Violence and Popular Music in Nigeria
Author(s):
Nkechi M Christopher
Publication Year:
2013
Type:
journal article
Journal/Book Title
NCUE Journal of Humanities
Publisher
Editor(s):
Pages:
135-148
Volume:
8
Issue:
Abstract:
Youth music culture is relatively a new phenomenon in Nigeria, but the rise of hip hop/rap threatens the survival of other genres of popular music targeted at youth audience, such as rhythm and blues (R&B), reggae, afro-beat and yo-pop. Innocuous as youth music may seem to adult Nigerians, it may contain elements with potential to provoke or aggravate violence. To determine what this newly discovered culture could reveal about violence in the system, and particularly among youth, a group of youth were asked to assess popular music with bias to violence. The premise is that music could reveal the mindset of its composers and consumers. In a descriptive study, essays written by undergraduate students were analyzed to ascertain whether youth music contains elements of violence in title, lyric, beat, narrative and video presentation; and whether violent music elicits aggression from the consumers. Violence in society can be restrained by taking cognizance of potential causes of violence, and managing situations that can engender violence. This can be done by examining various aspects of community life, events, communication and language use. This study of music violence reveals that artistes, by being accepted by their youth audience, do influence their consumers‘ behaviours through their music.
Citation (Chicago Author-Date):
Christopher, Nkechi M. 2013. “Violence and Popular Music in Nigeria.” NCUE Journal of Humanities 8: 135–48. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/33185251.pdf.