watching television in Lagos, Nigeria on the weekend is a harrowing experience. As there is a lack of concept amongst television managers, and more and more undergraduates are thrown to the screen to seduce viewers with ever tighter tops and bigger breasts, we are left with no option than to go through hours upon hours of incredibly boring nigerian music videos that look more and more like the last video we watched...just three minutes ago.
Ever since Kennis music introduced scantily clad back up dancers, to the videos of the then 'Remedies' and their other top acts, the music industry has remained stuck to the format. every video from 'p-square' to 'kaha' to 'banky w'...and even 'tuface' - who should know better after the international awards he's won...is stuck in this time warp of big bottomed women shaking their asses in front of the camera even if the song is supposed to be a love song (if there's such a genre in nigerian music).
yesterday was the height of it. being the easter monday holidays (the last of four days) when we were forced to rest from our daily chores, we had exhausted all our easter activities and were winding down to resume work this morning and as such had no choice than to watch television. it was amazing...it suddenly dawned on me that all you need to make a hit video, is five well endowed girls, one camera, yourself, and enough vulgar street slangs to make you appear toutish enough to appeal to the lagos audience. the shock for me was that instead of watching the videos that were being played one after the other, i found myself waiting for the one video that would break the trend! songs like "i love that booty" (yes, unfortunately, thats a hit in nigeria), "enter the place" (by award winning tuface - beat that) and "shayo" (by some unknown guy), assailed me with what i perceived were the same girls in the same club, wearing different clothes.
truth be told, when this music video format first hit the airwaves, i was one of those that saw a liberation of nigerian entertainment from the hypocrisy of the time. those were the times when girls were not allowed to appear on television wearing anything but a flowing curtain made of thick material so as not to appear wanton. nigerians used to generally cringe when they saw as much as half a girls legs uncovered on television but had no problem watching american music videos were people made out on the screen wearing next to nothing. it just felt okay that it was "them" and not us that had morality issues. but right now, i think its overdone and we need to move on.
so today's praise goes to videos by D'jinee (love crooner), Infinity (gospel singers) and the handful of artistes who have resisted the temptation to sing meaningless songs only for the purpose of having something for more naked girls to shake their asses to. i know its hard to run against the grind but i hope that someday, when people wake up to the realisation that what we have now isn't exactly music entertainment, you guys will have the last laugh.
Ever since Kennis music introduced scantily clad back up dancers, to the videos of the then 'Remedies' and their other top acts, the music industry has remained stuck to the format. every video from 'p-square' to 'kaha' to 'banky w'...and even 'tuface' - who should know better after the international awards he's won...is stuck in this time warp of big bottomed women shaking their asses in front of the camera even if the song is supposed to be a love song (if there's such a genre in nigerian music).
yesterday was the height of it. being the easter monday holidays (the last of four days) when we were forced to rest from our daily chores, we had exhausted all our easter activities and were winding down to resume work this morning and as such had no choice than to watch television. it was amazing...it suddenly dawned on me that all you need to make a hit video, is five well endowed girls, one camera, yourself, and enough vulgar street slangs to make you appear toutish enough to appeal to the lagos audience. the shock for me was that instead of watching the videos that were being played one after the other, i found myself waiting for the one video that would break the trend! songs like "i love that booty" (yes, unfortunately, thats a hit in nigeria), "enter the place" (by award winning tuface - beat that) and "shayo" (by some unknown guy), assailed me with what i perceived were the same girls in the same club, wearing different clothes.
truth be told, when this music video format first hit the airwaves, i was one of those that saw a liberation of nigerian entertainment from the hypocrisy of the time. those were the times when girls were not allowed to appear on television wearing anything but a flowing curtain made of thick material so as not to appear wanton. nigerians used to generally cringe when they saw as much as half a girls legs uncovered on television but had no problem watching american music videos were people made out on the screen wearing next to nothing. it just felt okay that it was "them" and not us that had morality issues. but right now, i think its overdone and we need to move on.
so today's praise goes to videos by D'jinee (love crooner), Infinity (gospel singers) and the handful of artistes who have resisted the temptation to sing meaningless songs only for the purpose of having something for more naked girls to shake their asses to. i know its hard to run against the grind but i hope that someday, when people wake up to the realisation that what we have now isn't exactly music entertainment, you guys will have the last laugh.
Comments
My younger cousins think my inherent and very grounded resent of the meaningless release (i consider it an insult to refer to them as songs)is cos i'm old fashioned. Good news is they never last before lights out..... where are the likes of azadus, eddie montana,remedies etcetera.
in short..... i agree with this view.