LAGOS – A folklore musician, Segun Akinlolu, popularly known as Beautiful Nubia, on Wednesday said people enjoyed folklore songs because it reflects our tradition.
Akinlolu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was only an honest music that would not copy other people’s culture and tradition.
“It reflects the problems in our society, the challenges we face every day and what we are not getting right.
“My music is a traditional natural music, done in a different way, which is contemporary way.
“I try to teach through the music the need for people to be honest, hard working, good neighbourliness, sincerity, love and protecting one another. I sing for societal change,” he said.
He explained that his songs also covered the ancient wisdom and philosophy of the people and how they lived a clean life.
“It is about the wisdom of all Africa that I collected from people and put it into song and let people hear what we have to preach,” he said.
The musician said that the crass form of capitalism and ineffective borrowed governance models had hampered development in Nigeria and Africa.
He argued that it had created several generations of increasingly corrupt minds and an environment in which everyone grabbed for himself and cared for no one.
He said: “Our music is a tool of mass sensitisation. Listen, reflect and take action. Change will come when the people are ready.
“Africa’s biggest challenge is not material poverty; it is poverty of character, workable home grown ideas, dearth of sustainable community development and creative leadership.”
Akinlolu said that it was the kind of poverty that ensured that people never rose out of their lowly state and thus continued to be exploited by their internal and external abusers.
Akinlolu has nine albums to his