What direction is our industry going our celebrities are visionless & deceptively uncreative. We need MANDATORS (prophets) not booty shaking money making musicians like davido wizkid and the raggedy rat pack
The late Lady Peggy and Victor Essiet of the reggae band MANDATORS circa 1987. Back then NIGERIAN artists such as The black president Fela kuti, Ras Kimono, the late Reverend Sonny Okosun, Tera Kota, Peterside Otong, Andy Shurman, Orits Wiliki, Amos Macroy Jegg, Black Rice and Majek Fashek of Jahstix Femi Kuti, Tu Face Idibia, Seun Kuti, Charlie Boy, Oritse Femi, african China, Black face .
They were patriotic and they used their music to address social issues. Their lyrics reflected political and social issues ranging from concerns about poverty, unemployment, corruption, tribalism and bad leadership.
They were not afraid to speak their minds even at risk of imprisonment, they impacted lives through their music by giving people hope.
In February 2017 Tuface was to lead nationwide demonstrations against the harsh economic crisis facing Nigerians but announced its cancellation hours before the scheduled march.
He cited “security concerns” after police warned him against going ahead with the demonstrations.
The protests, led by civil society groups and activists went on nonetheless in Lagos, Abuja and Uyo.
But before 2face came forward to lead this protest, some other Nigerian celebrities have been protesting against the deterioration in the society caused by bad governance.
From Femi Kuti to Oritsefemi and Charly Boy, below are other Nigerian celebrities protesting against the government one way or the other.
1. Charly Boy
An unashamed activist, Charly Boy has been very vocal in his fight against corruption, oppression, division and the forces that seek to undermine democracy, and against the systems that keep us in chains.
The controversial star on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, even went as far as leading protesters on the platform of "Occupy Unlimited" to the National Assembly grounding activities in Abuja.
Charly Boy led other Nigerians to protest alleged corruption in the legislature.
Charly Boy, the national coordinator of the advocacy group said the protest was born out of the will of Nigerian youths who have shown the desire to "stand up against the injustice and oppression done against them by corrupt politicians."
2. Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti is also an activist helping to push for more effective oversight.
Following in the footsteps of his father's musical activism, he plays in the same band his father once led, Egypt 80, at The Shrine.
Recall that Seun's own grandmother died when, in 1978, she was thrown from her balcony for speaking out against the government by a large group of armed men sent by the ruling military to crack down on Fela's renegade Kalakuta Republic.
But that doesn't stop him as he was once reported saying 'he isn't frightened of government retribution'.
In one of his songs "Rise," Seun implores Africans to rise up against foreign exploitation, from oil companies in Nigeria to diamond traders in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
3. African China
Although not as vocal as he used to be (thanks to a dwindling career), this list will not be complete without mentioning him.
Recall, this star started a new school of activism in music some ten years ago with hits like 'Mr President', a conscious song that rocked the four cardinal points of Nigeria back then.
4. Femi i Kuti
Taking after his vocal father Fela Kuti, Femi is another hot activist. The four-time Grammy award nominated Afrobeat musician is anti-government.
His new album highly rated worldwide
Recently, in a poem published on his website titled, "Make we remember", the musician called out African leaders.
"na because we no won know the good leaders of Africa
na because we no won know the good people wey dey here
na because we no won know we get yeye leaders
na because we no won know poverty plenty for here"
In his songs, his tweets, at the Afrika Shrine. All the time, Femi Kuti has always been an activist even engaging the government in a brawl on social media.
Femi continuously captures the will of the people in his music.
5. Oritsefemi
Again this list would not be complete without including the corporate miscreant himself, Oritsefemi.
Remember his hits, 'Flog Politicians', 'Boyz dey Binu', Mercies of the Lord', and recent jam 'Mr gomina', all these songs were against bad governance and economic instability.
It was a hit on the streets... Back to back!
6. Blackface
Where do we even start from. With songs like 'E dey pain me 'Hard life', Blackface was and is still capturing the wills of the people.
A former member of the defunct group,Plantashun Boiz, Blackface also resorts to talking about bad governance on social media.
Blackface constantly calls against the self-serving, disconnected leaders, plaguing Nigeria since her independence.
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