–Bear Grylls
A huge number of Nigerian musicians are heavily influenced by the Afrobeat genre of music which was largely promoted and historically linked to a Nigerian musical legend known as "Fela Kuti". However, today's post is not focused on this afrobeat king but on the "Nigerian Story".
Growing up as a child, my dad used to play a lot of Fela's songs and when they came on, I would sing them as though my life depended on them. Truth be told, a lot of his songs carried very powerful lyrics that mirrored and shared the Nigerian story.
His music addressed certain vital issues plaguing the Nigerian lower class. He was more than just your regular singer. He was indeed a voice of the Nigerian poor masses or as they are economically called the "have-nots".
Yesterday my friend and I spoke at length about the situations we as youths of the country are facing and how this has driven a number of us to either leave the country, commit suicide, delve into illegal money-making means, or just barely survive on a daily basis.
We also spoke about the Lekki Massacre that took place in Lagos, Nigeria on October 20th, 2020. We remembered how tragic, depressing, frustrating, sad, and disappointing that day was for us as youths and as a country.
We remembered our fallen heroes that died while peacefully requesting justice and fair treatment of the Nigerian youth, especially in light of police brutality.
It was a day that threw the whole country into mourning as families lost their loved ones, friends lost their friends, companies lost their workers, workers, lost their colleagues and the nation lost her citizens.
The crazy thing about this is that to date a cover-up of the activities that happened that day is still going on.
We spoke about the general state of things and how the dream of every Nigerian youth is to flee the country at the slightest chance or opportunity that presents itself.
Every day young people are trying to keep their heads above water and survive. That is why Hive has without a doubt been such a huge blessing to the Nigerians that are taking it seriously.
Sometimes we cry and sometimes we laugh in the face of these situations because truly that is what we can basically do. In order not to fall into depression, we make light of our challenges by creating memes or humour out of them. Oftentimes, we have learned to utilize music as a valuable instrument to cope on a daily basis.
Here are a few songs that have shed more light on the challenges the average Nigerian youth faces. These songs keep us going as sometimes we sing them not to feel downcast but to be inspired and keep hope alive for a better tomorrow.
We also use these songs to keep us in remembrance of these humbling times we have encountered.
Something happen with the government
Dem think say we go forget, for where?
Mhm, for Ozumba Mbadiwe...
In this part of the song, he talks raises more awareness as to what happened on that day, at that location, and further states that we would not forget. We would continue to remember the significance of what that day meant to us.
You carry army go kill many youth for Lekki
Na so water o, water runaway my eye
Nothing you go talk wey go justify the case of their murder...
From the beginning of this song to the end, he talks about all that happened on the day of the Lekki Massacre. He did not hold back in calling out everyone that he believed played a role in letting this happen. It is a lot! Just thinking about it makes me emotional all over again.
Casting the Bm being castigated just by trying to noble.
This Nigeria, look at my nation o, Sars stop me for road any explanation you go talk am for station o...
This song is a Nigerian twist of Childish Gambino's 'This is America. In this Nigerian version, he spoke about the harsh realities of Nigerian society. He delved into several aspects and sectors of the country and how the values and efficiency continue to erode on a daily basis
Na person shoot am down
Johnny wey dey innocent
Johnny wey dey new in town
Dem kill am for Jos
For no just cause...
This song mirror the police brutality that is plaguing the average Nigerian youth. Every day young people are killed for no justifiable reason just because of some trigger-happy cops. People with dreams, without privilege, trying to make something out for themselves. However, their lives get cut short because a cop with a gun feels he has power over a person's life.
The Nigerian youth's social media
Yes though good has it's negative impact
Let me first thank you for condemning the wanton killing and carnage that happened at Lekki...
This song is a weapon for social change. He tries to create more awareness to the injustice that took place on the day of the unfortunate massacre.
Why doesn't it break your heart
Can't you see our people dying?
When did this world get so dark?...
This song takes a different approach as it encourages and inspires the Nigerian youth to take responsibility for our current situations. It motivates us to take up the challenges, less talking, and more actions. We can start by effecting the change we want to see in our own little way.
As always, the typical Nigerian youth bonds over our struggles, our joys, our challenges, our triumphs, and our woes. We even make memes out of them to keep hope alive and that is who we are.
We are strong, resilient, survivors, and someday we would share a better Nigerian story re-written by us. We also need to keep in mind that as long as we are the change we want to see, things would get better.
Hey @mipiano, you can see how you have gotten me into the groove of writing about my music-inspired story but I love it. Oh well, have you heard any of these songs ever? Have you been exposed to afrobeat songs from this part of the world?
―Leon C. Megginson.
Till I come your way again.
Love & Light, Hugs & kisses!
Thank you for reading and Have an amazing day!
What a wonderful and powerful way to bring to use the sadness the young (and I suppose also the elderly) have to deal with in your country. Though it's a sad story, I loved to read and hear it, albeit I only listened to snippets from each video you shared in your post. So cool you find this positive note in all of this. And yes, music and humour are ways to deal with the bad in this world; To prevent ourselves to become negative, depressed and all that. Thank you for sharing your story, and your feelings in our little music inspired writing corner at Q.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the older generation has mastered the art of masking it.
We, the younger generation are struggling seriously.
Indeed, this is the average Nigerian's way of coping with sadness.
Music is a huge blessing and the ability to be able to express it even makes it a greater tool.
Thank you for having me here.
Q is a special place to be 😊😊😊
Hey @peaq
I see, I see!!! You are absolutely rocking, young lady, in your inspiration and writing!
I have to be honest and say, no, I haven't heard any of these songs. I heard about Fela Kuti and Burna Boy, already here on Hive, but nothing else. And no, I have not been exposed to much of the afrobeat, well you are doing great work, I also learned so much from @almostsober's post about that culture and traditions he brought in his post. Hive is a huge space and opportunity to learn, so I do it gladly :))
Thank you for introducing us a bit better to the situations in your country and how music has an impact on that. Actually, how musicians find themselves in those circumstances. How it makes them bring messages through the music. :)
You inspire me greatly.
You simply have no idea.
That's nice. They are really phenomenal afrobeats musicians.
Indeed. I feel the exact same way.
I have learned the basics of Spanish, German, and Turkish, all from just interacting with speakers of these languages here on Hive.
It truly does. A lot of musicians speak about the challenges and struggles we go through in Nigeria but they do it in a musical fashion that makes us sing and temporarily forget our woes due to the excitement of the musical beats.
Thank you so much Gab for being a positive impact on me.♥️♥️♥️
Wow.
While I could catch some words from German, as my grandmas knew it (also it is so widely used), Turkish is kind of complicated and different 😅
Well done @peaq 👍
This is pretty cool.
I totally agree with you.
I am still a beginner.
My lingua errors are beyond me 😅😅😅😅
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Thank you very much!
This post is so much In line with my point of view on why many crimes exists in Nigeria today that I recently shared in the hive learners community..
The things happening around us are so depressing.
Just imagine the federal government telling us we won't go back to school until August. Its so sad but I trust Nigerians, we always look for a way to laugh about these negative things and move on with our lives.
And oh yes, Music has always being an escape route for many of us. And thank God for Hive too.
You have put up a great post @peaq. one that is very inspiring.
Am sending a hug.
Well done 😊😊
I cannot even start to list or think about them.
Because there is just so much going on at the moment.
It is so sad how they waste people's time in this country.
The worse part of it is that it is so unnecessary.
My dear, that is our coping mechanism las las.
Thank God for Hive indeed!
Awww,
Thank you so much.
I truly appreciate!
you are always welcome
Have a beautiful week☺☺
And beautiful remaining days of the week to you too.
I hope it brings you goodies.
My dear @benii were just praying that the strike should be extended beyond August because this isn't the first strike action that ASUU is carrying out. We just pray for the best. They want to destroy our chances of education so that the youth will commit their energy to violence but they have failed.
Oo Dear
It is well.
All we have is hope
We hope for better days.
Yes love we do.
@benii better days are ahead and fast approaching.
Keep your head up high and remain consistent..
All my love!
I am so sorry you have to experience this.
It is beyond pathetic and sad.
I can only hope and pray the youths channel their energy and this time into innovative ideas.
Stay strong dear one @sapphirekay
Thank you so much dear @peaq That's one thing Nigerians can do: stay strong.
Indeed!
@peakd You've spoken so well and touchingly. That massacre day was tragic and wasn't only caused by the Nigerian government but the deep States, who have zero concern about Nigeria or her youth perpetrated it and our leaders were just too weak and unwise to combat that but no matter what hit us, we are always getting stronger by the day. Music is an instrument that many of our youth use to get along and hope for a brighter future and Hive on the other hand, has been so rewarding to us; I have no regrets about it since I joined 1 month ago.
If we all leave, which country will be so generous to receive us seeing that we are tremendously many? And who will remain here to change our fatherland? I still and always believe in our Nigeria because that's the only home I have.
Thank you so much.
And this is true.
It is indeed a sad reality we have to live with as Nigerians.
But I am hopeful e go better someday.
I am not sure when but I know that day would come.
It might be different times for different people but it will surely come.
You and I 😅😅😅
But I might just japa and leave you...
Don't mind me.
We pin here 😉😉😉
Aberdeen no japa and leave me oh because I go still find you ❤😇
We live here 💪💪
😅😅😅😅😅