‘I had my ups and downs but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up I was served lemons, but I made lemonades”- Hattie white (Jay Z’s mother)
Queen Bey as she is popularly called is not just an artist. She is a voice. A voice for blacks and black women in America. This she duly displayed in her powerful and evocative half time performance of FORMATION, at the Super Bowl 50 final on February 7, 2016. This got everyone talking. As if this is not enough, the wife of rapper Jay-Z recently released
Few Nigerian artists can be compared to Beyonce. Thus, it will not be out of place to say that there is so much these artists can learn from Bey so that posterity will not only remember them for their music but also their activism. Innovation Village gathers 3 things Nigerian artists can learn from Beyonce. Today, Beyonce’s style is now a pop culture phenomenon.
Nigerian artistes want to rock the world but don’t want to rock the boat
The fatal shooting of blacks in different parts of America led to #BlackLivesMatters. In line with this, the final of the Super Bowl, one of the most watched finals in the world, was an opportunity for Beyonce to express her displeasure about the killing of blacks in God’s own country. She was criticized by the police for the explosive performance. Beyonce was willing to rock the boat and at the same time rock the world. She spoke out against oppression. Nigerian artists can take a cue from this. Their music and songs should address societal issues. At the same time, they should lend their voices to social discourse which very few of them are doing.
Produce lyrics that pass strong messages
Aside from a handful of Nigerian song stars like Femi Kuti, and Asa to mention but a few, who express strong messages through their songs, others either sing about love, sex, money, and women. An example of a that sends a strong message to the Nigerian government is booshit by Cobhams Asuquo ft Falz the Badt guy. From Beyonce’s Lemonade, listeners fill the pulse of a woman who sings about her heritage and fellow black women while also calling out men who cheat on their wives. She even quoted the poem of Warsan Shire, a young Somali-British poet. This is diversity and creativity at its best!
Celebrate yourself and your root
Like earlier said most Nigerian songs are cosmetic and superficial. Very little work is done to churn out well thought out lyrics. Let’s give it to Asa and Femi Kuti who are in the category of Nigerian artists who have international appeal. Angelique Kidjo is also in this category even though she is not Nigerian. It is imperative for Nigerian artists to celebrate their heritage. Beyonce did as she prides herself as an African American woman as well as a creole. she simply showed that she is proud black women.
