Nigerian music is widely accepted around the world today. Afrobeat is the most popular genre both in and outside of Nigeria. This genre has given rise to many stars such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and Tiwa Savage, among other Nigerian artists who are rocking the world with their incredible musical taste. As much as we enjoy listening to this beat today, it originated somewhere far away and has evolved to become one of the most acceptable rhythms around the world.
The sounds we hear today are the result of great forefathers. People like Fela Sowande and T.K.E Philips are some of the great minds behind the sounds we hear today; they created the foundation for Afrobeat. This dates back to the 1920s, when T.K.E Philips began composing, and was followed by Fela Sowande two decades later, in the 1940s. Their compositions laid the groundwork for contemporary Nigerian music. The music reflects a community’s fashion, culture, style, and way of life.
Jazz, highlife, juju, afrobeat, and reggae are the most notable genres of music in Nigeria, with audiences that extend far beyond Nigerian borders. This music evolved from functional events performed by communities to mark rituals such as weddings, funerals, and agricultural seasons. Because Nigeria has a diverse population, the feel of the music varied from community to community.
To name a few, the Yorubas used music for socio-cultural purposes, with musicians performing at social and formal events. Every community had a popular instrument. The Yorubas used kettledrums called Gudugudu and hourglass tension drums called Dundun. The Igbo people were known for their expertise in zithers, also known as Obo, slit drums, xylophones, flutes, and lyres, to name a few. Music was used for a variety of purposes in various communities, including celebrations, leisure, and sports. Over time, the current generation of Nigerians traveled the world, bringing a blend of western culture into their music, making it sound more modern and better.
Ghanaian performers heavily influenced Nigerian highlife music. They transformed it from a hard type of life to a good feeling type of music that was played in clubs throughout Nigeria. Jazz music has also played an important role in the Nigerian music scene. People like Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat, formed a band in 1963 that performed regularly at the Cool Cats Inn, a popular hangout for jazz fans. Afrobeat is associated with Fela Kuti, who co-founded it with Tony Allen.
Afrobeat is a genre that combines jazz, highlife, and other West African music. Fela Kuti established the Kalakuta republic as the center of Afrobeat development. Fela inspired a new generation of Nigerian artists who have gone on to become global sensations. People like Burna Boy and Wiz Kid have built their careers on the foundation laid down by Fela. The Nigerian government, seeing the influence that music had on the people, promoted and organized events such as FESTAC 77, a month-long event that brought together over ten thousand participants from across Nigeria to interact musically. It highlighted African culture and allowed different artists to interact with one another, increasing the musical richness of the entire country. Despite the fact that the event was for the people and was sponsored by the government, Fela boycotted it, claiming that the project should be funded by the private sector rather than the government.
Tera Kota introduced the Afro-Caribbean test to the Nigerian market. He established hotspots along the beach, such as Majek Fashek, where people could congregate and listen to reggae music. It is difficult to ignore good music no matter where you come from. This is exactly what the people of Nigeria understand, and they are constantly providing good music to the rest of the world. They are dedicated to ensuring that the greatest number of games are played on international stages because they have mastered the art of excellence. Excellent music sets the pace for their development, which is something to be thankful for and proud of. When good music is released, people in Nigeria do not hesitate to share and market it.
The majority of collaborations have been made by international artists such as Chris Brown and Davido without lowering the musical quality. This is a message to all music lovers that anyone can be great if they put in the necessary effort. Those who rise to become international stars understand the secret of success because they set goals for themselves on a regular basis. These are above-average goals because they want to be average singers. They put everything into making the music great, knowing that competence and mastery are the best marketers. They also have no idea who is watching them from afar, which is how they are able to break into international stages.
Most international singers in Nigeria are inspired by people who are successful in music. People who command international attention serve as role models for them. They are well aware that they require role models in order to perform well in their roles. Their music is never mediocre in quality, and it is often inspired by the people they idolize. This is the mystery behind their thriving serious music career. Even in interviews with the mainstream media, they make it clear that they are not in the business of experimenting on the side. They are committed to producing high-quality music and work hard to achieve musical success.
Finally, international doors will continue to open for these artists. They never get the arrival mentality, and every day is a moment of reflection for them. No matter how successful they are today, they will always seek ways to advance their careers, and this is their secret weapon. When a musician develops the arrival mentality, they stop focusing on quality music and instead focus on their previous successes. They believe that more victories are on the way and that they will not compromise on progress until kings begin to applaud for them.
