As I grew up, I began to have taste, as in, I began to select music and songs that makes meaning to me, the ones that matters to me much. Though I liked some home made, I mean Music by Nigerian, I developed special link with international artist. Why I had to do this was the way foreign music is organize, especially US, when you listen you can easily identify a home made and a foreign one, the quality, organization and composition can. With all these at zero point may make you hate home made especially that time we used to play cassettes. It was so boring.
Thank God for the revolution, but before this let’s look a little back to the past. What kind of music made waves, how did it all start, what were the setbacks? Come with me…
I really want to focus much about Nigerian music, because that’s my motherland, don’t call it patriotism.
The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of folk and popular music, some of which are known worldwide. Styles of folk music are related to the multitudes of ethnic groups in the country, each with their own techniques, instruments, and songs. Little is known about the country's music history prior to European contact, although bronze carvings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries have been found depicting musicians and their instruments.
Nigeria has been called "the heart of African music" because of its role in the development of West African highlife and palm-wine music, which fuses native rhythms with techniques imported from the Congo for the development of several popular styles that were unique to Nigeria, like apala, fuji, jùjú, highlife, and Yo-pop. Subsequently, Nigerian musicians created their own styles of United States hip hop music and Jamaican reggae. Nigeria's musical output has achieved international acclaim not only in the fields of folk and popular music, but also Western art music written by composers such as Fela Sowande.
Polyrhythms, in which two or more separate beats are played simultaneously, are a part of much of traditional African music; Nigeria is no exception. The African hemiola style, based on the asymmetric rhythm pattern is an important rhythmic technique throughout the continent. Nigerian music also uses ostinato rhythms, in which a rhythmic pattern is repeated despite changes in metre.
Nigeria has some of the most advanced recording studio technology in Africa, and provides robust commercial opportunities for music performers. Ronnie Graham, an historian who specialises in West Africa, has attributed the success of the Nigerian music industry to the country's culture—its "thirst for aesthetic and material success and a voracious appetite for life, love and music, [and] a huge domestic market, big enough to sustain artists who sing in regional languages and experiment with indigenous styles". However, political corruption and rampant music piracy in Nigeria has hampered the industry's growth. Thats a bad one in here. Its not a new thing, piracy and corruption, I dont think anyone will easily find any solution to these, if at all there will be any way out.
Stay put, more is coming...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Music - My Story
Music has been defined as generally as "organized sound" and specifically so as to require an entire book to define. A general definition may best be a "sounds and pitches organized in time to create a chosen artistic or aesthetic statement." Music is both an art and a craft, based on acoustic principles, yet subjects to various interpretations, hence its artistic merit. Because of this, we study the craft so that we might better appreciate the art expressed in music.
I really love music. I enjoy playing it almost all time of the day. I can choose the type I want depending on the weather, how I feel and what I am doing. I will say Music is my life; many of us can hardly do without it.
When I was a kid, I used to smile and shake my head when ever I hear any sound from my dad’s 2 battery fm radio. Though I did not understand what I was doing, I still could feel excited within me anytime a melodious tone is played. That was more than two decades ago
I am now a grown up, I now understand why I did what I had to do. I have come to observe one most important thing that has to do with one musical desire. Despite the fact that many people feels they like music because of the rhythm, if you understand the lyrics and the meaning of it, that’s when the music has meaning to you. That’s when you really enjoy the music. That’s when the music can affect your life negatively or positively, believe it or not.
Some people claims they don’t like music, accepted, it’s a personal thing, but is there any human being who doesn’t shake either feet, fingers, or head at any point of his/her life when an instrument is played? From my own observation, I will say no, off course that’s the power of music.
From traditional gong, to electronic guitars and fingerboard synthesizer, no one will completely avoid music through life time. In places of worship around the world, music/songs are always used to start and end worship sessions. In Christianity especially Pentecostal churches, music/songs form the about 50-70 percent of church services. They believe music is the best way to revere God. Weather they are correct about this or not, the important thing is they accept the power of music in their life.
From Office, inside car, homes, cafes, anyway music is heard, at times it makes its addicts go crazy. It communicates life, strength, hope and courage.
Welcome to the world of inspiration, welcome to the world of music.
I really love music. I enjoy playing it almost all time of the day. I can choose the type I want depending on the weather, how I feel and what I am doing. I will say Music is my life; many of us can hardly do without it.
When I was a kid, I used to smile and shake my head when ever I hear any sound from my dad’s 2 battery fm radio. Though I did not understand what I was doing, I still could feel excited within me anytime a melodious tone is played. That was more than two decades ago
I am now a grown up, I now understand why I did what I had to do. I have come to observe one most important thing that has to do with one musical desire. Despite the fact that many people feels they like music because of the rhythm, if you understand the lyrics and the meaning of it, that’s when the music has meaning to you. That’s when you really enjoy the music. That’s when the music can affect your life negatively or positively, believe it or not.
Some people claims they don’t like music, accepted, it’s a personal thing, but is there any human being who doesn’t shake either feet, fingers, or head at any point of his/her life when an instrument is played? From my own observation, I will say no, off course that’s the power of music.
From traditional gong, to electronic guitars and fingerboard synthesizer, no one will completely avoid music through life time. In places of worship around the world, music/songs are always used to start and end worship sessions. In Christianity especially Pentecostal churches, music/songs form the about 50-70 percent of church services. They believe music is the best way to revere God. Weather they are correct about this or not, the important thing is they accept the power of music in their life.
From Office, inside car, homes, cafes, anyway music is heard, at times it makes its addicts go crazy. It communicates life, strength, hope and courage.
Welcome to the world of inspiration, welcome to the world of music.
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