This is our weekly teaser where i expect you to comment on the issue discussed which obviously affect us in the society at-large. Here is the issue for the week....expecting your comments.
Making More Sense Than Non-Sense
Nigeria as a nation is characterized by systems which ordinarily should be responsible for its meaningful growth and advancement. Such sectors as Sports, Entertainment, are potential revenue boosters for any country with focus. The United States of America attained its respectable position and envy of other countries (developed) of the world, not merely because it is simply the Super-Power in-terms of technological progression. No! but for its Music and Movie industries are ranked the best and among the highest income earner for its economy. Across the black continent, specifically the West coast and Southern region, there have been flashes of promising economies in countries occupying these areas.
Focusing on the entertainment scene, this is an avenue which is highly sensitive in uniting people of different races and ethnic backgrounds. In the US, California (Los Angeles) is known as the entertainment capital of the entire world (just as Lagos is for the whole of Africa) due to its well established framework of the sectors. Such are practiced in the most formal manner. Back in Africa, it’s a good thing when imitating the “masters of the game”, but not making the best use out of it. Though Nigeria is a force to reckon-with on the black continent: in music, our artistes are top rated compared with their African counterparts while Nollywood is ranked third best in the world behind Hollywood an d Bollywood; we still have much to achieve.
It is no more gain-saying that Nigerian music artistes, through creative skills and marketing strategies, have attained an unprecedented top-spot in the music arena, not only on the African soil but around the world. This has given majority of music followers in the country reasons to patronize our own and once more put some level of confidence in the next generation that are yet to graduate onto the big stage. Music greats like 2Face Idibia, 9ice, P-Square, OJB Jezreel, amongst others, managed to create some niches for within the music empire, and are widely celebrated within and outside the borders of Nigeria. They are exceptional in meaningful lyrics, stage performance, quality productions, etc. however, some shortcomings have been observed with the so-called new generation artistes, who all in the name of Hiphop refused to blend-in positive values of our culture. Kudos to the likes of Lord of Ajasa, Da Grin, Cash 11, for exporting our local dialects in rap music thus giving the people what they really could relate-with. It is a shame therefore that some others do not seem it fit to be creative enough, instead they prefer propagating explicit contents with little or no sense in the lyrics.
Flipping over to the “Make Believe” sector, the Nigerian movie industry has equally experienced a “Boom” though less compared with the music arena. An avenue that could boast of production of almost 50 – 70 movies on monthly basis, spanning across the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa genres. Although Nigeria’s Nollywood is ranked third World best, it translates to many things to different people. For some, it is as a result of the expansion experienced in Nollywood, others would want to argue on the exposure of our actors and actresses beyond the shores of the country, and it goes on and on and on……. To be candid and for the facts( as criteria for this part of the world), Nollywood is currently third best movie industry in the world, not for anything but for the volume of productions observed within the spate of months. The rating is not heavily based on the quality of the films or choice of locations, but for the fact that Nollywood remains an eye-opener for Africa to the rest of world. South Africa with its high level of exposure, its movie industry is way below ours. These commendations, however doesn’t mean that we have achieved the impossible. The overall quality of our productions: clean and sharp pictures, clear audio; still need to be looked into. Indigenous expertise as crew members should be allowed to discharge their duties effectively; not in the case where one man would be playing the lead-role actor, at same time directing the movie, managing the screenplay, and as well the producer. Things have to done the professional way and consequently regulate the production volume which must reduce to a reasonable number on monthly basis.
All other organs of the media must support this cause for a change of positive attitude and mentality, appreciating our rich cultural norms and values, thus encouraging its preservation. Necessary laws should be made to legalize the process and set-into-play as Check-and-Balance. Props to fellow MCs representing here on campus, keep doing your thang, positively though. Collectively, we can create genuine professionals in the Show Business (Comedy inclusive), it could definitely become a surprise money spinner for Nigeria especially in the midst of the meltdown of world economy.
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