No Nigerian musician is currently pushing for social change

The video for DJ Khaled’s ‘I got the keys’ is out, and if you go take a view of it, the messages from it come right at you. It’s a coalition of artistes coming together to stand against the crushing white supremacists and racism, the big corporation controls and manipulation of the masses. Jay Z, appears to be in jail, and is shown regaining his freedom, as he is released into the hands of his teeming black brothers which had cameos from Busta Rhymes, T.I, ASAP Ferg, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz, 2 Chainz and more.

The year is 2016, and the movement for equal social rights is currently being spearheaded by the leading voices from the music world. Last year, had Kendrick Lamar, open up conversations about the current state of black consciousness in America with his multi-award winning album. That work was plugged in just as the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA was forging, and campaigning against racially-targeted Police brutality and killings of black people.

That’s people taking up social causes, and pushing for change via their art, their music, their tale and their most circulated and empowering medium of communication. They grab the very art that has made their voices heard, and channel it to the greater good.

Lucky Dube, the South African reggae icon was cut from similar cloth, as he fought the crushing apartheid with his music, he tapped into the national spirit of freedom, and together with renowned acts and civil rights activists including Hugh Maskela, Miriam Makeba, and LadySmith Black Mambazo, were instrumental in conditioning the minds of the people towards societal equality.

Nigeria currently has none of this. The last time we could boast of mainstream music luminaries with conscious content was during the golden era of African China who dropped hits after hits reflecting the struggles of the lower class, which was brought upon by political mismanagement. Sadly to date, his messages are still relevant. Before African China, we had the wondrous works of Fela Kuti, serving as a weapon against the ruling military class and the ills of the society. Asa chased that path with ‘Fire on the mountain’ single, and Wande Coal made his contribution via the ubiquitous ‘Se na like this’.

Today, the state of the country is in dire straits, with the economic stuttering, and politics being tottering through the crucial issues of state and survival. But we still don’t have music to reflect the time. There are no conscious performers, leading the mainstream struggle, and passing across inspiring messages. A flip through the best performing songs and videos will shower you with a disconnection from the situation on the streets.

Nigeria has an abundance of acts who can take this up. Adekunle Gold, and Simi have a fantastic opportunity on their hands as some of the youngest voices breaking through the market with content. Perhaps, if they see the music and their artistry as bigger than themselves, then they can align their creativity with the struggle and become not just pop voices, but civil ones too.

We need more people. The struggle needs more people. The masses need more voices. They need a stimulant for change, a leader from the arts that they can connect with and be inspired. These cries are being flung at the artistes on social media, and from every corner. But they ignore.

I have had conversations with the best of music minds on the topic and the summary of why that cannot happen is because the government owns a major part of the funding and revenue sources for the musicians. Our fractured industry is very dependent on the generosity of the political class, with the incessant demands for shows, and performances. Why speak against a system that is beneficial to you? Why bite the hand that feeds you. Never mind that that same hand oppresses your people, starve them, fail to provide the basic amenities, and keeps them grounded. As long as they keep throwing the money your way, then let’s selfishly hold on to them, and never become more than we are.

Sadly, our music is a clear reflection of that.