2face Idibia We need more music to speak our minds while protesting

There’s a musical disconnect in the planned nationwide protests, and to bridge that, these artistes need to sing against the system.

Thanks to the greatest of them all, 2face Idibia, who is ‘listening to the cries of the people’, and has decided to be a voice to lead the streets and lead a nationwide protest.

The nationwide protest which is planned for February 15, 2017, will have people were lovers on Valentine’s Day, dump the toga of love and become activists. These people would march in various states, and demand for an improvement in the affairs of the country, its policies and infrastructure.

The truth is, we Nigerians have been living a deteriorating state. Our economy is in a recession for over a year, our Naira is in shambles, inflation is at its worse, and the political class continues to show a collective sense of apathy, while the people in power appear clueless.

There is enough reason to protest. There has been enough reason to protest.

2face Idibia is calling on all his celebrity friends to lead the march against a country that no longer secures its citizens, with the Southern Kaduna Killings, and the rise of the herdsmen menace, which continues to claim lives.

Olamide, Sound Sultan, Burna Boy and a handful of others have indicated interest in the movement, and have at different points signaled that they are ready to stand side by side with the righteous indignation of 2face Idibia, and scream down the walls that separate them from the realities of our situation.

But while it’s nice that these people would rather come forward to lead the march on the state, there’s a gaping music disconnect.

Where are the music that has been released for this situation? When did these set of new age artistes come forward with new singles capturing the current state of the country, and speaking out against the politics that has constantly undermined growth and progress in the country?

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Nigeria has a rich history of activism in music. Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, African China, Oritsefemi, eLDee, M.I Abaga and a few others have in the past released music that captured the deterioration in the society caused by bad governance.

Bad governance has not stopped, neither should the music which seeks to continuously capture the will of the people.

2face Idibia can hold his head high and lead a charge. He is the closest we have to a genuine music in pop culture activist, who has continuously used his position and talent to speak about the ills of our governance. The offsprings of Fela Kuti: Seun Kuti and Femi Kuti, are still on the wave too.

But the rest of these artistes who are joining in ought to take a long look in the mirror, and decide that if they truly want to commit to the struggle, it should be inclusive of their talent, not just their bloated celebrity and ‘platforms’ as they like to call it.

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What better way exists for these artistes to send a stronger and permanent message other than hitting the studio together, and recording a piercing collaboration which strikes at the heart of the evils that they are marching against. They can create a single so powerful that it will stand forever as an inspiration for generations to come, and forever be the rallying cry to everyone who is pushing for great change.

This is not to say marching is bad. It serves its purpose as a symbolic protest against oppression and bad governance. But as musicians, who have put in a lifetime of work, they possess more power and would wield a greater influence if they just do what they know how to do best: Sing.

There’s a musical disconnect, and to bridge that, these artistes need to sing. They need to sing against corruption, against oppression, against division, against mass killings, against the forces that seek to undermine democracy, and against the systems that keep us in chains.

Aluta Continua.