Entertainment
How Afro Beat Revolutionalised Nigerian Music Culture
The 90s were an amazing time in the landscape of music. The incredible wave of Hip-Hop that took shape in the late 80s continued to build into a tidal wave bringing RnB and Funk along for the ride. Reggae, was taking the world by storm like no other global music import in decades and became the fuel for a conscious uprising.
Highlife was developing a life of it’s own in Africa alongside Fela’s outspoken musical jambalaya that moved the people in the 80’s. All of this swirl of creative brilliance was contributing to the movement we know today as Afrobeats. Some of the best and most beloved musicians of the time from across the globe were pushing the boundaries, creating innovative, revolutionary music that would be just as powerful over Twenty years later.
Reggae, born decades ago in 60’s Jamaica, was a crowd favourite, continuing to grow in influence. The genre, named for the 1968 song “Do the Reggay” by toots and Maytals, combined jazz, rhythm and blues, African music, Calypso and traditional mento- a type of rural folk music, producing a hip, Chill Sound and Vibe. Early Reggae legends were musicians such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff. They left the songs “No Woman No Cry”, ‘One Love and ‘You can Get it if you Really Want’, paving the way for legions of musicians that would come after them.
The 90s saw new masters of the genre. “Boombastic’ by Shaggy, ‘I can’t Help falling in love With You by UB40, ‘Shy Guy’ by Diana King, ‘Murderer’ by Buju were tremendous successes, becoming modern classics. But Reggae was more than just music, it was culture too. The Language, fashion, sound and Rastafarian religion invaded society. Everywhere black, red, yellow and green clothing and wool hats became instantly recognizable.
The 90s were also undeniably great time for the Rap genre. The late 80s and the early 90s were largely considered the golden age of Hip-Hop. Rap artistes such as LL Cool J, and Run DMC C, Ice and Ice Cube, known as the top Iyricists of the genre were at the peak of their game. In underground spheres, the beginnings of the Gangsta Rap Sub genre was being developed. And who can forget the infamous West Coast and East Coast Rivalry which culminated in the deaths of two of the best and most revered rappers in history. Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG? Both Rappers created their hit songs ‘California Love’, ‘Dear Mama’, ‘Mo Money Mo Problems’ and ‘Notorious B.I.G’ during that time, inspiring dozens of future rappers with their music.
Back in Nigeria, the sound and swing of Highlife was thriving. Oliver De Coque in particular is remembered as an exceptional musician without par.
Infinitely talented, Oliver de Coque is one of the most popular and productive Highlife musicians till date, recording over 73 albums, including the songs “No More War, ‘Tolerance’ and ‘Identity’, His music style was joyous, blending Highlife with traditional Igbo music, painting pictures of affluence that people could relate or aspire to. Quintessential Juju Music Singer, Shina Peters and his band ‘Sir Shina Peters and his International Stars’ lit up the scene as well. A King of Juju Music, Shina Peters took things a step further, combing the genres of Afrobeat and Juju to create a brand new sub genre of Afro Juju which he drove so successfully that ‘Shinamania’, as it was referred to in the press, took over the people.
Not a lot of female musicians graced the scene but Onyeka Onwenu more than represented women everywhere. Beautiful, articulate and talented Onyeka Onwenu or the Elegant Stallion, as she was sometimes called-begain as a secular singer, releasing some of the best songs of the day such as “iyogogo’, before shifting to Gospel and Inspirational music that focused on social issues like AIDs and female rights. Decades later, she is still regarded as one of the greatest of her generation. In 1997, technology took a big leap forward with the emergence of the Mp3 player. The first successful Mp3 player was produced, changing and significantly upgrading how music would be listened to from that point onwards. With that the magnificent 90’s inevitably came to an end but even better was on the horizon. Out of magnificent 90’s and in with the grand 2000’s.
Entertainment
BBNaija Season Nine: ‘Dynamic Duos’ Auditions Begin
The organisers of the Big Brother Naija( BBNaija) have announced that season nine of the reality TV show started accepting applications last Wednesday.
Biggie is back for BBNaija Season 9 auditions with a twist! The audition requires two people. “This year, it is a search for Dynamic Duos that love the show and can turn up the heat in Biggie’s house,” the announcement said.
This new twist to application videos, which used to be a single person in the video, candidates will have to apply in pairs. This means that the audition video will feature two candidates each.
Make and upload a three-minute video telling Big Brother why both of you should be in the Big Brother’s House together.
The video can be recorded together or separate, but must be a single video.
You have to audition together.
In the video describe yourselves and where you are from.
Also talk about your personalities, your favourite things, likes, dislikes, unique things about both of you and how it may help you do well on Big Brother Naija Season 9.
Stay natural, do not force it, keep it fun!
Audition is free and has opened on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8:00pm.
Application is only open to people who are 21 or older with a valid means of identification.
Entertainment
Onyeka Onwenu’s Film To Chronicle Her Music Journey
Renowned Nigerian musician, Onyeka Onwenu, says she is working on producing a film that will delve into her experiences which span decades within the music industry.
Onwenu disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen, on Tuesday with a career that stretches back to the 1970s, the “elegant stallion” expressed her eagerness to share her firsthand account of the evolution of Nigerian music.
”I am currently working on a film that will chronicle my experiences in the music industry from the 70s to the present day. Having been a part of this narrative for decades, I have a wealth of stories to share,” she said.
In addition to the film project, Onwenu discussed her efforts to release her classic songs through collaboration with emerging artistes, promising fans a compilation of rebranded tracks later in the year.
“I am rebranding my old songs and collaborating with new talents. My aim is to offer listeners a fresh perspective on timeless classics,” she explained.
Onwenu’s creative pursuits extend beyond the realm of music, as she recently released a single, titled Abu Otito (Songs of Praise) and dedicated proceeds from its streaming to support widows through the Rose of Sharon Foundation.
“I am passionate about using music to address social issues. From supporting widows to promoting education among rural children, I strive to make a positive impact through my art.”
Reflecting on her philanthropic endeavours, Onwenu shared her commitment to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Abia and disclosed the plan to expand her initiatives to Imo.
“We not only pay school fees directly to schools but also offer civic education to instill a sense of cultural identity. These efforts represent my dedication to empowering future generations,” the musician noted.
Offering advice to fellow artistes amidst economic challenges, Onwenu emphasised the importance of resilience and self-initiative.
“Hang in there and create opportunities for yourselves,” she urged, highlighting the need for proactive approaches in navigating the ever-evolving music industry landscape.
Onwenu’s multifaceted contributions to music and society underscore her enduring legacy as a trailblazing artiste and philanthropist, inspiring generations to come.
“I have been part of the story right from time, and I am still moving forward, so I have a lot of stories to tell,” she remarked.
The Tide Entertainment reports that aside from the cinematic venture, Onwenu unveiled plans to breathe new life into her classic hits by collaborating with contemporary artistes. According to her, she aims to compile a collection of rebranded songs, promising Nigerian audiences an eagerly anticipated release later in the year..
Onwenu has used her music and its timeless messages to promote Nigeria’s culture. Her music duet with King Sunny Ade, titled Wait for Me, has remained evergreen. It is remembered always as a song with deep lyrical message which was put together to help the government of that era fight seriously against the outburst of population explosion while also regulating it with the different family planning programmes put together by the government.
Her song, African Woman, helped greatly in projecting the innate exquisiteness of the African woman giving them a sense of pride and belonging amidst poverty, widowhood, rape, lack of care, hatred, humiliation, abandonment, among others.
Her evergreen classic, Sodom and Gomorrah, is a biblical narrative of the popular story of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, a city destroyed by God due to their heedlessness and high level of immorality.
Some of her other evergreen songs include Iyogogo, One Love, Dancing in the Sun, and Choices, among others.
Entertainment
Osita Iheme Reacts To Pawpaw Memes
Legendary Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, fondly known as Pawpaw, has revealed that he is happy with the way his memes are used on social media as a means of expression.
In a recent interview with newsmen, the actor expressed pleasure with the use of the clips from his films, stating that it shows his old films still have value.
“It’s good to see that your works are doing well out there and people are appreciating what you are doing,” he said.
“Even though it has been so many years, people are still valuing it years later. It’s good and it shows that you have an asset that you can always back up and bank with. Because when you look at 20 years ago, the works you’ve done and you see that people are using it to express themselves, you’d feel happy. I feel happy,” he continued.
The Tide Entertainment reports that over the past few years, hilarious stickers and memes of the star from his old films have been used widely across social media platforms to add a comic flair to conversations. His funny memes were not only used by Nigerians, but also in foreign media, especially during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown era.
It is worthy of note that Iheme is one half of the dynamic Aki and Paw Paw duo, the other half being his partner-in-crime, Chinedu Ikedieze.
The pair starred in numerous movies in their prime like ‘Aki Na Ukwa’, Village Rats, and Double Wahala, amongst many other iconic films.
More than 20 years later, they have remained Nollywood household names, hilarious memes, and pop culture icons.
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