Editorials Opinion and Analysis
Nigerian hip hop goes international
May 9th 2011
Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with 150 million people, has had a long musical tradition with artists such as IK Dairo earning a knighthood from the Queen of England as early as 1963.
Another musical pioneer from Nigeria inspired a Tony Award-winning Broadway show. Now, it's up to a new generation to carry on the tradition.
No need to catch the lyrics, the music is traveling. Irresistibly danceable beats and the use of local languages and slang have become defining traits of Nigeria's urban music.
Ogungbade Samuel, student, said, "There's this energy in it, there is what we call swagger in it, it is really very energetic."
Satellite television networks transverse the continent cemented the reputation of Nigerian hip hop in Africa. Songs by Nigerian artists like 2Face, P-Square and MI feature prominently at nightclubs in neighboring Ghana and as far away as Uganda and South Africa.
Dante Martins, entertainment consultant, said, "I think it comes from the fact that Nigeria is rich in culture, we got loads of different culture in Nigeria and every hip hop act in Nigeria taps into that local culture, so we've got a verity in Nigeria."
Home to more than 150 ethnic groups and even more local languages, Nigerians of different origins are still learning to live together 50 years after the West African country gained independence from Britain and some 40 years after the end of a bloody civil war.
Nigeria's best-known artists offer a united identity for a fractured nation. Rappers like Naeto C from the country's Christian southeast borrows words from the Hausa language of the Muslim north.
Mo'Cheddah, award winner of MTV Africa Music Awards, said, "We're representing our country to the fullest. We're putting our country on the map on a positive note. It's not just about the bad things, fraud."
It's also catching an international reputation as Nigerians put more of their music online. A French music executive late last year approached Audu Maikori, CEO of the Nigerian record label Chocolate City, to license a song.
Audu Maikori, CEO of Nigerian Record Label Chocolate City, said, "One of our single was put sometime last year, some guy from France who doesn't speak a word of English sent us an email to license a song. Why would a French guy want to? But, that's what social media does, People can now share."
Those new ways to earn money remain incredibly important in Nigeria, a nation awash in pirate movies and music. Pirated CDs remain much easier to come by than original ones hawked in Lagos traffic or hanging in market stalls. Now, artists no longer expect to make profit from albums. At an average price of one US dollar, the records are only meant to promote their act.
