Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Davido,2Baba, D’banj, Kizz Daniel, Psquare, etc. What do they have in common?
They are Nigeria’s biggest Brand Ambassadors, the best of our popular culture who are projecting our image and making Nigeria a force in global entertainment. These musicians have continued where our football stars abruptly left off.
After Atlanta ’96 Olympics, Nigerian football came on the center stage because of that sensational Olympic soccer gold. But we couldn’t sustain the success. Nollywood’s emergence was another flash in the pan on the world stage. We, however, gained recognition as the world’s biggest movie producers after Hollywood and Bollywood. Again, we have not been able to dominate the movie arena or create the kind of impact many expected.
Thank God, the new generation of Afro-fusion music stars, have used elements of Afrobeat to create a new form of music that is uniquely Nigerian, but universally accepted. The popularity and success of Burna Boy, Davido, and the others on the world stage is a clear testimony of the success of the Nigerian music brand across the world.
These artistes sell out concert venues in Europe, America, and Africa. Asia is waiting to celebrate them. It is now left to the Nigerian government to leverage this brand and clean up our country’s battered image.
The Afro-fusion stars have shown the world that Nigeria is not just a nation of fraudsters, drug pushers, and corrupt politicians.
We’re creative and resourceful people in need of inspirational and patriotic leaders.
We hope these young boys and girls will continue to promote our music and consolidate our brand globally like the reggae stars from Jamaica have done with their music.
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