Nigeria, Through the Eyes of Music Amazons

Vanessa Obioha and Iyke Bede chronicle songs by female artists from the 80s to present that address national and ethnic issues

Sixty-one years after Nigeria shelved her ethnic differences to celebrate unity and independence as a country, there is still dissonance in the air.

The atmosphere in the country today is a far cry from the jubilant sounds of freedom that reverberated around the country on October 1, 1960. Even the tenets of the national anthem ‘Arise O Compatriots’ adopted 43 years ago are observed in the breach.

Instead of songs of love and peace, leaders of the different ethnic groups are chorusing “Let My People Go” like the Israelis of yore to their taskmasters in Egypt.

The sense of belonging Nigerians once had started to erode shortly after independence. The first crisis to tear the fabric of national unity was the 30-month Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970. Music genres like Highlife captured the mood of the country. As the country’s problem continued to magnify, musicians headed to the studio to record songs that not only addressed the socio-economic issues but preached love and unity. Female acts of the 80s were among the leading voices. Musicians like Onyeka Onwenu owe her successful career to songs strewn with lyrics of national values. ‘One Love’, a classic smash hit released in 1986 from the album of the same name garnered her national reverence. The Jean-Paul Maunick penned disco-themed track highlights the vital role love plays towards achieving national peace and harmony.

She replicated this success with her 1991 hit track ‘Peace Song’. During that same period, another Nigerian vocalist Funmi Adams who prides herself as a true Nigerian singing in different Nigerian languages released the iconic ‘Nigeria My Beloved Country’, and to date, has continued to serve its purpose as the unofficial national anthem. Nigeria’s Lady of Songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe of blessed memory who identified as a Nigerian in every sense of her diversity reminded the people why they should stay united in her song ‘Teta Nu Nu Ula’.

While the songs of these music icons focused on the agency of the citizenry, artists like Veno Marioghae took a different route with her 1984 emphatic ‘Nigeria Go Survive’, where she delved into the travails of the average Nigerian, but reckoned with their undaunted spirit while encouraging them to stride in good faith.

Away from socio-political and economic instabilities, Reggae act Evi Edna rose to the occasion stylishly. In her song ‘One Kilometre’, she briskly flipped through the pages of ethnic diversities that form the eclectic identity of Nigerian culture marked by a Babel of languages.

A new breed of female artists emerged post-autocratic rule. Although the country had just witnessed a change of rulership style from autocracy to democracy, yet, the new era ushered in fresh episodes of interethnic violence. Likewise, the sounds of contemporary musicians changed from disco-punk and reggae to embracing RnB and soul sounds that dominated early 2000. Music group KUSH, comprising two female vocalists Lara George and TY Bello; rapper Emem Ema, and male vocalist Dapo Torimiro gained mainstream popularity with the poignant ‘Let Us Live Together’ in 2003, which addressed ethnic violence

Years after their split, Bello and George continued wielding the torch of hope, lighting the path for Nigerians through their songs. In 2007, Bello released her debut album ‘Greenland’ that spawned the successful single ‘Greenland’. She repeated the effect with her 2012’s ‘The Future is Here’ that captures the resilience of the youth demographic. Fellow bandmate George raised similar points on ‘Chibuzo (Get Up)’.

This resiliency would later be explored for female empowerment through the likes of Waje’s ‘Mountain’ to break the norm of what’s expected of women in society. Simi, another songstress of this generation brought out the colours of our diversity in her 2017 single ‘Love Don’t Care’.

From promoting peace, highlighting struggles, cajoling the citizenry to placing women on the pedestal, these songs are indeed indicators of the power of music in sensitising the people to embrace unity. Even as the drumbeats of division get louder, music that projects unity and holds leaders accountable can help bring the people together.