the way of life of a particular people in a particular environment. It is dynamic and civilisation has tried to modernise some aspects of the culture that are obnoxious and dehumanising stressing that cultural dances and plays are some of the aspects of entertainment.
She stressed that Rivers State is blessed with abundant cultural heritage which have contributed immensely to the development of entertainment in Nigeria and beyond. She contended that those aspects of our culture were showcased in music, plays and movies as well as cultural dances.
She commended the efforts of Rivers State-born highlife king, late Cardinal Rex Lawson who had contributed in showcasing the culture of Rivers State within the shores of Nigeria and beyond through his highlife music.
She reiterated that in one of her trips to London she discovered that Rex Lawson’s music were sold in many music shops in London and commended the state Governor, Dr Peter Odili for immortalising the legendary musician.
In the area of entertainment she noted that our cultural dances, plays and masquerades like the Odum festival, the Orukolo play etc, had contributed in highlighting the aquatic culture of the Rivers people while the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was in the fore front and had enhanced the cultural entertainment of the state in particular and Nigeria in general particularly the Rivifest which showcases the various cultures of the state.
The director also noted that Nigeria had gone international in its cultural shows through the introduction of the Abuja Carnival by President Olusegun Obasanjo. She lauded Mr President for his foresight and bold step in ensuring that the whole of Nigeria came together to showcase our various cultures.
In the aspect of movie she noted that Rivers State had contributed immensely in the development of the movie industry but unfortunately most of the movies portray cultures that were alien to our indigenous culture such as appearing nude in movies by some actresses.
According to her, a typical African woman does not expose her body indiscriminately as some of our actresses do, rather they cover their bodies properly to maintain the dignity of the womanhood. She noted that the movie, War Of Roses’ is one of the best movies she had watched in terms of high moral standard portrayed in it.
Mrs Job commended the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Mary Odili whom she described as a role model for women and a core Christian. She lauded her bold step in condemning the immoral acts portrayed in most films and urged mothers not to rest on their oars but to inculcate good moral values in their children through moral education.
She also stressed that Rivers State born star actress Hilda Dokubo is one of the few actresses in Nollywood that tries to maintain high moral values in their roles in movies. She therefore urged up coming actresses to emulate her as their role model.
The director pointed out that so long as she is concerned, culture is our identify and we must not allow western civilization to destroy our indigenous culture.
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