Making a case for ‘Tungba’ music and the Nigerian struggle to eat today

The classic Nigerian fan who listen to music is an arrogant analyst and hypocrite. They interact with the pop music that is served on radio and the clubs, but when they talk about Nigerian music and hold conversations on their sonic preferences, they are quick to point out that the music we produce from the country is trash.

And when you ask about why Nigerian music should be better than it is, or why artists should modify their art to create songs deeper in meaning and melody, they say ‘artists need to leave behind a legacy, not all this tungba music’.

‘Tungba’ music is an often derogatory slang to qualify Nigerian pop music. And for all the bad blood that is being thrown at it, it is still the most popular form of music, creating the most successful pop stars, and constituting the driving force of our music industry. Tungba music is our music industry.

The Nigerian tungba music is commercial, and it attracts and caters to the bulk of local music creators who flock to the art to seek a career. Artists who make tungba music are currently the most successful stars in the space, raking in the best cash.

But there have always been dissenting voices about the quality of the music, and how what is being served by the artists would not be remembered after they are gone.

But the average Nigerian musician does not want to be remembered after they are gone. They don’t make music for historical purposes. They make music for today, for now, for you to listen while you read this article.

And you can’t blame them. The Nigerian society is not driven by ideals and legacies. It is driven and powered by the quest for survival. The average Nigerian just wants to see today, go through life, and amass enough much wealth so as to survive. Poverty is a curse. And nobody wants it. Everyone wants to eat today.

The artists who make the music in this country were not drawn to the art as a means of making a mark in society, or building an idealistic legacy for future generations. They are in it because they have talent and passion, and they believe they can utilize their gifts to make money. And although they hate to admit it, they don’t care about ideals. Show them the money.

That’s why the music being made is composed and crafted for the masses. Artists want a song that everybody can understand, and connect with, because that acceptance transforms into money via live shows, performance and appearance fees.

“Legacy is for those that have eaten well, na person wey chop well, they think about others.” These were the words of a hit-making star who spoke to me anonymously.

We are quick to point out to the US artists, who have made music with a legacy, and have benefitted from it. We use examples of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, James Brown, and many others to show that we can marry ‘good’ music, commercialism, and legacy.

That view is a product of myopia and a lack of understanding of the music business. Unlike the US music industry where artists thrive from the structures, we lack publishing and licensing in Nigeria. James Brown can continue to make money from his music after his death due to the structures in place to enable him to get paid when his music is being utilized for any commercial purpose.