Posted by Nigeria is believed to have a youthful population of less than 18 years old, accounting for almost 50% of the total population. Despite having a lot of untapped potential and human capacity, this demographic faces several obstacles.
Many members of Generation Z today want to pursue creative careers, and among them is becoming a musician or music producer.
Musicians from Nigeria have waltzed and thrived in the past because of the wealth of cultural and artistic aptitude that is innate to every Nigerian kid and is passed down through the generations. Unfortunately for modern musicians, the system that has allowed them to develop their skills organically throughout the years is no longer available.
Only 20% of young Nigerian artists reach their full potential and achieve professional success, claims Abbey Afowoslide, a musicologist and live performance artist. Inadequate support systems, such as a lack of adequate and standard music labels, limited recording studios, and incompetent artistes managers and other crews, make it difficult for even the most talented musicians to advance in their careers, and as a result, many musicians give up on their artistic dreams altogether.
The afrobeats genre has been a boon to Nigerian musicians, allowing them to gain international recognition. However, let us take a step back and examine this: throughout the 1980s and 1990s, artists of all stripes were considered to be a bust. This included musicians, actors, and those who performed in the stage.
The standard of compensation given to these creatives is based on the toga and incorrect perception, which persist to this day. For every internationally famous musician like Wizkid, Tu Face Idibia, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Davido, or Yemi Alade, there are a number of similarly talented individuals who either never had anyone to lean on or gave up when faced with the enormous fee structures that studio producers and radio DJs demanded from them when they were just starting out.
Abiodun Folaranmi, better known as Abbey trombone, has been through it all: from parents who are hesitant or outright opposed to their children’s musical careers to young musicians fighting it out in the studio and working odd jobs to pay for their lessons and produce their song.
Problems Facing Independent Musicians
The rise of platforms like YouTube and social media has made it easier than ever for musicians to reach an audience, but according to Shigo Bass, a musician and music producer, that’s only half the battle won. It is difficult for an artist to have his music released if he does not have a record company or a deal with one. The Western world refers to these artists as “Inde” (independent artist), and they usually end up starting their own record label that is just about them.
According to Duro Ikujenyo, a famous Afrobeat veteran and musician, the question of how much technology has changed the paradigm for modern musicians is a big one.