Considering The Trend; The Raves of The Moment: Does Present Day Afrobeat Singers Have Any Considerations for The Future?

"music is the weapon of the future?"... with which we are constructing or destroying our generations to come. Actually, the industry is growing everyday, and bringing on board diverse acts to play...

I woke up this morning and this thoughts filled my heart, suprising I may be sounding like a preacher. Somehow thats what we all do one way or another, nevertheless music is my field and the singers my players, I am addicted. And whether we know this or not we are leaving a legacy via what we do...like other of my dishes which we have shared together, lets enjoy this together too, and if u no " gbadu", throw away the bathing water and still love the baby.

The big question is 20 years down the line, when I am 50 years of age and my little daughter or boy is 15/16yrs, will I like her to listen to the lyrics of the kinda song I make now, will I mind if she is that girl in my music vid, naked, etc. Sex is beautiful and blessed, one of God's gifts of genuine love fi man, which in our vids we often over emphasize, for attention purpose.

Music all over the world including Naija has been a major channel of change, getting messages, ideas etc across, and we cannot at this point fail to give our shoutout to greats who have gone before and those still holding fort, that included the whole constituents of the industry...which to a large extent has reckoned us among Nations today; needless to mention names here, cause the line is endless'

But we must pursue to view and maybe review the trend, and reappraise the contents and how far it goes to enhance the world we desire to build for our children.

The true African culture, and tradition has delicate and very special stripes which has infused into, and influenced the art of African music wholly.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afro king, has been one of the biggest influence in the present day African style of music, his legacy can't be revoked, and his well designed creations are indellible prints, stamped, written with bold scares on the ancient and modern scrolls on world music genres, and his records amongst historic legends in the hall of fame.

Mind you, Fela Kuti is not just a genre curator, or the pioneer of afrobeat, but his work set the pace that fast tracked the dominance of modern day African acts, he laid a pipe for the crude of the Naija styled Afro art, fully spiced. And then, his brood of root for the true African art grew and thrived, through endless appreciation and preservation, from one generation to another.

A lot of legendary African superstars, and their creations, like: King Sunny Ade - the Nigerian, popular Juju music pioneer, who introduced the music to a global audience and dominance. Papa Wemba - the Congolese act who fusion the Congo traditional music, reggae, rock and soul music. Miriam Makeba - the South African singer who fusion South African traditional music with rock, jazz, and soul music, etc.

Much as we know that Fela showcased his music with much sexuality, which without fading the truth away from his creations made us relish the art he churned, his excessive bravery and fearless attitude stood him out, as he strongly declared himself a freedom fighter, an advocate for the people of Naija and Africa at large... he was a very proud, notable Nigerian act, who stood next to truth as a human rights activist. So, he left a very idyllic whole new impact on the African art:

"from the gritty streets of Los Angeles and London, to Mushin of Lagos, Fela conjured up potent rhythms and revolutionary lyrics delivering it with the antidote to poisonous military regime that were methodically murdering the true spirit of Naija during his lifetime. Fela, ignited the spark of a dominant revolution through his willingness to sacrifice his life and the lives of his loved ones, and the remnants of the wildfire he created through the music he diagnosed (afrobeat). A mixture which sophisticates and fusion Jazz, Funk, Ghanaian Highlife, Psychedelic Rock, West African chants and rhythms. (Legacy)"

According to Fela Kuti (October 15, 1938 - August 2, 1997) - "music is the weapon of the future"

Fela used Afro culture via his acts to drive home the beauty of African dress code, displaying colorful African fabric, showcased in the exotic appearance of the "FELA QUEENS" - at a time when the African woman should not be heard or seen. Today nearly all Naija youths wear the Fela naija fabric trouser. Art, exuding the African beauty interior and exterior.

Notwithstanding, the ample choice of an average modern day, popular African music genius: owning a width ful audience and total dominance in the music industry. My humble question is, you've finally own the space of wide collective audience, so.. what message are you passing out to such an audience consistently? Please, drown your thoughts here, deeply.

In as much, an act desires to take up the kind of Nigeria's - Fela Kuti, influence in art. Shouldn’t continue in fantasy, if such an act's not ready to construct very positive music, which would drive effective change continually in his/her terrain or society.

Lets not forget what the Afro King said the future's tool is all about, especially so at a time like this in Africa. Nigerian music , its a huge price attached, should flow seamless from the streams of ones, selflessness, reckless bravery and extreme fearlessness:

"Remember, Fela used the art to stare dominate revolution.."

Getting to play out nick name's like - "The African Gaint" and so forth, to gain widthful audience is quite beautiful, but does it come with full art power, coming out consistently to lash out and straighten the society you live? or is it dangling on lesser continuity and blotting 'changeful' effect in the art? If it does, more of the second rightly mentioned.. I think, it has no much party we can adore, or even say little "hi" to a preamble in the life and style of ample African Fela Kuti's legend statutory and records.

Hello Nigerian artistes: "trying to represent the truth of the African art, is not by going shirtless, with pants only, and then flaunting Fela's stylic vocals, the spicy pidgin and the yoruba lingua. And as well, showing off full set completion of his afrobeats creations with showcasing his crystal antidotic lyrics and style of music...inconsistently, very seldom"

"Lets make greatful impact with the weapon of music, like our mentors did continually and consistently."

Mind you, Fela's music was a purposed revolution interaction with the people, the creation and sounds he delivered, apart from selling the whole African culture to diaspora communities, he curated the art to communicate 'mean' with corruptible leaders and their incessant tyranny. He directly aimed every of his stare for change, with rendered service to mend broken revolution in the Nigerian states.

Without falling out the margin, Fela's music is still on a mission to re-castrate and uproot gigantic change, which is the reason he curated the art he coupled it with his deep effect immensely, which caused him harm, till he ended in grave without omission in completion.

Fela's generation wont deny the ample opportunity from the every Fela creations, his 'Felabration' is an expository confirmation of his fight, and he deserves an everyday celebration because of his sacred bravery, which no act has tried to brew completely and controlling the stagger and fall process, and applying great art of fearlessness and continuous pursuit for change in Africa, the through art.

Now, the fusion of Fela's generations, the ones gone, the ones here and to come would remain proud of their father, because he was one who stood firmly, and unshaking for his beliefs, even if he had blemish spots, yet of course no one is perfect still. But, can I ask once more - what kind of piece would the next 30years generation of Afrobeat listen to?

The market is crowed with sexuality and nudity, the message is deepening and everything seem to be folding and sinking into micro insanity? Technology have conquered fully and every single person is a relevant listener, can we now forget the huge influence behind the art and not take advantage of the times to create the future we dream, instead of only strategizing ways of filling the pockets through our art. This will be folly which will be consider stupidity by posterity, without a true cause for eventual societal change.

"music is the weapon of the future?"... with which we are constructing or destroying our generations to come.

Actually, the industry is growing everyday, and bringing on board diverse acts to play on limelight consistently, and most acts without any constructive message circumspectly, without an objective for positive changeability in life and society?

Content Creator: Agwuma Kingsley

Editor: Pius Kiebel Barikume