Entertainment
Nigeria@64: Revisiting notable intersections between Politics & Music
The 64 years of Nigeria’s existence are filled with several painful low points, and the musicians from different eras have lent their talents in demanding that the social contract that formed the basis of this nationhood be executed justly, fairly, and equitably.
October 1, 2024, marks 64 years since Nigeria gained her independence from the British Empire. During the turbulent history of this country, there have been notable intersections between politics and Nigerian music.
As Nigerian capital cities host colourful parades in celebration of Independence Day, this offers a moment to revisit some of the many times music captured the pulse of the nation.
FESTAC ’79
The Second World Black and African Festival of Art and Culture was a historic moment when Nigeria’s cultural diversity and uniqueness were displayed before the world in all its glory.
The event which was the brainchild of the General Olusegun Obasanjo administration attracted over 16 thousand participants from different countries across the world where blacks are richly spread.
The event was held from 15 January 1977 to 12 February 1977 and it had in attendance celebrated musicians including America’s Stevie Wonder, Gilberto Gil from Brazil, Bembeya Jazz National from Guinea, Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad and Tobago, Les Ballets Africains, South Africa’s Miriam Makeba, and Franco Luambo Makiadi. Nigeria’s very own King Sunny Ade also delivered an unforgettable performance.
END SARS Protest of 2020
“Thursday is Thursday” – Runtown
In October 2020, Nigeria witnessed the largest civilian protest and mass movement in the nation’s history with the #ENDSARS protest. The movement was inspired by continuous police brutality targeted at young Nigerians who were being profiled and hunted by the rogue police unit.
While the agitations started online and were sparked by the killing of a young man in Ugheli Delta State, it was Runtown‘s famous “Thursday is Thursday” tweet that inspired the mass movement in Lagos the nation’s important city.
The movement was fueled by songs that captured oppression and highhandedness, and notably Davido’s ‘FEM’ quickly became the unofficial anthem.
Nigerian musicians played notable roles in the protest. The internet will never forget the chilly picture of Davido using himself as a human shield to protect protesters in Abuja. The motivating pictures of Wizkid joining the protest from London. Small Doctor leading a massive march in Agege. Phyno and Flavour lead the long walk to Akwuzu Sarz. And when the protest was macabrely ended by the bullets from gun-wielding soldiers, Burna Boy‘s ’20/10/20′ documents the events.
Sir Victor Olaiya’s performance for Queen Elizabeth in 1956
When the Queen of England Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in 1956, it was Sir Victor Olaiya who was called upon to entertain her with his Highlife music.
Also when Nigeria gained Independence in 1960, Victor Olaiya was at hand to mark the celebration with his music. And he was not missing in 1963 when Nigeria became a republic and weaned herself from the breast of the British Empire.
Sir Victor Olaiya is reported to have been knighted by the Queen for his achievements in music as part of the independent day celebration of 1960.
The impact of his music and the respect he enjoyed in the political circle made him an inextricable part of key events in Nigeria’s nationhood.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s Incarceration
You may get goosebumps when Fela‘s name is mentioned and chills when you hear his songs. You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world feel the same about the legend and enigma who can be said to be the most important musician to come out of Africa and one of the most important artists to walk the face of the earth.
During his days, Fela was a torn in the flesh of Nigeria’s corrupt military governments and he boldly called them out for their dictatorship and corruption.
Fela would eventually be sent to 5 years in prison by General Buhari’s regime under frivolous charges of drug possession although he was released after 20 months. According to Fela in his Carlos Moore biography, the judge who sentenced him would later apologize to him, claiming that Fela’s incarceration was masterminded by the Buhari regime.
The attack on Fela’s African Shrine Kalakuta
His house was ransacked and burnt to the ground and his mother, during the invasion, Fela’s mother the phenomenal labour rights icon Chief Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was thrown out of the window of the building’s first floor. She would later die as a result of the injuries sustained in the hands of soldiers acting under the instructions of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
In response to his Mother’s death, Fela carried a mock casket to Dodan Barracks which was the seat of power in defiance of Obasanjo, and to make a political statement that echoes till today.
Odi Massacre – ‘Dem Mama’ by Timaya
While many enjoyed and even danced to Timaya’s break-out single ‘Dem Mama’, some might not know that it is a true story that documents the sad Odi Massacre of November 20th, 1999 in Odi in Bayelsa State.
The Nigerian military on a retaliation mission invaded Odi under the instruction of President Obasanjo and pillaged, plundered, and killed civilians whose death toll was placed in the region of 2500 by Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action.
Femi Kuti’s refusal to Perform at the Abacha Rally in 1998
After ousting the interim president, the former Head of State General Sani Abacha concluded plans to install himself as a President for life. To sell this idea, he set up a Unity mega rally in Abuja that was headlined by high-flying artists such as Shina Peters, Orits Wiliki, Onyeka Onwenu, Victor Uwaifo, and Daddy Showkey performed at the shameful “Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA)” rally.
Femi Kuti, however, wanted no part in the event and staunchly refused to perform. This was a bold move that echoes the saying that “A Lion can’t give birth to a Sheep.”
Afrobeats Superstars combine for Ambode’s Campaign Song
In the modern history of Nigerian mainstream music or Afrobeats, as it’s known, no campaign song matches the 2015 campaign jingle of Ex Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The song saw MI Abaga, Ice Prince, Olamide, Yemi Alade, Flavour, Banky W, Dammy Krane, and Desmond Elliot come together to deliver a hit campaign song that could have topped the charts if it were released today.
It was indeed an interesting moment in the intersection of Nigerian music and politics.
The Essence of Democracy – ‘Democracy’ by Sir Aare (Dr) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister
After successive juntas by the Nigerian military, there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel in 1992 when General Ibrahim Babangida announced that the nation would return to democratic rule in 1993.
The news was received with excitement and a great sigh of relief, and this was captured by ‘Democracy’ the 1992 record of Fuji pioneer Sir Aare (Dr) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.
Even though the self-proclaimed evil genius General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would go on to annul the election that set the path for further doom for the nation, the moment of hope that the June 13 election inspired highlights the importance of democracy.
‘Jagajaga’ by Eedris Abdul Kareem
It’s not often that a musician releases a song that thoroughly indicts the government over the poor state of the nation so much that it gets a reaction from the president. Such ability to cause Nigeria’s nonchalant and irresponsible leaders great discomfort was almost entirely a feat synonymous with the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
The ban turned out to be a pointless waste of time as the single soared in popularity and acceptance and would go on to become a classic.
Almost two decades after Eedris highlighted the dysfunction that is the order of the Nigerian state, it’s hard to say Nigeria as a nation is fairing better.
64 years after independence, Nigerian musicians are still singing the same tune and asking the same questions. When will Nigeria get it right?
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Entertainment
He fought a 15-year legal battle for rights to his songs – Mike Ejeagha Documentary director [Pulse Inteview]
He fought a 15-year – He fought a 15-year…
He fought a 15-year – Mike Ejeagha is a…
Mike Ejeagha is a folk musician popular among South-Easterners for his unique storytelling through music.
Ejeagha has woven the cultural essence of the Igbo people into each of his songs.
However, his music had long been relegated to the archives of Nigerian history, until an unexpected event changed the course as comedian Brain Jotter sampled one of Ejeagha’s iconic tracks, birthing the viral “Gwo gwo gwo ngwo” trend on social media
This viral moment sparked a resurgence of interest in the legendary musician’s work, with young Nigerians reconnecting with the rhythms and storytelling that Ejeagha’s music embodies. As though designed by providence, a documentary about his life and influence was already in the works before this Renaissance, thrusting the forgotten legend back into the cultural limelight.
The documentary, set to be released to the public for the first time on December 21, 2024, captures Ejeagha’s remarkable journey as well as his deep connection to the Igbo people, their traditions, and the impact his music has had over the years.
Pulse Nigeria recently sat down with Michael Chineme Ike, the director of the Mike Ejeagha Documentary to discuss this unique journey of rediscovery, the challenges of bringing the story to life, and the importance of preserving the legacy of artists like Ejeagha.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What inspired you to create a documentary about Mike Ejeagha?
As a kid growing up in Igbo land, I listened to Mike Ejeagha’s music and it was always unique how every one of his songs taught a moral lesson. I learnt that it’s wrong to steal from his song "Onye ori Utaba". I didn’t know him or meet him personally but I loved his music. Decades later, almost everyone like myself thought he was late, until somehow his story appeared online when Amarachi Attamah and Charles Ogbu brought to the public notice that the legend is alive but more than that, he is living in poverty. This was sad. I didn’t have money to donate but decided to use my filmmaking skills to give the man a much bigger gift: a legacy that no other Igbo legend has had the pleasure of experiencing. And what’s more important than doing this and celebrating him while he is still alive with us?
How did you go about researching Mike Ejeagha’s life and work?
It wasn’t easy. The internet doesn’t have so much about his life. I had to visit the family and interview him and his children. He was already very old and could barely talk properly or remember things. I also researched his work experience and visited people who had the opportunity to work with him in the past. Most were dead but those I could find were able to provide so many details about the man and his exploits that helped form the story.
What were some of the challenges you faced while working on this documentary?
Well, there is funding. Filming documentaries isn’t cheap and I learnt that the hard way as this was the first documentary film I embarked on in my career. As documentaries aren’t great money-making ventures, getting people to invest in the project was also hard, so I had to carry most of the cross. Another major challenge was the lack of archival footage to help with visuals in the documentary. Mike Ejeagha lived in a time with little or no digital video recordings, so there was almost nothing to be found of him on the internet.
He doesn’t have much at home either and even TV stations he worked with gave excuses like a fire incident in the past burning up videos of his programs on TV. These things made it hard for us. But thanks to the extra efforts from my team and me, we were able to dig deeper and also got some with the help of AI. We then created more scenarios from stories we got from our research and interviews.
READ ALSO: Mercy Aigbe’s December release, ‘Thin Line’ makes ₦28.5 million since its release
Can you share any special or surprising discoveries you made about Ejeagha during the production?
To avoid any spoilers, I discovered that while the world had thought that Mike Ejeagha was dead, the man was simply battling a long legal battle with his record label over the rights to use his songs and make music videos out of it. This lasted for over 15 years until the Enugu State Government stepped in. I also found out that he contributed over 200 songs to the National Archives, a rare feat that many people were unaware of.
How did Brain Jotter’s use of Mike Ejeagha’s song impact your work on the documentary?
I had long started and even concluded interviews for the project before BrainJotter did what he did. However, I was in a stalled moment due to funds preventing me from going immediately into post-production. When the dance went viral, many people who knew about my project advised that it was best to release the project in the heat of the moment, little did they know I would love to but the issue of funds persisted. Eventually, I did get some help with a last-minute investment from Charles Ogbu who has been like a son to Mike Ejeagha and I was able to get things rolling again. Thank God, I’m able to finish soon enough and here we are today, about to premiere with the trend still fresh in people’s minds.
Do you think the trend revived public interest in Mike Ejeagha or were people already nostalgic about his music?
Mike Ejeagha’s music is unique and many people loved it. But in this Gen Z generation, I would say Brain Jotter’s dance trend did play a very key role in reviving public interest in the man. In fact, his music was more popular than himself and many people didn’t even know who he was or that he was still alive. The trend did help a lot.
Did the trend influence any creative choices you made in the documentary?
In a way, yes. One of Mike’s music, titled "Uwa mgbede ka mma" loosely translates to he who laughs last, laughs best. We can say that after going through all the life challenges he went through, the universe decided to bless him during his last days on earth. This helped to bring a perfect ending to the documentary because he was still alive. We couldn’t have possibly ended with his death. The Brain Jotter trend, his story revival which even attracted the state governor and many prominent persons to him, was a perfect and emotional end to the project.
What role do you think social media plays in preserving cultural icons like Mike Ejeagha?
Social media plays a transformative role in preserving cultural icons like Mike Ejeagha by creating a global platform for their stories and works to be rediscovered and celebrated. It helps amplify their legacy, making it accessible to younger generations who may not have experienced their contributions firsthand. Through social media, fans and supporters can share memories, performances, and interviews, keeping their influence alive. In Mike Ejeagha’s case, platforms like Facebook and YouTube have become archives for his music and storytelling, while influencers and cultural enthusiasts spark conversations around his impact. Social media also facilitates advocacy, as seen when fans and activists rallied support during his legal battles and for his recent recognition. It bridges the gap between generations, ensuring that the essence of his artistry and Igbo culture continues to inspire a global audience.
What message do you hope audiences take away from this documentary?
Do you have plans to work on more documentaries about Nigerian folk legends or other cultural icons?
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I wish I met – I wish I met…
I wish I met – Singer Portable’s second baby…
Singer Portable’s second baby mama, Honey Berry, has taken to social media to appreciate her new man, and people say she subtly shaded you know who in the process.
Taking to Instagram on December 16, 2024, Honey Berry posted a video of herself and her partner to her Instagram page and expressed heartfelt affection for him, writing, “It’s Monday 👩❤️💋👨 Baby I want you to know that you are the love of my life,❤️that your soul and mine are one in the same,and that I will love you a million lifetimes from now! You have no idea how happy you make me sweetheart.👩❤️💋👨”
“I will spend my life making you as happy as you make me. I just love you so damn much.🥰We share such an amazing one of a kind love they is so pure and so true.💕Tonight you just have my heart overflowing. I just wish you were here so l could cook for you and watch a movie together. Sweetheart I cannot wait to be holding you again.💃I hope you have a good night and sleep well my angel.I love you baby Love you from the very depths of my soul,” she added.
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Though sweet and warm, Berry’s last statement, “I wish had met you before the wrong 💔person🤮🤮,” sparked reactions from social media users, with many believing that it was shade thrown at Portable.
“Na only this girl get sense among portable baby mama’s 😂I know she will be regretting knowing portable for her life,” said an Instagram user in the comments.
Another comment read, “Sisterhood is proud of you, my Baby”
“Portable don set ring light 😂,”said another person.
Another Instagram user asked, “Who be the wrong person ejoor? 😂”
Recall that in 2023, Honey Berry and Portable had a public spat after she took to her Instagram live session to angrily call the singer out for abandoning their child, revealing that he has been missing in action for the past four months. Honey Berry also alleged that her baby daddy tried to create a rift between her and his first wife Bewaji by only posting her.
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Mercy Aigbe's December release, – Mercy Aigbe's December release,…
Mercy Aigbe's December release, – Nollywood actress and producer…
Nollywood actress and producer Mercy Aigbe’s Thin Line has grossed ₦28.5 million at the box office since its release on December 13, 2024.
Thinline is up against tough competition this December from other high-budget holiday films, including projects from Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, Ayo “AY” Makun, and Ghanaian director Peter Sedufia. However, with December being a prime month for the industry, Thinline has already established itself as a strong contender for audiences looking for an engaging drama this festive season.
Distributed by Cinemax, the film is a compelling drama that delves into themes of faith, betrayal, and redemption, drawing audiences in with its intense narrative.
Starring Uzo Arukwe, Jaiye Kuti, Cute Abiola, Yvonne Jegede, and others, the film is directed by Akay Mason. Before its nationwide release, Thinline already raked in N3.5 million from advanced screenings.
READ ALSO: Why some Nigerians ‘can’t deal’ with Nollywood films
Mercy Aigbe has established herself as a powerhouse in the Nigerian film industry. In 2016, she took a significant step towards nurturing new talent by founding the Mercy Aigbe Gentry School of Drama. Renowned for her versatility and commanding presence, Aigbe has starred in and produced countless films, earning her a reputation as one of Nollywood’s most influential actresses.
Aigbe’s impact is still growing. This year, she made major waves with two blockbuster films: Farmer’s Bride, which grossed over N100 million, and Beast of Two Worlds, which earned over N200 million after its cinema run.
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