Entertainment
Showcasing Nigerian Musicians’ Exploits On Global Stage
From Lagos to Accra, Nairobi, Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape town, London, Toronto, Houston and Atlanta just to mention a few places, Nigeria music sometimes branded as Waija music has created a new culture of entertainment, excitement and enjoyment as popular dance hall music in those places be it in a bar, night club, lounge or restaurant, music lovers gyrate to the beat coming out of the sound monitors that are recognized and celebrated as Nigerian music.
Nigerian musicians such as Wizkid, Davido, Run Town, Olamide, Tekno, Burna boy and so on are famous for their songs. The effect of their music is usually spontaneous, you just get up and begin to shake your body without any prompting to the unmistakable beats in the songs. The beats give the songs a unique Nigerian identity, a product exported from Nigeria.
Recall that 10 years ago, Dr Reuben Abati wrote in a Guardian Newspaper editorial that the lyrics in the music by most Nigerian artistes were meaningless and disqusting’. The reactions from different quarters especially the music industry were swift and defiant and the matter became highly controversial at the time. The artistes and their promoters fought back vehemently, challenging Dr Abati to a duel in the court of public opinion and he had to publish countless rejoinders on the matter.
Between then and now, the success of our pop music stars have been remarkable and their achievements profound, thereby earning recognition globally. Even if you do not agree with the content and message strategy of their lyrics, the fact remains that the music produced is very popular, enjoyable and hilarious to the music consumer and very danceable too.
There was a gap our artistes identified which they filled and the result was the big bang effect, They suddenly became popular and began to make waves and they have never looked back since then. So popular and appreciated is the Nigerian musicians that Mark Dayton, Governor in the United States of America declared, October 6 every year as Wizkid day, which is truly a big deal. It is remarkable according to the story Wizkid, real name, Ibrahim Ayodeji Balogun was honoured because of his musical achievements as a popular Nigerian pop music star and for his role as a culture influencer.
Some of his achievements include recently becoming the first African artiste to sell out the sky way theatre in Minneapolis making a bill board number ‘One Dance’ with Drake; selling out the 02 Arena in London; walking the run way as a model for Doke and Gabbana and winning countless international awards amongst other notable achievements.
Wizkid has become a global brand icon much to the delight of his fans and admirers because of the popularity of his kind of music. From Wizkid to Davido, Olamide, Burna boy etc it shows that our artistes are very creative with the kind of energy in their music and amazing stage performances.
It is no gainsaying that Nigerian music evolved and gained global recognition since the days of the late Afro beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti- who is generally referred to as the music legend out of Africa and it is popular today because of its unique beat and sound. The global recognition began with Fela, but the secret of the trending Nigerian pop music culture today is the lyrical nature of the songs and the production that goes into the beats as well as how the artistes ride the beats.
The twin brothers of P-Square (Peter and Paul) when they were still together dominated the music scene for so many years with lyrics so beautiful and voices so melodious, you began to wonder where their gift and special talent came from. Burna boy who recently signed a mouth watering endorsement deal with Star larger beer has his own peculiar. Style and brand of music Patoranking also emerged on the top music scene with an amazing delivery of his Jamaican and African flavoured songs making him the King of Reggae in Africa.
The last time Tekno performed in Nairobi, the show sold out and he was practically mobbed in excitement by his fans especially the women during his virtuoso stage performance. Wizkid and Davido are just in a class of their own, they are incredible talents and great music icons and ambassadors of Nigeria. When Wizkid is singing ‘Soco’, or Davido is singing ‘Assurance,’ ‘Banana follow you’ their fans go wide in excitement, jubilation and appreciation.
We also love incredible artistes such as D’Banj, Falz, Ice Prince, Phyno, Banky W, Wande Coal, Flavour, Reckado Banks, Maleek Berry. Small Doctor etc, who have made their marks in different ways. Tu Face also called 2 Baba is a legend because he has been around for a very long time. His music is pure and clear. He is celebrating 20 years on stage this year.
Other artistes to reckon with include Tony Tefuila, Rugged Man, Eedris Abdukareem, Paul play Dairo, Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Baba Fryo etc. Wizids ‘Sisi caro and Davido’s skelewu’ were so iconic and popular that oven 5 year old could sing along and dance to the beats. New dance routine never seen before also became part of the pop culture. The latest ones being ‘shaku shaku’, and ‘leg work’. With every new song a new and highly choreographed dance routine was likely to follow.
Their female counter parts are also making waves and receiving media attention. They are Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Omawunmi, Waje, Simi, Niniola, Temi, Sheyi Shay etc they have excellent music repertoire and great voices that would give you goose pimples. They are very creative and original with their lyrics and performances.
The Garden City of Rivers State Port Harcourt at the weekend joined other parts of the world to celebrate the World Music Day, 2025, as Alliance Française showcases talents.
The event which is internationally known as Fête de la musique was held at cultural hall of the Alliance Française was a remarkable concert with memorable experience.
The event brought together music lovers, students, Artistes and members of the community For an exciting evening live performances and cultural exchange.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the world Music Day, which was created 1982 in France by the then Minister of culture, Jack Lang, ‘ Fête de la Musique’ is now celebrated in more than 100 countries every 21st June, marking the first day of summer with free concerts and musical showcases in public spaces.
In Port Harcourt, the Alliance Française honoured the tradition by spotlighting four(4) emerging artistes offering a platform to young talents shaping the city’s contemporary scene.
The audience enjoyed an unforgettable moments as they were entertained by the powerful performances from Preach A, who is known for blending fitness culture with spoken words and rhythm.
Also, artiste Emmayany delivering a vibrant fusion of afrobeat and afro pop. A singer, song writer and a performing artiste with a distinct sound.
Others were Amarachy Uko, a sensational singer with passion for soul , R&B, pop music and afrobeat.
While DJ Prospel closed the night with an energetic DJ set that got the entire hall dancing.
Earlier, the Director, Alliance Française, Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal high lighted the mission of the Alliance Française saying that the event was more than a concert.
According to her, the event was put together by the Alliance Française to promote cultural diversity and foster artistic expression by connecting a long standing French tradition with creativity of the local music scene, adding that the event offerers an avenue for dialogue between culture and generations.
She stated that the event is used to promote professional and bring amateur artistes to limelight via the platform of the Alliance Française which is aimed at promoting the French Language through cultural heritage.
She explained that the celebration is also a broader series of Fête de la musique activities organized by the 10 Alliance Française across Nigeria in sync with concerts held in France and around the world simultaneously.
She further noted that the occasion reaffirms the role of Alliance Française as a cultural bridge, one where French heritage meets the pulses of Nigerian youth.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 19 artistes applied to perform at the event in Port Harcourt, but only four got approval for appearance.
The Governor of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Comrade Moses Mabadeje popularly known as Mozy B said that the body has announced plans to implement performance Levy on artistes in the state with effect from 21st June.
This was carried in a statement released to The Tide Entertainment, yesterday by the Deputy Governor of the association, Comrade Abiye Howells.
According to the Governor, the announcement was made by PMAN, the only governing body that regulates the music profession in Nigeria, as authorized by the Government of Nigeria, in line with the Trade Union Act.
He stated that those affected by the Levy include (Non members)bands, groups, Hotels, Bars, lounges, Event Centres, show organizers, promoters and other stakeholders hosting events which feature live music performances within the State.
However, the Levy does not apply to members of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria. (PMAN).
Comrade Moses Mabadeje, explained that this drive is aimed at financing the association and supporting the welfare and interest of musicians as outlined in Article 8 of the PMAN constitution as amended (2023). Consequently, a PMAN task force has been set up to enforce and swing into action to effect this move.
He further said that event organizers, promoters and owners of event centers are expected to comply with this regulation as the Governor has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the association to ensure the successful implementation of the levy and the peaceful co-existence between PMAN and Stockholders.
Nancy Briggs
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.