The music artist as a social critic in Nigeria'S contemporary democratic experiment: A study of selected songs of adviser nowamagbe Ayakoroma Barclays Foubiri PhD, Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Abuja-FCT, Nigeria Online published on 5 December, 2019. Abstract Music, it is said, has a universal language. Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the late Afro Beat king, personified those that ardently criticised Nigerian leaders, especially the military. Songs like, “Zombie, ” “V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power), ” “Unknown Soldier, ” and “Beasts of No Nation, ” lampooned the military mentality, likening them to robots that are remotely controlled. Sonny Okosun added his voice to the condemnation of the Apartheid regime in South Africa through his music. Tracks like “Fire in Soweto” and “Liberation, ” were some of the pungent messages on the ills of Apartheid. This was just as his “Which Way Nigeria, ” was a critical comment on the political direction of the Nigerian ship of state. In an era, where pop music has taken over the entertainment scene in Nigeria, and indeed the world, one thing that is worrisome is that most of the lyrics of songs have little or nothing to offer society, in the sense that they are just “all sound and no message for listeners”. But then, the approach of Adviser Nowamagbe, an Edo State born musician, is interesting. He has gradually become another Fela of this generation, in that he has made serious commentaries on the political leadership of, not just governors of Edo State, but also The Presidency. He has the conviction that he has to “throw stones” to keep the leaders on their toes. This study posits that there is need for relevant agencies to ensure that apart from entertaining listeners, music should convey messages that point the way forward to the citizenry, the leadership and the society. Top Keywords Music Artist, Social Critic, Contemporary, Democratic Experiment. Top |