Nigerian Music Videos: Stepping Up Quality Play
Foreign music videos were better than those produced locally. Despite hits like: Nico Mbanga (Sweet Mother), Osita Osadebe (Osondi Owendi), Oliver de Coque (Boni boni identity), Mandy Brown (Taxi Driver), Onyeka Owenu (One Love), Lorine Okotie (His love is that medicine ), Charly boy (Before Before) Chris Okotie (ABC), Evy Edna Ogoli (Happy Birthday), Felyx and Mozes (Free), Felix Liberty (Ifeoma), Stella Monye (Nigeria, survives), as seen in one of my articles. “The flourishing of the Nigerian music industry”, the artists failed to have the desired impact on the international scene, based, among other things, on the colossal and poor quality of the video.
The ’90s era wasn’t dramatically better than the’ 80s, probably in the mid-’90s when the music genre crawled down the path of rap / hip hop and the use of our local language in songs began to make the music industry was more entertaining than it was in the 80s. The Remedies (Edris Abdulkareem, Eddie Montana, Tony Tetwila) fit it and became the rave of the moment at the time. Plantation Boyz (Tu face Idibia, Faze, Black Face) were amazing and rose to greater heights before the group broke up. The launch of Tu face Idibia’s solo career with his hit song “African Queen” catapulted him to the top. Most Nigerians liked his first video, but unfortunately he had to re-record another according to the direction of a popular foreign music TV channel. Style Plus’s “Olu Fumi” also had a good video compared to many that burst onto our televisions. Paul Play’s hit song “Angel of my life” also had a great video.
Perhaps the turning point for making good quality videos comes from the P-Square stable with the video for their hit song “Do me” that was filmed in South Africa. The video certainly hit the international standard mark with several music-inclined TV shows in Nigeria constantly showing it. Artists challenged by the solid production began traveling to South Africa, the United States, and parts of Europe to record videos of their songs. They also featured white-skinned women dancing in the videos. Most of the top-rated artists sponsor directors who have carved out niches in the art of making quality video. First on the list are DJ Tee, Clarence Peters (CEO of Capital Hill) and Bobby Hai.
The rise of Cally Ikpe’s Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) and Sound City Music Video Awards (SMVA), which aim to reward artists with top-notch videos, has also contributed to the rise of good productions. quality. Additionally, artists with good videos have easy access to air on MTV Base, Channel O, and other international music channels, further opening doors that tend to give them access to fame and fortune.
Good, creative videos are catchy and draw attention to the artists and of course the director. Quality music videos that have caused a sensation in Nigeria and even beyond include, but are not limited to: P- Square (Do me, Roll it, Ifunnaya), Dare Art Alade (Not the girl, More), Tu face Idibia (If love is a crime), Kel (Too fine), Keffi (kokoroko), Naeto C (Kini’s big thing), Bouqui (Take away), Infinity (Olori oko), Asa (Fire on the mountain), TY Bello (Green Earth , Ekundayo), Gino (No be God), Djinee (Lade), DJ Jimmy Jatt (Too much ft Sasha, Blaise, kemistry, Bouqui), Alabai (Voice of God), Mo hit all stars (Pere), Omawunmi (En music), Nikki Laoye (I never felt like this), Steel (South African girl).
Nigerian music videos have undoubtedly helped artists to get international accords / awards and they are getting better day by day. The P-Square duo won the KORAH awards held in 2010 in Burkina Faso in the category of “Artist of the Year”. The twins went home with the jackpot of $ 1 million.
Access to the latest high-tech cameras / technology, wild creativity, high level of professionalism on the part of the directors, will make Nigerian videos the talk of the town in foreign countries.
