Features
Arresting The Falling Standards Of Music Industry
By most accounts, the Nigerian music industry has gained appreciable international recognition and acceptance, thereby projecting the image of the country positively.
But musicologists insist that the quality of the industry is falling, when compared to its quality of yesteryears due to the dearth of professional advisers, songwriters and composers, among other factors.
The experts recall that as far as 1920s and 1930s, Nigerian music genres, including highlife, apala and juju music, have been making waves in the world of music, adding, however, that the golden era of Nigerian music was in the 1970s.
They also claim that Nigeria had the largest music market in black Africa at that point in time.
They claim that in 1974, for instance, Nigeria had a record market of 10 million albums, with three major record companies, 12 recording studios and two major indigenous labels producing a variety of music genres.
The musicologists, however, note that the advent of piracy, among other unfavourable sharp practices, led to the withdrawal of multinational recording companies from Nigeria.
”Following the withdrawal of multinational recording companies, the industry was left in the hands of local entrepreneurs who did not have the wherewithal to undertake long-time investments or acquire state-of-the-art technologies,’’ they add.
A veteran artiste manager, Dili Biosah, recalled with nostalgia that in the 1970s and 1980s, Nigerian artistes dished out good music which won gold discs and got nominated for Grammy Awards in the U.S.
He noted that the Nigerian artistes then attracted huge crowds at international concerts, competing with other artistes from all over the world.
“Today, when you listen to Nigerian music, with the transition from analogue to digital recording, we have clearer sounds but there are still some missing links.
“Even in the past, we had a lot of music going on but the areas that we need to deal with relate to the management and organisation of artistes; their composition, equipment and production,” he said.
Biosah recalled that he toured South Africa in 1988 as the head of the largest-ever Nigerian contingent of professional musicians and dancers, which included artistes like the late Sonny Okosun, the late Christy Essien Igbokwe, Onyeka Onwenu, Chris Hanen and Mike Okri.
Echoing a similar viewpoint, Prof. Tunji Vidal, a Professor of Music and Musicology at Mountain Top University, Lagos, said that the Nigerian contemporary music industry had fallen below standard.
Vidal made this assertion at a public lecture organised to mark the 70thbirthday of legendary Juju musician, King Sunny Ade, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The don, who spoke on “Nigerian Music Industry: The Falling Standard’’, said that the present crop of Nigerian musicians did not have the requisite preparation before taking up a career in music.
Vidal, who noted that the old generation of musicians attended mission schools for training before venturing into music as professionals, said that such training was lacking in today’s music.
He said that the lack of adequate experience, training and skills, on the part of several contemporary musicians, had created a lacuna in the Nigerian music industry.
According to him, many of the musicians do not spend time in carrying out research on their music composition and lyrics before producing the music.
The professor of music noted that songs of the olden days were more meaningful than contemporary songs, adding that the old songs could also withstand the test of time more than the present-day songs.
“Musicians of today’s generation lack the vital preparation for a musical career. Unknown to many people, every profession requires talent, training, skill and mentorship.
“How many of the young people taking up music as a profession nowadays have talent for music, how many have developed skills for music making?
“Who trained them, who mentored them, who coached them and who were their songwriters?
“For Nigerian music to move forward and maintain its aesthetic qualities in the global competitive market of today; these questions must receive adequate attention by all those involved in our music industry.’’
Sharing similar sentiments, Prof. Christopher Ogbogbo, Head of the Department of History, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, said that the high standard of Nigerian music and dance steps had faded away.
Ogbogbo, who was the first discussant at the lecture, said that musicians of nowadays failed to spend ample time in doing research on the lyrics and composition of their music.
He, however, said that there was room for improvement in spite of the falling standards of the Nigerian music.
Ogbogbo, however, said that Nigerian music industry had given the country global recognition more than any other industry.
He added that Nigerian music industry was also projecting the country’s image in a positive way.
Going from the general to the specifics, Biosah reiterated that in spite of the remarkable growth of the Nigerian music industry, the quality of Nigerian music had waned considerably.
His words: “If you are looking at Nigerian music today, you will say there has been a lot of progress but as I have earlier pointed out to you; we have been on Billboard number-one with Tee Mac, and that is more than 30 years ago.
”So, where are the other number ones on the Billboard?
”Nigeria’s first Grammy Awards nomination was Sunny Ade; so, where are the other nominations apart from Femi Anikulapo-Kuti?” he asked.
Besides, Biosah bemoaned the quality of sound engineering in the Nigerian music industry, saying that he had always underscored the need to ensure that the sound aspects were well taken care of.
According to him, this is because a lot of good music is usually lost during recording sessions due to poor sound engineering.
Also commenting of the current state of the Nigerian music industry, Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, a veteran juju musician, said that the music of the past had more meaning than the contemporary music.
Fabiyi said that present-day musicians were not spending much time in conducting research or thinking about the composition and lyrics of the songs they intended to bring out.
“This is one of the things which the present generation of musicians lack,’’ he said.
A music analyst, Mr Mike Aremo, insisted that the music of yesteryears had been able to stand the test of time, adding that was the reason why some ancient songs were still evergreen.
“Funny enough, some music that were released just last year have fizzled out; they are no longer relevant.
“The music of yesteryears is more meaningful than the music produced today by our contemporary artistes,’’ he added.
Mr Cletus Nwachukwu, another music expert, emphasised that contemporary Nigerian music was purely computer-based and structured inside the recording studio.
He said that most modern-day artistes were bereft of musical skills, insisting that they could hardly read musical notes or understand the marking of chords.
”Apart from the promoters and corporate sponsors of these so-called artistes, who encourage mediocrity by allowing the miming of songs from CDs (compact dicks) to the detriment of musical brands, the other major culprit is the press.
”The media heap accolades and undeserving hype on many of these artistes, while awards are bestowed upon them for glorifying vanity, profanities, fraud and high-level immorality.
”Where lies the legacies of the older generation of musicians?’’ Nwachukwu asked.
Analysts, nonetheless, insist that ethos of music critique ought to be revived as a means of arresting the falling standard of Nigerian music.
They say the aim of music critiques is to uphold the standards of a particular music — artistically and aesthetically.
”A critique starts with a description of music, the musical event, the place, the time, the content, the rhythm and the melody as well as the person involved, among others,’’ Dr Yomi Pinhero, a musicologist, said.
“Through critiques, artists would be informed of their responsibility to the audience and the community which provided the wherewithal and the course of music,’’ he added.
All in all, experts underscore the need for all stakeholders in the music industry –artistes, audience, composers, recording studios and society – to initiate pragmatic efforts to shore up the quality of Nigerian music.
Adeoti writes for News Agence of Nigeria (NAN).
Victor Adeoti
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku