It was the renowned musical firebrand Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who famously described music as a weapon. There is also a conversation to be had about music as an archival tool. Throughout human history, we have used music as a means of remembering and recounting events and momentous occasions. Nigeria is no different; 65 years after independence from the United Kingdom, one can trace a history of the country’s existence through songs and musical compositions. 

From the dreamy-eyed optimism of the immediate post-Independence era, the bitter aftermath of the civil war waged between 1967 and 1970, and decades of successive military rulership, an alternative history of the country can be gleaned from the work of musicians who have tinctured the entertainment factor of their music with a more subtle call to remembrance. In honour of Independence Day, we have compiled a list of seven songs that give a glimpse into the Nigeria of their eras and let us know a little bit more about who we are and where we are coming from.  

“Zombie” by Fela Kuti – 1976

Fela was never one to bite his tongue, and on his 1976 album, ‘Zombie,’ the Nigerian military was the subject of his ire. Comparing them to zombies on the titular track, he critiques the Nigerian military for carrying out the whims of their leaders to the detriment of everyday citizens at a time when Nigeria was in the throes of successive military regimes. This song is thought to have been responsible for the military’s attack on the musician’s Kalakuta Republic on February 18, 1977. More than 40 years later, “Zombie” has continued to be an instructive guide into the political and social structure of Nigerian society in the 1970s, giving a glimpse into a country governed by despotic authoritarians. 

“Osondi Owendi” by Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe – 1984

Fourteen years after the Nigerian Civil War ended, Highlife was once again in an enviable position as one of the leading music genres of the day, and the peerless Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe was one of its foremost practitioners. Built around a spin-tingling string and percussive section, this melodic masterpiece was built around the philosophical assertion that one person’s meat is another’s poison. Released squarely in the midst of a national oil boom that reshaped several facets of the Nigerian state, “Osondi Owendi” is a soothing, timeless classic that continues to hold steady and thrill listeners decades after its release. 

“Send Down the Rain” by Majek Fashek – 1988

Few songs have the power to establish the legend of an artist like Majek Fashek’s “Send Down The Rain.” A timeless classic of epic proportions, it launched the solo career of the Reggae star and was the soundtrack to a year of immense rainfall across Nigeria. It is perhaps fitting that the rains have returned just in time for Independence Day in homage to the Rainmaker. 

“The Way Forward” by King Sunny Ade and Several Artists – 1995

In 1995, Nigeria was experiencing severe political turmoil. General Sanni Abacha, the military head of state, had displaced the interim government installed in the aftermath of the June 12 Elections and imprisoned Yoruba billionaire and philanthropist, Chief MKO Abiola. King Sunny Ade, one of the founders of the musicians’ union, Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN), rallied his colleagues with “The Way Forward I.” This 12-minute-long tune revels in positive messaging on good citizenship and community participation, eschewing hatred of all kinds, serving as a salve for citizens in troubled times. 

“African Queen” by 2Baba – 2004

In the wake of Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, a creative renaissance was taking place in the country’s music industry. By merging influences from Hip-Hop, Soul, and R&B with local genres and rhythms, a generation of young musicians was reshaping the cultural landscape of the country with a sound that would reach global audiences just a few years down the road. 2Baba’s “African Queen”  best exemplified the soothing appeal of that creative experiment, delivering a strong canonical addition to the list of unforgettable African pop songs. It was Afropop just before the attention of the entire world was attuned to what was happening on the Western coast of Africa. 

“Jailer” by Asa – 2008

Nigeria’s democracy has been fanously referred to as a militarized democracy. That honest summation of events is the subtext for Asa’s breakout single, “Jailer.” Truth be told, at the time when “Jailer” dropped, it was Alt-Pop that stood at odds with what was available at the time in Nigeria, but the thematic resonance of the song’s message elevated it. Years later, it sounds as timeless as ever, pulling up a mirror to a Nigerian society that continues to fall short in its responsibility to itself. 

“Ye” by Burna Boy – 2018

Recorded in a backroom at Quilox, a popular nightclub in Victoria Island, Lagos, it’s an irony of sorts that “Ye” became the anthem of a generation of young Nigerians. Still, the reasons for its ascension to the list of top Nigerian songs are all visible upon listening to it: Nigerians are jaded and just want to have the good things of life without losing their lives and landing in mortal danger.