Happy Independence. What’s happy about it? I genuinely do not know, but we’re supposed to say good things during periods that have cultural or historic significance, so happy independence.
Typically, I’d make an Independence Day playlist and share with you, my dear reader, and ask you to listen to the playlist like you’d listen to a friend to you, but I myself do not feel like listening to anybody today. In fact, I feel independent. Free. I will not be making a playlist today.
The terrible governance we have had over the years have seen our artists and creatives use their voices or art forms to speak to the powers that be. Time and time again, we have danced to our pain. Heck, the father of the genre was as known for fighting the government as he was known for his music. As you rest in peace, Happy Independence Day to you, Fela. The music you birthed is not independent anymore, but we will talk about that later this month.
After Fela, I heard African China consistently call out the president with Mr President. I heard him call out the elites with Crisis. He dissed the entire system on Government.
I heard Eedris Abdulkareem speak to the nation with Jaga Jaga. Many, many times, we’ve had artists voice out against the state of the country or just make conscious music that end up as smash hits. Sound Sultan did it with 2Baba on Bushmeat (Ole). Remember Eldee? He did it on I Go Yarn.
In the Alternative space, Brymo did it with Grandpa. Beautiful Nubia did it with Kurunmi Is On The Way. Timi Dakolo spoke to One Nation.
Coming a bit later into the present and immediate past, Tekno did it on Rara. Falz did it with This is Nigeria. He did it once more on Johnny. Burna melodized our pain with 20-10-20. He told the world of our struggles on Collateral Damage. He did it again on Whiskey. Rema called Buhari stingy on Are You There.
When Asa sang Fire On The Mountain, fire wasn’t even on the mountain yet. Even though upon still, 17 years after she complained, nobody seems to be on the run. 17 years of fuel (no fuel really) has been added to the fire on the mountain Asa spoke about, and no one is running.
Happy Independence, even though I do not know what we are celebrating. We thank God we have Afrobeats now at least, for as long as we have it. Let’s celebrate that. These are the songs on my playlist today. They’re yours now. For the first and only time today, Best Regards.
