By: Amadu Wurie Jalloh
Say what you may, but I assure you the beef thing between and among our hip-hop King-Kongs are yielding a market viability.
KaoLastingKingDenero, Sarkordi, Lyrical Joe, Khaligraphy Jones and all those entrapped in this lyrical tug-of-war game are working on a big project: amalgamating the hip-hop industry and fanbase of Africa for their own good.
The diss and lyrical confrontations should be cheered up by fans across the continent. It is helping in widening the listenership of their lyrical proclivities and opening up an industrial space for hip-hop across Africa.
This gives a hope to musicians from smaller countries with small fan base compared to those of Nigeria and Ghana.
Gone are the days when the best selects of our nightclub DJs are Western Hip-hop and R&B songs.
Today, more than ever, African artists are touring across the continent. Their hustle is intensifying in the continent. Their followers on YouTube and other platforms are almost matching their counterparts in the West.
They are making big featurings and are blending the Caribbean Culture with our culture as well. This fuse of cultures has created what I could refer to as Raggae mutants such as the Dalas Bantan, Stone Boy, Whizkid (Starboy), PatoRanking, Starzee, Timaya, etc... These stars are technically repatriating their African fans. The same is happening in the R&B world (Banky W, Morris, 2 Baba/Face, Tiwa Savage, Adama (Foday n Linda fame), etc...).
But beyond the expansionism and Economic viability this project is going to yield, the Afrobeat is also helping bring to recognition the diversity of culture in Africa. It's no doubt promoting the rich African cultures.
The international performances are acknowledging those facts. Our musicians and artists are now more confident to sing and perform in their local parlance and ethnic languages.
The world cannot resist the thrilling sounds of Diamond Platinum (Swahili), Drizilik (Krio), Sidiki Diabate (Bambara), Internet man (Themne), Fatako (Fula), Takana Zion (Soso), Sarkordi (Twi), Olamide (Yoruba), etc... They are basically in a renaissance movement to revive the almost dying African cultures.
They are also helping break the myths surrounding Africa rustic lifestyle and poverty popularized by Western media. Their musical videos are opening doors to African tourism. They are showing the rising middle-class lifestyle in Africa.
They are basically telling the world that Africa is not only about the savannas and jungles and primitive lifestyle.
Africa is rising and we should invest our resources to opening more doors.
What can be done to realize the benefits of this project?
Well, DJs, show promoters, and our media houses should follow the trail of the industry and coordinate efforts to organize bigger, more diverse, and truly African entertainment awards to raise the self-esteem of our artists and musicians and create job opportunities for more Africans.
The continent is home to approximately 1.3 billion people. The continent is poised to overcome Asia in becoming home to the largest labour force by 2040. No prospect could have shown any clearer.
Any delibrate move to invest in this project will naturally lead to a boost in the general Cultural and creative industries (fashion, music, art and craft, film and cinematography), and eventually the tourism sector. Countries and entertainment stakeholders should coordinate efforts to amass these opportunities for the betterment of the continent.
The Ecofest Show by Kabala Multimedia Entertainment (KME) is one such examplary move.
Musicians and entertainers from across the continent are giving the opportunity to perform in a single stage. That project should extend to promotion of awards. The political will is utmost in realizing the success of such occasions and projects.
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
® Fottal Organization
Perfect right up
ReplyDelete