Some of the most significant memories of my life are tied to music. Stitched together just like Peter Pan’s shadow to the heels of his boots. Come with me as I run through a music list from the past and back to the future.
The Late 70s
Cock Crow at Dawn by Bongos Ekwe and the music of ABBA, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Tina Charles, Shalamar, Midnight Star, Gap Band, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, U Roy, Jimmy Cliff, Nico Mbarga, Oliver De Coque, Rex Lawson and Fela Kuti (Creator of Afrobeat) transport me back to a time of family road trips from Glover Rd, Ikoyi – Lagos to the Village (Anyigba and Ejule) for Summer Vacation with my Nana (Grandma) and Christmas Holidays. These are primal memories from the earliest parts and recesses of my consciousness; from the library of my nascent sense of being-ness.
The 80s
Curtis Blow and Chaka Khan remind me of skateboarding and breakdancing in Bornu Crescent, Apapa and Femi Pearce, Victoria Island in the early to mid 1980s. The list also included, Culture Club, Eddy Grant, New Edition, Earth Wind and Fire, Musical Youths, Cindy Lauper, Phil Colins, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniels, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Sting, Michael Jackson (Wacko Jacko, the King of Pop Music), Donna Summer, Tracy Chapman, Dire Straits, Manu Dibango, Yellow Man, Fela Kuti, Dizzy K Falola, Fellyx and Mozzys, Junior and Pretty (the Afro Hip pop/Afrobeats pioneers who gave us the hit song Bolanle in pidgin rap). It was also a time my friends and I discovered gymnastics (following the 1984 and 1988 Olympics) trading backflips and somersaults; racing and jumping ramps on Grifter and BMX bicycles. We also played five a side Football, Badminton, Cricket and Volley Ball (video games had not yet become popular). I recall my elder brother had a sony boom box and a neighbour had a toshiba stereo from which the popular songs of the day were played via LP vinyl records and maxell cassettes tapes. The music was blasted loudly filtering from the house to our playground. So these activities (our play that is) featured seamlessly against a rich, eclectic musical backdrop. Thus ensuring both, memory and music were suffused inexorably for all eternity.
Late 80s and Early 1990s
Bobby Brown’s Prerogative; BBD’s Poison and Ralph Tresvant’s Sensitivity. De la Soul, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, MC Lyte, Kid ‘n’ Play – House Party, Blakky, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, George Michael, Mandators, Ras Kimono – Rhumba Style and Natty Dreads, Majek Fashek – Send down the rain, NWA, Run DMC, Shaba Ranks – Mr. Loverman, MC Hammer, Papa Wemba, Yvonne Chaka Chaka – Umquombothi, Salif Keita, Mike Okri, Soul to Soul – back to life, Salt n Pepa – Push it, Nice n Smooth, PM Dawn, bring back memories of my Wonder Years. R and B and Hip Pop were in healthy competition. MTV and Yo MTV Raps did a good job of beaming fresh and talented content to us and the world. I remember Lekki Sun Splash was a december diet. Attracting thousands to Lekki at Maiyegun Beach. Cars parked and backed up for miles. Mischievous soldiers seizing black ankle boots (Doc Martens and tactical boots alike) from unfortunate teens for personal use. Afterall it was a Military Regime. Soldier come, soldier go !
Nevertheless, it was a time when teenage boys in blue Jean dungaris & Timberland boots did backflips to impress shy girls in corn rows and ponytails. Fun and joy had it’s moments. My Pro Unitate days in Boarding School. Literary and Debating Society Dance, Fashion and Variety Shows in the late 1980s to Early 90s featured these music. When Nintendo’s Super Mario Brothers; Turtles Ninjas and Video Clubs were a thing. Cosmos. Video mart. Mega movies @ Mega Plaza, Federal Palace, Ikoyi Hotel, and Century 21. Una chop our money sha! I remember racing from Ologun Agbaje to return overdue video (VCR) rentals via Adeola Odeku, Kofo Abayomi and Ahmadu Bello Way listening to Sybil – Don’t Make Me Over , Lisa Stansfield – All Around the World and Gloria Estafan & the Miami Sound Machine chanting, Ooh eeh ooh aah !Memories ! Sweet sweet Memories !
The Alphabet Kid
Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky ; and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 take me back to Walt Disney’s Fantasia and Tom and Jerry’s the Cat’s Concerto. Also in the Late 1970s and Early 1980s. This staple was lapped up with PBS Sesame Street, Jim Henson’s Muppets’ Show, Julie Andrew’s and Christopher Plummer’s Sound of Music, Dick Van Dykes’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to the amusement of all. Sinbad the Sailor. Cliff Richard’s the Young Ones. Yul Brynner’s The King and I and Ten Commandments. All purchased from Alaba International Market, Lagos. Dada (my dad) had brought back an Akai VCR from one of his business trips to Germany. I do recall two Bollywood installments – Nagin, and Seeta aur Geeta. Both musicals as Bollywood movies are wont to do. The former was about a snake girl seeking vengeance for the death of her lover and the latter was about twin girls with diametrically opposed characters. I also recall Love in Tokyo, maybe, vaguely. but nothing more. Far Eastern movies weren’t popular in our home. Perhaps because of the language barrier. I never had the pleasure of watching the legendary Amitabh Bachchan or Shashi Kapoor on screen? So it was hard to follow when my roommates, in Boarding School, stirred the movie gist in that direction. I did watch snippets of “My name is Khan” recently by the great Shah Rukh Khan though.
The Cartoons and Kiddie TV shows of the time also each had their own memorable music score. Spiderman, Inspector Gadget, He-Man, Banana Split Show, Motor Mouse and Auto Cat, Captain Caveman, Space Ghost, Chattanooga Cats, Transformers, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Looney Tunes, The Funny Company, Roger Ramjet, Mighty Mouse, The Barbapapa Family; The Fantastic Four, Popeye the Sailorman; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Voltron, Blue Falcon & Dog Wonder; Fraggle Rock. Voltron; Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Star Trek, Yogi Bear; Casper the Friendly Ghost; The Thing (Ben Grimm the Ídol of Millions), Atom Ant, Thunder Cats, Terrahawks, Super Ted, Danger Mouse. All I can remember for now. Can you remember any other 70s & 80s cartoons and kiddie shows? Please feel free to let me know in your comments and emails.
Fela Kuti reminds me of reading for JAMB and WAEC Exams in my room at Ologun Agbaje VI Lagos in the early 90s. Crazy choice for a teenager. STB – Sorrow Tears and Blood; Shuffering and Shmiling; Coffin For Head of State; Zombie; Water no get enemy; Shakara; Confusion and Lady were some of my favorites.
UNILAG in the 90s
2Pac, Snoop Dogg n d dawg pound – Gin n Juice, Warren G & Nate Dogg – Regulators, Nas, Jay Z, Blackstreet, Shaggy, Mystikal – Danger, Outcast, Keith Sweat, Joe, Notorious BIG, Puff Daddy, these artists and their songs invaded my University days and demanded recognition and copious stereo time in much of the 90s. The music scene was largely dominated by foreign content. There were a few African diets as well – Lagbaja – Coolu temper, Daddy Fresh, Baba Fryyo – Denge Pose, M.C. Smoke (Song Poverty), Orits Wiliki, Awilo, Angelique Kidjo, Koffi Olomide, Brenda Fassie, Lucky Dube, Youssou N’dor, Danny Wilson – Mr. Ragamuffin, and Daddy Showkey. But the preference at parties was foreign and Western. Perhaps due to production quality and availability because the source was TV and radio air play. Which translated to promotion and recognition.
Law School and NYSC 1999 – 2002
By the Early 2000 the Nigerian music industry began to witness a resurgence with acts like the
Plantashun Boiz – Omode Meta, Trybesmen – Shake Body and Plenty Nonsense, Junior and Pretty – Bolanle, 2 Shotz, Terry da Rapman, Mode 9, Six Foot Plus – Anwuli, Rule Clean, Sunny Nneji, Daddy Showkey, African China, Wale Thompson – Lale Friday, Seyi Shodimu – Love me Jeje, Weird MC – Allen Avenue and Ijoya, Tony Tetuila – You don hit My Car, Tic Tac – Fefe nefe, Sound Sultan – jagbajantis, Paul Play Dairo – Mo sori re, Remedies – Shakomo.
Storm Records, Mohits and Kennis Music championed this renewed buzz.
NBA Politics and Early Days of Practice 2002 – 2010
I remember guys like Psquare – Busy body, 9ice, Rugged man, Tiwa Savage – Kele Kele Love, Maleeke, Zulu Zoo, Naoto C, Eldee, Sauce Kid, Nigga Raw n Klint d Drunk – Obodo, MI – Crowd Mentality, Asa, Ill Bliss, Lord of Ajasa – Oti Ya, Tuface, Chocolate City, Da Grin, Mohits cum Mavin, D’Banj – Tongolo, Wande Coal – Mushin to Mohits album also held fort. In the first decade of 2000s. The new sound from the ghettos and streets of Nigeria did not have a common name yet. It was variously described as Afro Hip Pop, Afrobeats, Nigerian music, Pidgin rap, Afro rap etc.
Afrobeats to the world 2011 -date
Today we have Wizkid, Davido, Burnaboy, Joeboy, Fireboy DML, Timaya, Tekno, Naira Marley, Teni Makanaki, Niniola, Phyno, Flavor, Yemi Alade, Falz, Mr. Eazi, Run Town, Simi, Olamide, Omah Lay, Tems, Oxlade, Zlatan, Bella Shmurda, Victony, Zinoleesky, Reggie Rockstone, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Buju (BNXN), Skiibii, Ladipoe, Qdot, Johnny Drille, WurlD, Ajebutter, Reminisce, C Kay, Ajebo, Cavemen, Portable, Rema, Adekunle Gold, Kizz Daniel, Ayra Starr, Fave, holding sway in the industry. Thanks to the internet and self production/promotion. Afrobeats music is available on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcity, Naijaloaded, boomplay, xclusive, HipTV, and MTVbase. With ace producers like Legendary beats, emPAWA Africa, Masterkraft, Maleek Berry, YBNL, DMW, DJ Spinall, DJ Neptune, DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Coublon, DJ Consequence, DJ Kaywise, Lambo, Don Jazzy, Cobhams Asuquo, ID Cabasa, Dr Dolor, Ozedikus, and music video directors like TG Omori, Clarence Peters, Kemi Adetiba making sure the visuals match the vibes. The music is called Afrobeats which is the child of Afrobeat and as a child it bears a surname that reminds us of its roots and origins. Yes it is an umbrella term that also incorporates Afro fusion, Afro reggae and Afro Hip pop as well as Afrobeats and other Genre of music from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Congo, Senegal, Egypt and South Africa but having one term makes the search and life easier on Spotify, iTunes and other global music apps and platforms.
Foreign & Global music ?
On the foreign scene I like Jidena, Drake, Maroon 5, Cold Play, Post Malone, REM, Alanis Morissette, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, 2 Pac, Nas, Jay Z, LL Cool J, Eminem, Akon, limp bizkit, Linkin park, Shaggy, Black Sherif, Sarkodie, French Montana, Doja Kat, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Marshmallows, John Legend, Sam Smith, U2, Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Major Lazer, Khalid, Dire Straits, Green day, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Shakira, James Brown, Madonna, Michael Jackson, DJ Maphorisa, Kranium, Busiswa, Koffee, Popcaan, Sza, J Hus … They too tack on to a memory or two here and there. I am particularly glad to witness recent collaborations between Afrobeats artistes from Nigeria and other Artistes in US, UK and South Africa. This is a welcomed development that enhances growth and deepens the variety and richness of available music content. Afterall, music is a universal language. Salut !
DrAlexanderGrey 