DJ Kaywise teams up with DJ Maphorisa and Mr Eazi for new dance tune, “Alert”

Posted on by The Native

When house music took off in Nigeria a few years ago, some wondered if it could compete with the well recognized South African house scene. As it turns out, the artists were more interested in collaborating with each other than competing. “Alert”, the new single by DJ Kaywise, is only one of the many pan-African house music collaborations as he features DJ Maphorisa and Mr Eazi for the groovy celebratory anthem.

Though DJ Maphoriza is probably more reputable for his work, mixing behind turntables to get parties rocking, it’s his lesser recognized vocals that take the centre stage on “Alert”. His auto-tune assisted verse in his native South African language sits comfortably in the middle of the catchy Afro-house beat and Mr Eazi’s street-savvy flex. The colorful music video features dancers, showing off the several dance moves that fit into the rhythm of the synth led beat.

You can watch the music video for DJ Kaywise’s “Alert” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/DJ Kaywise
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Mr Real gives his “Legbegbe” hit a South African remix featuring Niniola, DJ Maphorisa, Vista and DJ Catzico

DJ Sammie Iconic and Ayo Busari feature David Meli and Buju for their debut single, “Farabale”

Posted on by The Native

David Meli and Buju are products of the Yoruba fueled Afropop scene. They both give off effortless charm on their songs, crafting lyrics and melody influenced by Yoruba slurs. DJ Sammie Iconic and Ayo Busari feature the two singers for their debut release, “Farabale”, a romantic ballad set to the breezy lightweight ambiance of the mid-tempo beat Mari produces.

While David Meli is loose and free-flowing, taking the first verse and the chorus, Buju’s verse is penetrating. The two pair their styles to sing the praise of their love interest on “Farabale”. Their charming lyrics, alternating between descriptions of their feelings and promises of the extent they’d go to prove their love, are convincing with the traditional influences reminiscent of simpler, more romantic times.

You can stream DJ Sammie Iconic and Ayo Busari’s “Farabale” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/daviid_meli
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Buju’s latest single, “Energy” made our Best New Music pick

Watch the music video for GBNGA and Gxnxsis’ club ready new single, “Cherry B”

Posted on by The Native

Terror Squad’s ironically danceable attempt at an anti-dance rap song, “Lean Back” already established rap music’s proficiency on dancefloors in 2004. Though storytelling remains crucial, the really wavy rappers have no problem infusing a bit of melody and swag to get listeners grooving to their tunes.

It’s no longer hip to pass the Courvoisier in the club, but GBNBA’s is about to make British cherry wine, “Cherry B”, a staple at clubs with his catchy new single named after the liquor. Lightweight synth led instrumentals set the sultry mood for the charming performance from the London based rapper and featured artist, Gxnxsis, as they exchange ambitious stories of their night-out; “Got a Brown Skin Thing Named Amber/ Wasn’t Born In Moscow, She Ain’t got no Russian Standards/ So I Freaked it”. The music video Gbenga Saka directs also stays within the party theme as we watch GBNGA and Gxnxsis partying in a LED lit room while pretty model chics play monopoly at a round table.

You can watch the music video for “Cherry B” below.

Featured Image Credits: Youtube/GBNGA
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to Earl Jon Doe flex on haters on “Kanaku”

Dayo Blaq features Tonero, Jay R, Jimi Cooper and Bondo for new single, “Signal Waves”

Posted on by The Native

Dayo Blaq’s new single, “Signal Waves” is at once a boast, a love song, a subtle threat and a celebration anthem, all laid out over the atmospheric beat he produces. Thanks to vocal contribution from Tonero, who sings the hook, Jay R, Jimi Cooper and Bondo, the song fuses lounge R&B with rap, Afropop and Reggae for good measure.

Though the dark piano keys are brooding, the bouncy drum riffs create a groovy backdrop for Tonero, Jay R, Jimi Cooper and Bondo to tell their cock-sure tales of bravado, swearing they have “Hoes in Different Area Codes” like Ludacris in the early 2000’s.

You can stream “Signal Waves” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/jimivibecreator
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to FOKN Bois feature Mr Eazi for their “True Friends” single

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s ‘The Boy Who Harnessed Wind” heads to Netflix this March

Posted on by The Native

Chiwetel Ejiofor’s much-anticipated directorial debut ‘The Boy Who Harnessed Wind’ has been one of the most talked about projects from this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Based on a true life story, novelised by Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, ‘The Boy Who Harnessed Wind’ is an adapted screenplay based on Malawi’s famine crisis of 2001. Ejiofor’s film follows young Simba, a 13-year-old schoolboy, who has hopes of helping his famine struck community.

Like a lot of post-colonial African stories, themes of modernity are juxtaposed against prevailing traditions like praying to the gods for basic amenities like water. With the help of a support system including Chiwetel Ejiofor himself who plays Simba’s father, Trywell Kamkwamba and Aïssa Maïga, who plays Simba’s mother Agnes, the 13-year-old figures out a way to use the wind to help his people—as the title implies.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is expected on Netflix next month, as well as at selected theatres.

See the trailer below:

Featured Image Credits: Telegraph

[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

Mariam is (insert pretentious stuff about myself here). Share your thoughts with me @MA_Y_M

Check out Chiwetel Ejiofor as Bishop Carlton Pearson in Netflix Biopic, “Come Sunday”

Listen to “Kokosa” by Zlatan, Juls, Damibliz and Worlasi

Posted on by The Native

Despite being majorly influenced by rap, Zlatan’s impression of Afropop is primarily a dance genre. He came into the spotlight last year with his Zanku dance move that has become a regular feature in dance videos and practically everyone’s social media feed. His latest release, “Kokosa”, is another dance inducing record backed by catchy production from Juls and guest verses from Damibliz and Worlasi.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtjIoaOHNk_/

Their combination blends beer-parlor pickup lines with a lightweight drum riff and ambient synth production that matches the liquor induced buzz. Zlatan, Damibliz and Worlasi perform verses aimed at winning the affection of a love interest, but the slurry vocals and their playful lyrics give the impression that they are more interested in having a good time than having any sort of serious relationship.

You can stream “Kokosa” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/julsbaby_

[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch the music video for Zlatan, Davido and DMW’s “Bum Bum” here

See Kiddblack and Darkovibes in their music video for “Snapchat”

Posted on by The Native

Kiddblack and Darkovibes released their “Snapchat” single earlier this month and have wasted no time following up with a befitting music video. The romance themed song is Kiddblack’s first single for the year as he and his La Meme Gang partner tackle the negative influence social media can have on millennial relationships.

Over twangy guitar riffs, catchy Afropop drums and percussion harmonies Frank Sowah Boye produces, Kiddblack asks his ex “Why You Say You Love Me Then You Just Walk”, hinting at the instability that often plagues relationship. The video Edgar Tagor directs follows the song’s plot, opening with a fight scene between Kiddblack and his ex then showing him as he shows off his new girl on Snapchat and blowing up on TV screens, while Darkovibes performs his chorus from behind the wheels of a Ford. It’s a classic display of how millennials handle break ups.

You can watch the video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/kiddblackrapgod
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to La Meme Gang’s “Stone Island”

Best New Music: Buju’s “Energy” is Afro-fusion twist to conventional love songs

Posted on by The Native

Music pundits bucked when Burna Boy first described his sound as “Afro-fusion”, simply because it was a fusion of sounds umbrellaed under African inflections. Understandably, this was before Wizkid’s patio-mashed Sounds From The Other Side, Odunsi’s funk-indented game changer, ‘rare’. or Burna’s own, ambitious third studio album, Outside.

Afropop is in its most innovative time in history. Hip-hop, as a DIY-influenced parent genre to the sound, has undergone a series of socio-economic shifts that have altered the genre from what it is was ten years ago. As a result, adjacent genres like Afropop, Carribean Reggae, Latin Soca and more, have become even more expansive and accessible. Self-described Afro-fusion artist, Buju, who has mostly relied on familiar Afropop tropes for previous releases is proof of this trend.

His 2018 release, “Wahala” tapped African folk-influences while retaining all the dance elements of any good pop song. “Energy”, his latest track starts out more ambitiously, with oriental guitar-chords and violins, seemingly setting Buju up for a ballad. The pace of the track picks up on the chorus, however, with synths backed by soft drums, and Buju softly cooing “All I really need is ener-ener-energy”. 

Like any good pop-influenced ballad, the track is dedicated to a relationship Buju tells The NATIVE, he used to hold dear in a past life.  But it’s hard to tell how much he’s outgrown all the parts of the relationship that kept them together when he recounts differences that kept their relationship dynamic. “You like Bonnie and Clyde, I like rhythm and vibes”, he sings, on the acapella bridge that further brings the track into focus when he adds, “You like the way I smile, I like how you say hi, I’m so glad that you’re mine, don’t you ever say bye”

Afro-fusion is the most simplified summation of popular African music at the moment; and not just as a mere buzz word to avoid more specific definitions. Beyond combining fringe sounds, like Buju’s “Energy“, the philosophy behind Afropop compositions have gotten more sophisticated with the range of influences and themes that are harmonised into every new release.

Stream Buju’s “Energy” below:

Toye is the Team lead at Native Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

Best New Music: SOLIS’s “watch me” is the birth of a new kind of artist

Listen to “4 Play” by Mut4y and Shaydee

Posted on by The Native

Mut4y’s latest single, “4 Play” features Shaydee, who contributes vocals for the romantic ballad. While Mut4y, one half of the Legendury Beatz producer duo, sets the song’s lightweight ambiance with percussion harmonies, guitar harmonies, looped synth lines and a mid-tempo traditional drum riff, Shaydee rides the groove, laying his laid back melody over the breezy beach party atmosphere Mut4y contours with DJ scratch samples.

Singing “Move Slow For Me/ Want You To Know, There’s Something I See”, Shaydee keeps the song’s subject matter within the confines of the dance-floor. The longing expressed in his passionate and emotive performance is however convincing enough to serve more significant themes like consent and sincere intentions in relationships. Though he asks “Is It me That You Want?” repeatedly, he never loses step with the lightweight vibe of the beat.

You can stream “4 Play” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/mut4y
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to Mut4y’s “How Deep Is Your Love” featuring Wurld

Africa is getting its first NBA affiliated league, “Basketball Africa League (BAL)”

Posted on by The Native

The All Star Weekend held a pleasant surprise for basketball lovers in Africa even though Nigerian born Giannis Antetokounmpo was unable to defeat Lebron James’ team at the NBA All Star exhibition game. On Saturday, basketball in Africa was spotlighted and given more life when the association announced that they would be going pro in Africa next year when they launch “The Basketball Africa League (BAL)” in collaboration with FIBA, the sport’s global governing body.

Just as the league’s global impact spreads to Africa, African players have also made their impacts felt with Akeem Olajuwon imprinting his name in the league’s hall of fame and others like Serge Ibaka and Victor Oladipo heading in a similar direction. African fans have also benefited from the league in the past through the building of several training camps and an elite NBA Academy centre in Saly, Senegal. The league’s investments in Africa has helped provide opportunities for young African talents to be discovered by international scouts and drafted into the NBA. However, the launching of The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is going to help the continent even more as it is expected to strengthening the local teams as well as bring investments into sports in Africa.

No new team or franchises is expected to be created for the BAL, leaving room for already established African basketball clubs to build their fan bases and develop their talents for the more competitive regional league. The association shared the plans for a 12-team league that would feature teams from 9 countries including Angola, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco. No more than two teams are allowed to represent each country and though it’s still unclear what teams will feature, a qualification tournament has been scheduled for later this year.

BAL is expected to tip off in January, 2020 and according to an NBA respondent on their website, several NBA team owners have expressed interest to work with the league in Africa. Brands like Pepsi and Nike’s Jordan brand have also reported reached out to be part of the league while former US president, Barack Obama has been lauded for the significant role he played in bringing the African league into reality.

You can watch the inspiring video for BAL’s announcement below.

Featured Image Credits: Twitter/NBA

[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Africa’s only NBA Academy got an elite basketball training center upgrade

See the women of Tarkwa Bay in trailer for new documentary, “Life At The Bay”

Posted on by The Native

Tarkwa Bay often evokes feelings of relaxation and well-deserved vacations to outsiders. The story of the real islanders that have lived all their lives on the archipelago, however, has never been so sunny. The juxtaposition of luxurious holiday spots against the squalor they experience has been a source of a lot of well-meaning campaigns driven towards spotlighting some of the issues. But some of the narratives have also been mainly driven around the poverty, which skewers the perspective of their daily lives as a people with history.

In Life At The Bay, the new documentary by filmmaker, Nora Awolowo, the lives of the women of Tarkwa Bay is depicted through a lens that aims to prevent the erasure of their stories. Producer, Kiki Mordi spoke to The NATIVE saying, “We decided to document the stories of the women who live in probably the poorest island in Lagos If you look hard enough you’d see that they carry the shoulder of the island” she said, adding, “We spoke to a lady training her 9 kids by being a fisherwoman but we never hear these stories. So it was important that we told it. We just had to. So these women won’t be erased”.

This historical documentation purpose of Life At The Bay is important. The island has existed for nearly 150 years since the first settlers from the Benin Republic in Togo began to inhabit the land. Over the years, individuals and multinational corporations, have come to the island to either benefit from its resources or cop some of its lands. According to this 2015 interview with Chief Olatunji Maxwell who is the ruler of Tarkwa Bay, the island had neither benefitted from giving access to the public nor supporting big corporations like NNPC. At least not in the way that counts for real progress to happen. In his words, even the companies with offices at Tarkwa Bay often ignore its active virtually unemployed youth population, to opt for out-of-towners who will work on the island.

Life At The Bay is expected for wide release in the coming weeks.

See the trailer for Life At The Bay below.

Watch Mr Real get romantic for his “Antidote” music video

Posted on by The Native

We rode the “Legbegbe” wave with Mr Real, well into 2018 with several DJ remixes and an official remix that combined the Nigerian and South African house scenes competently with features from Niniola, Vista, DJ Catzico and DJ Maphorisa. However, his debut release for this year, “Antidote”, finds him in a more reflective state as he tries to charm a love interest with his auto-tune assisted vocals and sultry lyrics.

Cracker Mallo produces the catchy mix of synth harmonies, Afropop drum riffs, rattling samples and a Spanish guitar riff to set the romantic ambiance for Mr Real’s romantic performance. The sultry sentiments he expresses are also highlighted in the music video HD Genesis films directs for “Antidote” as it follows Mr Real entering into his lover’s mansion, where their skin is bath in the red and blue lights.

You can watch the music video below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/MrRealVEVO
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: NATIVE EXCLUSIVE: Mr Real tells us everything real about Mr Real and his street-hop hit, “Legbegbe”

Nigerians react to INEC’s postponement of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections

Posted on by The Native

Rumours of election postponement has been swirling on social media since the beginning of the week. Multiple reports of INEC having logistical problems has trailed the electoral body since the dissemination of election materials began. Last night, the internet became awash with new reports that INEC officials were unable to deliver sensitive materials to certain parts of the country. This piled up to a list of other indications that the agency may still be unprepared to manage the elections for the initially slated date.

In the early hours of Saturday, The Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) announced the postponement of Nigeria’s 2019 elections due to unspecified reasons. As expected, young Nigerians have been making comments on the postponement online all morning, here are some of their thoughts below:

According to INEC, Nigeria’s presidential elections will now hold on Saturday the 23rd of February. The NATIVE urges young people who were looking to cast their votes today to not be discouraged by this postponement from exercising their civic responsibility.

New World Ray is kicking off the year with a new video for “Infatuation”

Posted on by The Native

“Infatuation” is the first single off New World Ray’s upcoming album, Run Forest. Since this is the lead single off a highly anticipated, New World Ray appears to be building a world around Run Forest. In this new video, the rapper is seen hazily waking up fully-clothed but drenched from head to toe. The scene unfolds with New World Ray wading through the waters of a shallow slow-running stream. It’s hard to tell what led him there, but as shots reveal New World Ray in a bathtub and Kid Kudz elsewhere in the video, a bespoke punk-styled universe is built around Run Forest.

See New World Ray in Run Forest below

SOLIS seeks reassurance from a lover on her new single, “my love letter to u”

Posted on by The Native

The ghostly cassette-player effect of the lo-fi beat Yusei produces for SOLIS’ new single, “my love letter to u”, has an arresting presence. Not because it calls attention to itself, but because it set a woozy backdrop for SOLIS’ otherworldly confessional as she peels back her guard and addresses a lover she seems to have fallen out of favor with.

“my love letter to u” is built off the tension between her conflict-filled lyrics, her chilled-out delivery and the quiet groove of the beat. Though the relationship she describes seems hopelessly doomed; “When Did You Realize You Fell Out of Love? When Did You Look at Me and Realize I Ain’t the One?”, she remains optimistic with her soaring falsetto, conjuring up wistful sentiments. Unlike the popular trope of perpetual melancholy for soulfulness, “my love letter to u” uses story building to express that same longing, hazy mood that makes sad songs so compelling.

You can listen below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/solis4evr
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Listen to “watch me”, SOLIS’ feature on Best New Music

Listen to Dara Blaxx’s earnest plea for affection on new single, “All Mine”

Posted on by The Native

There’s a tense air we try to ignore between the moment we realize we are helplessly in love with someone and when we eventually tell them about our feelings. Because there’s always a chance that our feelings won’t be reciprocated and our hearts would be torn to shreds, it takes courage to get past the nerves and Dara Blaxx’s new single, “All Mine”, has all the elements necessary to serve as a reassuring caress, stressing the importance of expressing our feelings earnestly.

Over a synth bed of harmonies TC Flexbeats produces, Dara Blaxx’s silky voice emerges singing “Don’t Want You To Get Scared/ Oh Baby, Honestly, I Can’t Help it/ You’re on My Mind and I Think You Could Be Mine Forever”. The immersive hum of the 90’s house synth harmonies add a compelling edge to her romantic confessionals, expanding then contracting to match the ebb and flow of her melodies. When she closes “All Mine” singing “I Need You To Be All Mine”, there’s an echo effect that fades away slowly but leaves a lasting effect that’ll make butterfly jitters exciting enough to shout of your love from the rooftop.

You can stream Dara Blaxx’s “All Mine” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/darablaxx
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Check out all the essentials from 234jaydaa’s ‘Crescent Moon Collection’ project debut

Larry Gaaga and 2Baba profess their love on new single, “Iworiwo”

Posted on by The Native

Everyone closed the topic on the potency of 2Baba’s romantic pen game since his “African Queen” hit single from 2004. The singer kept up his heartfelt confessionals even after getting married to Annie, who featured as a muse in the music video. The flames of their romance remain vibrant as ever as she gets yet another love song dedicated to her and makes an appearance in the music video.

Larry Gaaga and 2Baba have collaborated for a new single, “Iworiwo”, a love song that inspires a romantic beach themed music video directed by Tilt Productions. Over the mid-tempo guitar led beat Marvio produces and layers with ambient synths and laid back drum riffs, 2Baba sings of his lover’s beauty, admitting that “Winter Time, I Want To Stone You Snow/ Summer Time I Wan Take Off Your Clothes/ Harmattan, I Want To Rub You Lotion”. Larry Gaaga also contributes a verse, professing his love to Uche Nwaefuna in the heartwarming music video, while 2Baba and Annie Idibia also enjoy their private time at the beach.

You can watch the romantic music video for “Iworiwo” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Larry Gaga
[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: See the music video for “Gaga Shuffle” here

Korede Bello shares new single, “Joko (Freestyle)”

Posted on by The Native

Korede Bello has had it with the proud attitudes from people clearly don’t have as much money as he does. He makes a point of calling them out on his latest release, “Joko (Freestyle)”. And to further stress the point, he also started a #TheJokoChallange where he promises to give out 500k each for 5 people who participate in the challenge (a rapper, a singer and 3 dancers or a dance group).

“Joko (Freestyle)” has a lightweight synth led beat with a catchy drum pattern that should turn #TheJokoChallenge into a trendy conversation for dance-floor enthusiasts. Still, the sticky beat doesn’t distract from Korede Bello’s subject matter; “Olowo No Dey Pariwo (Rich People Don’t Shout)”. 

You can stream Korede Bello’s “Joko (Freestyle)” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/koredebello

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Nigerian born Greek player, Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to captain the Eastern conference at this year’s NBA All-Star game

Minz is stepping up his video game. See “Skin” his first release of the year

Posted on by The Native

Two years since we first heard Minz’s sugary “Odoyewu”, and the neo-Afropop singer is still out doing his own wins. Since we last spoke to him for our Issue 1 Trybe story, the singer has been moving around West Africa doing radio rounds and performing shows where he is invited. Minz has already risen to unprecedented popularity in Gabon, thanks to 2017 sleeper-hit, “Talk”, becoming a national chart-topper.

“Skin”, his latest single dropped at the tail of 2018. Though Minz inclination for tones and colours became evident with the release of his video for “Odoyewu”, “Skin” will probably do a lot more to establish Minz as the master of all chromes. Featuring models of different dark skin tones, Minz shows off love for varying skin tones, with scenic shots of the singer amidst beautiful women. “Skin” is the first video from Minz this year, perhaps there will be more to expect in the coming months.

See Minz in “Skin” below:

[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

Toye is the Team lead at Native Nigeria. Tweet at him @ToyeSokunbi

Falz holds up a mirror against the Nigerian society on “Hypocrite”

15 young Nigerians tell us why Valentine’s is not a thing for them.

Posted on by The Native

Another Valentine’s Day is upon us and as always it’s about booze, commerce and sex. And probably dinner, none of it necessarily in that order. It appears that the church’s plan to replace the drunken orgies of Lupercalia with the tamer Valentine’s Day isn’t going as planned.

Today, our social media feeds will be filled with cutesy, couple-centric quotes and the thinly veiled competition of “who got what, and how much for?”. Between the annoying couples on Instagram and the quirky anti-valentines, many of whom are lonely singles who take the day just as seriously, navigating Valentine’s Day is an event a lot of people could do without.

We spoke to a few young Nigerians about Valentines, and they all had different perspectives on why Valentines is not a thing for them. Read Below.

Because I don’t understand it. Like why all the pressure to be things you usually aren’t. it’s not based on anything that has to do with the holiday(can i call it that?). so zero sentimental value. feels like something stores and stuff push on us. and it feels like expensive nothing. boring. dumb.  

– T, 20, Female

Valentine’s Day is just an excuse for companies to promote “love” themed products or services. It also spikes candy and chocolate sales (many of which aren’t cruelty-free) Which makes it a candy companies wet dream. It just sucks.

M.B, 23, Female 

Valentine’s Day has never been particularly important to me because I’ve never been in an important enough romantic relationship to celebrate it. I used to be jealous of people who got presents and such from significant others but those relationships are farcical (everybody is cheating) and I don’t even want that type of love anyway. My friends are my actual soulmates and so I ensure to show affection to them on Valentine’s Day because I never do on any other day. That’s a more fulfilling and exciting love than any stupid romance that ends when it ends.

 – D, 24, Female 

The idea of setting a day and colour aside to celebrate love is ridiculous. Valentine’s Day is about helping the poor and not just loving your inner circle.

– P.I, 25, Female

I’m generally not good with events like this. I don’t like birthdays too. This is not even an attempt as being “Anti-bandwagon”. Heck, I like whatever I like, whether na bandwagon or One man Mopol. I think with Valentine, it stresses me too much of a performance it is. And when you work in where I work and see how much deliberate effort goes into making people feel a certain way, just so they can take certain actions – whether it be a purchase or an outing – you start to look at it with an extra one kain eye.

– F, 25, Male

Every day is love day!

– M.G, 37, female:

I don’t want stories that touch in November

– S, 24, Female

Because there’s no romance without finance. (And I don’t have finance.)

– M, 24, Male:

I give zero shits about Valentine’s day because too many people have made it a marker/milestone for the legitimacy of a relationship. Everyone’s idea of a great valentine comes from a mash of tropes from novels and television and hearsay, none of it ever aligns. Full disclosure, I got suckered into a whole valentine episode, food and cuddles then sex in the morning

– E, 31, Male:

While I like love as much as the next person, I’ve never been indoctrinated into the whole concept of bleeding over one day. But then again, I guess I’ll give into the pomp and whatnot if and when my heart does have an especial person in the picture otherwise who Valentine app? Plus the fact that it’s not a public holiday also doesn’t make me bat an eyelid, the whole ceremony around is can be fun to watch though

– B, 24, Female:

In relationships, Valentine’s Day is a headache— another expensive day to plan. You spend money you don’t have on holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, and now, you’re also expected to break the bank for this random day in February. A scam if you ask me.

– T, 28, Female:

Even the holiday’s mascot is creepy. A man dressed as a winged baby in a diaper, following you and your lover around, shooting you with arrows? Um… ok?

– M, 23, Female:

I’ve never been in a relationship like that plus giving gifts and making your partner loved should not be restricted to one day. Plus man’s dinor have money and still doesn’t have money

– D, 24, Male:

Essentials: 234jaydaa’s ‘Crescent Moon Collection’

Posted on by The Native

Whether by accident or design, 234jaydaa’s music releases since her featured on Odunsi’s ‘rare.’ have coincided with holidays. She shared two new singles, “midnight” and “pumpkin”, on Halloween and just released her project debut, ‘Crescent Moon Collection’ in time for the Valentines day. But while her haunting performance on the previous singles seemed in line with the holiday theme, her somber new EP listens more like an ironic commemoration of cupid’s piercing affection.

If debut projects are statements of aesthetic purposes, ‘Crescent Moon Collection’ finds 234jaydaa making a convincing argument for her dream-pop style, pledging allegiance to its enchanting and melancholic sound. Previous releases had shown her penchant for the plush ambient tune, sounding as if she records music in a bubble beneath the deep sea. Her soothing aura of breath reverbs and synth melodies that burble like a water fountain shot in slow-mo give her EP its overarching shape despite features from a jazz music inclined rapper, DAP The Contract and Lady Donli.

‘Crescent Moon Collection’ is a 4 track offering of minimalist dream-pop reveries as 234jaydaa crafts subtly stunning moon pieces anchored by her wispy, compelling vocals and the airy production from Moye Ponnle and Bolu Sonola (Beaauxx). On the opening track, “tuscan sun”, Moye Ponnle creates an immersive loop of wailing synth chords with the hypnotic forward motion of a car engine, while 234jaydaa’s silky voice pieces through, exhibiting her remarkable ability to cultivate an enchanting vibe while singing about her particularly sorrowful summer. The next track, “bordeaux”, features heartfelt rap bars from DAP The Contract who tells a breakup story over lightweight jazz inspired beats.

Lady Donli assisted “nile” is one of the more cheerful cuts from the tape with 234jaydaa using her echoing wispy contrails to embracing heartbroken listeners with reassuring lyrics; “Know Tears Are Flowing But I See Your Smile”. Over the minimalist beat produced by Beaauxx, they blame ‘secret patterns’ for their situationships. The project closes with “absinthe”, a lightweight downer of fuzzy echoing synths and soft drums. Here, 234jaydaa sounds far away from mortal concerns though she sings about being confused in love with her voice emerging from the mist before disappearing into it again.

You can stream ‘Crescent Moon Collection‘ below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/234jaydaa

[mc4wp_form id=”26074″]

You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Check out the essentials for Odunsi’ ‘rare.’ here