Political praise-singing in Nigeria is evolving from traditional Fuji, Jùjú and Hausa musical performances into a growing commercial culture where musicians use Afrobeats, hip-hop and social media to promote politicians and their activities.
The trend, increasingly described as “politainment,” has seen campaign rallies transformed into entertainment events, with artistes composing campaign songs, performing at political gatherings and using their popularity to influence public opinion, particularly among younger audiences.
Musicians such as Rarara, Alheri Group, Mamman Shara, KWAM 1, Pasuma, Saheed Osupa and Sensational Bamidele have become associated with political performances. Mainstream artistes, including Wizkid and Davido, have also participated in political campaigns or publicly endorsed candidates and political causes.
However, the trend has sparked debate over whether political praise-singing promotes democracy or distracts Nigerians from demanding accountability. Critics say it can lower expectations of leaders and replace issue-based political engagement with entertainment, while some musicians argue that political performances are legitimate professional services when artistes are paid for their work.
Leave a comment