WOMEN IN NIGERIA MUSIC INDUSTRY (2)

Hi everyone. I'm sorry guys it took me so long to do this sequel to International Women's Day- Women in Nigeria Music Industry. It's primarily because I have other careers I'm setting up (check my bio). So, anyway I'm back and by the grace of God I don't see me taking such break again.

So, back to the matter. Which is the reason why our ladies are lagging behind when compared to female artists in the American Music Industry and the solution. Let's understand the goal here. I think it's very clear men will always dominate patriarchy or not. I mean from the difference in makeup and nature. But I wouldn't want to delve into that. Simply put, this whole issue revolves around patriarchy and in a grand scale the solution has to do with maturity as patriarchy gives way to civilization. This isn't just theory or philosophy, its history, even music history. It was like that in the American Music Industry. Before the 60s you could very hardly find women being outstanding in music. Women only just had the right to vote recently (1920) after about a century and a half of independence of the United States of America and as it naturally is, after that came more freedom and naturally as well, it was going to take a little more time for freedom to sink in and taken advantage of. And so the 60s gave us the Supremes (who sort of rivaled the Beatles in popularity), Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin. And the rest is history as they say. Therefore, in our case, we have to seek more freedom for our girls and women and give more time for freedom to sink in.

So you see, that is why I think Onyeka Owenu is seriously under appreciated, to think she did what she did in that era. What she did was not only because of talent alone. Not at all. To be that bold to pursue music from a young age, sustain the passion, and pull it off with dignity and modesty. I mean, I've been a very devoted Christian for well over ten years and I don't know any song of hers that cannot be sung in the church. Plus do you know she worked at the United Nations for many years and also worked at NTA and was remarkable there before her reign in the Music Industry. People who know music know that music is not something you encourage people to get into in their 30s. Plus music is something that doesn't share time and commitment with other careers. So what she did takes great deal of talent and character. So I encourage any talented female artist to learn from her, take her as your mentor. And please don't forget her character. In fact I think that's even more important. Character is something that is seriously underrated and under appreciated. But to be frank it's even more important. It's just that people don't understand it. 

I know maybe one may want to say it's because I'm a devoted Christian as I said, and say there are female artists who were and are provocative in dressing and performance that were successful. I'm not going to go to great details about character but just note that it's something I have focused on for a long time and will always focus on because it's a way of life being a devoted Christian. But let me shock you with this. Madonna, as lewd as she was, was mainly successful because of her character. Many women have tried to do what she did and failed seriously. In fact it would have been better if they just played clean because it ruined them. It takes character to handle pressure and still deliver. I certainly don't condone her lewdness but that's just one part of the whole picture just as Jay-Z's success cannot be attributed to his image as that crook from the hood. I mean check this out, Jay Z sitting with Warren Buffet in a Forbes interview, both teaching you how you ought to live your life to be successful. So you see, the majority of people don't understand the subject of character. People in the American Music Industry in Madonna's era would tell you she was very business savvy. It's very easy with such an image to just make a total mess of everything. Do you know how many times people would have offered her to indulge in vices that could destroy her career that she turned down, for example drugs? But instead she delivered and was consistent. That takes focus, hard work and discipline. It takes great amount of character to do what she did because it's a very dangerous path to tread.

So let's not forget the lesson learned. We should as a society work for more freedom for our girls. Let patriarchy give way to civilization. And for our ladies learn from Onyeka Owenu, be determined to hold on to your passion and pull through with character and courage regardless of what society thinks.