Nigerian author, Emma Ugolee has taken to his Instagram page to rant about the Nigerian music industry. “Is Nigeria still represented in sound, language, and melody of mainstream music?“, the concerned author asks.
Emma Ugolee took to his Instagram page to write a lengthy note about the Nigerian music industry. He raised a number of questions that he says he had been wondering concerning the fact that the top music arts from Nigeria all seem to be from the Southwest of Nigerian (aka Yoruba) According to the author, he is trying to “stir up a hornet’s nest” but rather instead “truly just would like to know.”
In asking the question, Emma Ugolee made comparisons in the past when it was common to not only see non-Yoruba perform in Lagos but also get airplay as well.
Furthermore, the author wanted to know if the media is as unbiased as they used to be towards promoting music artists and if non-Lagos acts win music awards.
Read his full note here:
“Nigeria’s music treasure is so vast and rich. Great musical tradition from Victor Olaiya, Rex Lawson, Ebenezer Obey, Oliver De Coque, Osita Osadebe, Peacocks international, Oriental brothers before you even talk about Fela, Sonny Okosun, Ksa, Nelly Uchendu, Onyeka, Ras Kimono, Mandators and so many others, the Nigerian discography is rich and varied with a lot of unique genres, it’s a national treasure says my friend Obi Asika
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Without any intention to stir up a hornet’s nest, this widespread representation touches a thought that has been disquieting in me for a while now.
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Is it a coincidence that the top 10 (if not 15) music acts are from the southwest? Or is there more to it?
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I ask this absolutely free of any bias and no streak at all of tribalism. I truly just would like to know.
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I have tried to explain it with the Lagos hub influence but Lagos was still the place to go to (in an era I witnessed) when it was okay for a Zoolezoo to come to top the charts from Makurdi. When a Flavornabania could become the biggest Nigerian act from Enugu, Jeremiah Gyang doing the same from Jos, Duncan Mighty & Timaya killing all the Lagos shows from PH city. Rymzo & Kaha from Benin. Age Beeka, Style & 6foot plus from ABJ. N---a Raw Abia!!
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The story is not the same at all. Traffic has significantly slowed down in the last 10 years. Has the inroad into national limelight via Lagos been shutdown?
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The same platform that allowed for others who spoke different languages, had a different sound etc to use the same platforms to national acceptance seems to now be region sensitive
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The problem isn’t coming to Lagos anymore, it’s being accepted by Lagos. Seems like the open arms have been folded
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Why is Erigga not a hip-hop household name in Lagos? Was rap music from the middle belt and north produced only from the era of Swatroot & did it end with MI & Icepeince?
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Does the media still show the same unbiased love we used to? Do music awards go to non-Lagos acts?
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I speak not of a handful of exceptions. On a grand national scale as it used too, the question is, ….IS NIGERIA STILL represented IN SOUND, LANGUAGE AND MELODY OF MAINSTREAM MUSIC?
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Emma Ugolee.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8bv9o7Afif
