Entertainment
Nigeria Reggae Artistes Now In Limbo
Ibinabo Fiberesima, AGN President
We remember with
nostalgia the years of Reggae music in Nigeria. This genre of music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s with the Late Robert Nester Marley emerging as the foremost ambassador of Reggae with other masters like Peter Tosh, Burning wailer, UB40 and a host of others.
The pulsating rhythm with inspiring message found its way into Nigeria Music Industry through Late Reggae icon, Sunny Okosun, the Ozziddi crooner, A plethora others joined the train, they include masters such as: Sweat led by Yemi Benson, Boye Gbero (BG), Mandators, Evi Edna Ogoli, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Oritz Williki, Alex Zitto, Daniel Wilson and Isaac Black, others include: Gboyega, Femi, popularly known as Terra Kota.
During this era, the Nigeria music industry was ruled by Reggae music their life style became the order of the day in both fashion and behaviour most of the Nigerian youths were drawn to the pulsating and spiritual message contained in their lyrics .Almost everybody both old and young talked and danced reggae even some of them went to the extent of becoming Rastafarians and wore dread locks like their role models while reggae clubs were formed all over the country.
But since the exit of the old generation of the founding fathers, the younger artistes have also gone to the limbo leading to the decline in the reggae music clan. This development has continued to agitate the minds of their fans and other reggae faithfuls as they wonder why they once beloved reggae should be allowed to be swallowed up by other genres of music like RnB, Hiphop, Afrobeats and dance hall music among others.
The visit of UB 40 an international reggae group to Nigeria in February this year and their performance at the Eko Hotel Victoria Island Lagos, seems to be a wake up called for both the reggae artistes and lovers who stormed the venue and danced their hearts out, it rekindle the fire and interest in them as the concert was a huge success.
This experience according to one of the fans, Ras Arthur should be able to wake up our reggae artistes from their undeserved slumber and revive the popular music genre that once ruled the music scene and brought health and fame to most of the artistes in the country.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
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