Nigeria marks 66 years of independence today, offering another opportunity to assess how far the country has come. More often than not, the verdict is more scathing than complimentary.
Long before hashtags became tools of protest, Nigerian musicians held a mirror to the country through songs as entertaining as they were critical. From Fela Kuti’s blistering attacks on oppression and hardship to the reggae and hip-hop voices that followed, the sound evolved. Still, the complaints remained: bad governance, rising living costs, rights abuses, division and broken promises.
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At a time when hardship still dominates conversations in markets, bus stops and group chats, these songs feel less like history and more like a running commentary on Nigeria.
Here, in no particular order, are five of my favourite Nigerian social-commentary songs.
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Original Sufferhead – Fela (1981)
Fela Kuti – Original Sufferhead
Fela is Nigeria’s undisputed king of social commentary by a long stretch. In his 1981 song Original Sufferhead, he laments the poor conditions Nigerians face, marked by an acute shortage of potable water, high food costs, low electricity output, and a crippling housing shortfall.
For those who don’t want to get lost in economic jargon about inflation, this song offers the clearest explanation of how badly the Naira has fallen and the spiralling cost-of-living crisis. Fela complains that a loaf of bread costs 60 kobo and one Akara ball costs 20 kobo. He expresses shock that it wasn’t until 1990 that all Nigerians could access clean drinking water under a United Nations program. It’s 2026, and Fela isn’t here, so we can’t even ask him if that goal has been achieved.
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What’s Gwan – Ras Kimono (1990)
I’ll start with a (needless) detour; when Nigerian Reggae music is discussed, Majek Fashek quickly comes to many as the standard bearer. For me, it is Ras Kimono. Majek might have been bigger on the global stage, but Kimono’s music was more relatable and hands-on. Magic was global; Ras Kimono was local.
His “What’s (whatta) Gwan” song (which doubled as the album title) took the early 90s by storm. The song’s title phrase even made its way into street lingo. What’s/Whatta Gwan is Reggae (patois) for “what is going on?” In the song, Kimono laid out the social, moral, and economic ills that bedevilled Nigeria at the time. He highlighted ethnic divisions in the nation, poverty in the land, moral decadence of lecturers taking advantage of female students, and the pursuit of material and mundane things. The song remains relevant today. It was a serious reggae song, but it still had a fun vibe. Suffice it to say, most of Ras Kimono’s songs are laced with social commentary.
Jaga Jaga – Eedris Abdulkareem (2004)
Step into the 2000s and the ‘Gbedu’ Afrobeats era, and you’ll still find songs loaded with messages about the state of affairs in Nigeria. Eedris Jaga Jaga stands out among this later-day batch.
Typical of Eedris, rather than just stating Nigeria’s problems, spanning poverty, insecurity and bad political decisions, he digs in deeper by painting Nigeria as ‘Jaga Jaga’ where “everything scatter scatter”, loosely meaning a nation in tatters; somewhat beyond redemption.
It is rumoured that the song irked then President Obasanjo so much he aimed a dig at Eedris’ parents. Jaga Jaga is another song that, even with its crusade element, packs charged, bouncy beats that send people dancing once it comes on. To date, most protests about quality of life use Jaga Jaga as the official soundtrack.
Show Me – Blackface (2004)
Imagine reporting your country’s government to God due to their misrule.
“Jehovah Nissi, I want make you know say every day na only you me see. Life has not been easy, especially the way our Government dey treat we.”
That’s exactly how Blackface starts in this soul-searching song, “Show Me”, from his debut solo album, Ghetto Child. The song, made even more enchanting by the silky vocals of Blackface’s protégé, Rocksteady, evokes strong sentiments about the government’s lack of interest in the living conditions of everyday Nigerians, in favour of personal enrichment by people in power.
Issues like this dominate much of Blackface Naija’s music.
His debut album boasts at least four songs, including the popular ‘Hard Life’ that addresses different issues around corruption, police brutality and political oppression.
READ ALSO: Nigeria @66: Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu urge Nigerians to remain united
Ko Gbadun – Mr Raw ft Duncan Mighty (2012)
Ko Gbadun – Mr Raw ft. Duncan Mighty
Only rapper, Mr Raw can make you hurt and laugh at the same time. He has a rare skill for mixing ibo and English vocals in a song, and even more striking is his ability to blend comedy into his songs effortlessly, no matter how serious his message is.
In ‘Ko Gbadun’, aided by the unmistakable vocals of Port Harcourt Boy, Duncan Mighty Mr Raw lays out all that is wrong in the political affairs of Nigeria, from election rigging and failed campaign promises to poor worker welfare and stunted national development, making us laugh and dance through the pain. For some reason, Mr Raw’s music hasn’t earned the respect it deserves, but if you follow his art closely, you’ll rank him high for the way he gets his message across.
Jose Abuku, a music enthusiast, writes from Markurdi, Benue State.
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