Current crop of artists should learn from music legends like Fela Kuti, Sunny Okosun, Bob Marley
The National Coordinator for All Workers' Convergence, Andrew Emelieze, has urged Nigerian musicians and artists to recognize the role of arts in revolutionizing the world.
The letter was published by Sahara Reporters. Emelieze said the country is in dire need of a music revolution, urging musicians to make positive contributions towards changing the language and message of songs coming from Nigeria.
In an open letter to musicians and artists, Emelieze said the country is in dire need of a revolution, urging them to make positive contributions towards this.
Emelieze would like any piece of art from the industry to reflect the living conditions of the people, query all societal ills, and promote the good life. He also lamented the evil trends in the music industry, which he said promotes immorality, use of hard drugs, and justification for fraud.
He challenged musicians to stop 'deceiving Nigerians with sensational rhyme and rhythm which makes us dance away our lives in the midst of degeneration'.
According to him, the current crop of artists should learn from music legends like Fela Kuti, Sunny Okosun, Bob Marley, Mariam Makeba, and Peter Tosh.
The open letter is titled "It is time to change the music," partly reads:
“Our youths must recognize the role of arts in revolutionizing the world. Our society to some extent is a product of our arts. Our music affects the psyche of society. This is the reason, we just have to change our music and direct it towards revolutionizing Nigeria.
"Our country is in dire need of a revolution that will transform our society into a progressive one.
”History is knocking, we can't continue with the music that promotes sex, love of money, 'Yahoo Yahoo' (Internet fraud), rituals, drugs, etc.
He also urged Nigerian youths to forget trying to make it through dark means. "Our youths must not be made to think of making it through fraud and shortcuts. What our current music is trending is very dangerous for us all. Except we want to deceive ourselves, our music is promoting fraud and criminality among our youths."
Concluding his message, he urged Nigerian youths to change our music, letting it reflect the true situations of things occurring in our country, Nigeria.
