It is not new; neither did it start today. And it is not likely to end anytime soon as history has shown that man does not learn from it. Musicians, who are supposed to be apolitical going by the nature of their professional callings, are daily meddling in partisan politics. For reasons best known to them, they are openly identifying with politicians and by extension, their parties.
In Nigeria, the latest to do that are Davido, whose uncle vied for the governor of Osun State and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, better known as KWAM, who in an attempt to please his political godfathers, openly rained abuse on the embattled governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
Yes, I can hear some people ask if there is anything wrong in their actions. While a large majority argues that in war, all is fair and that in other climes of the world musicians are known to have taken sides with politicians of their choice.
They quickly point to Mr. Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) who once supported the political aspiration of Michael Mondel who aspired to rule over Jamaica. The late Sonny Okosuns, whose Papa’s Land song was used as part of the protest songs by activists in protesting the unjust killings in Soweto, the South Africa apartheid enclave then by the Bortha regime, to justify their claims.
However, both musicians paid heavily for it as the late Marley escaped assassin’s hot lead, while the then apartheid regime placed a ban on the sales and broadcast of Papa’s Land in South Africa.
Coming back home here in Nigeria, musicians of yore have also had their fingers burnt for singing in support of politicians.
Dan Maraya Jos/Aminu Kano
At the peak of Mallam Aminu Kano’s cult-like followership in Kano and its environs, the popular Hausa traditional musician, Dan Maraya Jos, had attempted to shore up the popularity of Sawaba, a politician who wanted to rub shoulders with Aminu Kano among the downtrodden in Kano, but rather than bring Sawaba all the popularity in the mind of the poor in the streets of Kano, it brought both the musician and politician pains and misery that almost arrested the musical development of Dan Maraya Jos.
Harbert Ogunde and his Yoruba Ronu classic.
The masterpiece was released at the height of the political disagreement between Chief Ladoke Akintola and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which led to the latter’s treasonable felony charges and his incarceration by the then government of the day. The creative work, which first came out as a stage play before it was recorded in vinyl were banned in Nigeria. Another loss for the musician in terms of the then pounds and shillings.
Osayomore Joseph and unending yabbis against politicos
Although, his was not particularly against one politician but against politicians and their misrule; in one of his many songs which he titled ‘who know man, na him dey kill am,’ he was so critical of politicians and their maladministration that only recently he was kidnapped and kept incommunicado for weeks before he bought his way to freedom again. Because of his critical stance on government and some its anti-people polices, his fans now call him Fela of Benin City
Victor Uwaifo’s support for Lucky Igbinedion.
For the Ekasa music exponent who now lecture in University of Benin, his broad day support for Chief Lucky Igbinenion almost caused him his life. He narrowly escaped an unknown gun man’s bullet on afternoon while cooling off in the balcony of his house in the ancient city of Benin. Though, he was compensated with a commissioner position by Chief Igbinedion, That singular incident shook the guitar boy to his very foundation.
Lanre Adepoju and his caustic poetry
This Ibadan based Yoruba language poet (ewi) in the mood of Muta Baruka, was so ruthless in poetry that he regularly released on vinyl in the days of military grime. He was particulary a thorn in the flesh of the likes of Gen Sani Abacha, before, during after the death of MKO Abiola that his ewi carried NTBC (not to be broadcast) stamp on radio stations those days.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Perhaps, the musician who suffered most in the hands of the system is the Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He was beaten, put on trial for abduction, hemp smoking, his house torched, his mother killed and was final jailed on charges of currency trafficking. Though, he remained alive but was terribly scattered until he succumbed to AIDS on August 2 1997.
So for any musician, be him Davido or K1, must first make sure that he does not depend on government patronage or plan to have any. For KWAM1, his gamble or risk in supporting Babajide Sanwo-Olu has the potential of paying off, that of Davido has failed completely as his uncle who he risked all for, has failed in his bid to govern Osun State and will surely become a persona non-granta in the state. Except he plans to do like Fela who was able to overcome his confrontation with the Nigerian authority then because he had a performing venue, The Afrika Shrine, that supplied all his needs and was not known to run after government or corporate Nigeria for survival. So if Davido and Kwam1, both of whom have taken sides with politicians are ready to survive, let them do like Fela, if they can.
