The Nigerian music industry being no small fry in the exhibition of creativity and having such robust players, does not evoke surprise as such to be in the league of institutions that have found the need to recognize and award artistic ingenuity and creative impacts.
Like the annual occurrence of the climatic seasons, the waves of awards have again been revved up in the fast-growing Nigerian Music industry. Yet again accolades are rolled out to deserving artistes fortheir impacts in their various categories and production lines in the year under review. It is simmering and the whole sector bubbling.
In recent times more than ever, the new dimension which the desiderata by institutions to appreciate the efforts of individuals through award presentations have worn the verve that nudges inspiration to exert more commitments; also, without barring, they tend to necessitate a wonder on the subsisting motives of such moves.
For so many institutions that have become caught up in the trending frenzy, award ceremonies are occasions to take stock and accordingly recognize the perceived personal contributions of those whom the cap fits, signified by the presentation of plagues and incentives.
Though in occasions of this kind, different schematics make underlining definitives as it signifies different things depending on the organizers, one thing is common and that it is one venture whoseprimary focus is rooted in the appreciation of the indicated efforts. But then, there is absolutely nothing wrong in such gesture if so be that it is geared towards promoting excellence in service.
The Nigerian music industry being no small fry in the exhibition of creativity and having such robust players, does not evoke surprise as such to be in the league of institutions that have found the need to recognize and award artistic ingenuity and creative impacts. To highlight its growing affiliations, the music industry has continued to improve on its capacity to reward and acknowledge key players, whohave supposedly distinguished themselves to this growth. But the question that never ceases to play out at each course of the frenzy: what indeed is being rewarded?
A critical look at the integral substance of the awards would be revealing. There's the Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA; the NMVA, the HEADIES; we also have the MTV, the BET, et als. And even as they are diverse, they remain so only normatively; for they share inherent identity: to recognize musical intellectuality. And today November 29th, the Channel O Music Awards roll out the drum.
But then as to what remains the value they appreciate and the essence they project become things that beat the reasons. A quiet moment in listening and glancing into most of these recipients performances cast aspersion on the values of such awards, for they betray the deep essence of what awards are meant for; as tools for commendation and to spur more commitments.
It's unfortunate that apart from the lyrical flows, which have assumed the integral focus of our music clime nowadays, most of them so flatly lack didactical value. More disheartening is the fact that awards that ordinarily should be means of boost are shamelessly bestowed on these baloneys of our music industry.
By decorating a song whose lyrics is sizzled with profanity and raucousness and awarding a beautiful plague to a video wherein nudity and lewdness predominate, it is either the motive is to project such immoral flirtation or to suggest that the award is as senseless as what it acknowledges.
The problem would have remained an erosion specifically robbing off on the consciences of the organizers, who deem it fit to promote such visual promiscuity in musical videos and shameful assertions in songs, if not for the deteriorating effects it imposes on the moral psyches of its streaming young followers.
I am particularly afraid for the impressions these moves have on our vulnerable and easily suggestible young boys and girls, who have become willing fans to the revolutionalized music industry. A good check of one of the lyrics of these artistes would shockingly reveal the wanton usage of invectives, expletives, weird words and the likes; more discomfiting is the fact that in their perversiveness, they still win the admiration of the awarders to be so decorated.
What impacts does such blind gestures have on the teeming young minds following? Simple, that promiscuity, lasciviousness and profane proclivities are eventually acknowledged. The resultant implication is the growing dereliction to nudity and indecency in the effort to replicate the award-winning dispositions as seen on screens. These shameful postures by the 'reigning heroes and heroines' soon become the in-things, the happening styles.
Even as we would hold to discredit these artistes who are bereft of genuine musics save 'instrumented balderdash' in the name of songs, it would be more dishonorable on those who found such disgrace worth the accolades.
There's the urgent need to restore value to the depleted music industry. We must set apart the chaff from the true musics; and this starts when award peddlers begin to give the right of places in accordance with performances.
The writer is Ahanonu Kingsley, who writing from Owerri, Nigeria