I do not have children of mine yet. But, it is better I start fighting for my unborn children since they say prevention is better than cure. I am not a moralist neither do I have the right to judge anyone, but this is a sincere appeal to Olamide, aka Baddo, from a showbiz fanatic and writer.
I know Nigerians are in love with Olamide. I am aware that crucifying him is like crucifying the average people on the street. He represents the street, and his grass to grace story has given hope to many youths.
However, if he continues to sing what he sings, we may need to forbid his music in our houses. Failure to do so means children will continue to become adults quickly, as his lyrics, in most cases, expose them to things we find disturbing for their ears.
Have you taken time to pay attention to the lyrics of most of Olamide’s songs? If you have forgotten all, ‘Who U Epp,’ is still fresh.
Anyone who thinks I am witchhunting the singer or I don’t like his face or music, is wrong. I am possibly his biggest fan. I grew up in Bariga, Lagos, the same humble neigbourhood from where Olamide conquered the music industry. I have experienced the struggle he’s experienced and the state of hopelessness he’s experienced.
So, if sharing the same root is not enough to convince you that I mean well for him, you could as well visit the Internet to read the lyrics of ‘Who U Epp’ and digest them.
Before I had the opportunity of listening to ‘Who U Epp’, the song had become a national anthem of some sort. When I finally listened to it, I fell in love too. How he effortless turns simple things to songs is amazing.
The beauty of the song made many Nigerian artistes to make a version or cover of it. Wande Coal, Phyno, Lil Kesh, Mz Kiss, Chink Ekun and a host of others did different versions. But I noticed that Olamide was unnecessarily vulgar. I say unnecessarily because I believe he could do without some lines and still make sense with the song.
In ‘Who U Epp,’ he said something like, ‘Ye se frapapa, kilo gbena papa. Kini nkan na, kini toti lapa.’ This is the most lewd part I noted in the song.
For those who do not understand the Yoruba dialect, what he said was scornful of the female sexuality. The exact translation of the words are not worthy of being put in print.
Inasmuch as music has no limitation and there is freedom of speech, we should be aware that music is a viable tool for education. What we put out there has a way of influencing the people who listen to it, especially the young ones. When we say violence is okay, demeaning women is okay and alcoholism is okay, it has a way of affecting the society at large. I mean the mindset of people who are looking up to such singers.
Though ‘raunchy’ lyrics seem to have become Olamide’s signature and it is working for him, for the sake of our children, he should apply caution. In other words, he should start using his music to educate and inspire the young ones. He did it with a song like ‘Melo Melo’ and a few others. So, it is something he can do.
In a recent conversation with a leading gospel DJ in Nigeria, Afojeare Campbell, aka DJ Gospoeralla, he compared music with soccer. According to him, music that came out of Nigeria in the past taught people about life and it was inspirational in a way.
He said, “The likes of Segun Odegbami and Muda Lawal played real football in Nigeria, but there was no money to take home. Jay Jay Okocha came and made all the money. It is similar with the music of today and then. Those who started it, produced music that one could relate with. But they didn’t make so much money. The younger ones are just making noise nowadays; we have been pushing for good music and family entertainment.”
