Feminism: Music, politics - when will our women finally lead?
The nation has tried many male-spearheaded governments...
It is still March; the third month of the year, last month of the first quarter, and the month for women to be celebrated across the world.
The term feminism might have been rightly, wrongly or overtly used and thrown into the stratosphere of mankind through various cheekiness in the Nigerian music industry, sports, literature, and perhaps, politics.
Dissecting the political and pop culture angle of this parlance in a retrospect. Few days ago, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a keynote speech at the 14th Annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, (WimBiz), an event organized by the Executive Chairperson, Mrs Olubunmi Talabi, and was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
Speaking on "Press for Progress: Women, Politics and Nation Building", the former military leader said he is ready to throw his weight behind women for leadership political positions in the country in the next 2019 elections.
"Human beings are the same, men and women. Gender inequality has cost Africa so much.
“Negotiate as 2019 election is coming, but the table is turned against you. In 2019 election, women must have a place of honour," said Obasanjo.
Such an advocacy from a man whose daughter and wives have been at the fore front of political and social movement for women in the nation building, and their personal and business development.
Embedding the pop culture side on a detailed survey, the industry has seen enormous talents bred and nurtured from not so immemorial time; from Onyeka Onwenu, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Evi Edna Ogholi and Salawa Abeni to the era of Sasha P, Bouqui, Bukola Elemide (ASA), Waje, Omawumi, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Chidinma, Cynthia Morgan, and recently, Simi, Niniola, Aramide and Teni to name a few.
In the 80's, Christy, Onwenu and Salawa battled the likes of King Sunny Ade (KSA), Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Sir Shina Peters, and Victor Uwaifo for relevance and dominance but they failed to outwit their male contemporaries.
No one can blame them for the botch, reasons being that it was such a strange thing for people of diverse ethnicity and culture to cloud their visions with images of a lady, who ventured into a male dominated business - music - and with all the show and razzmatazz it brings along.
Back then, Nigerians see women in music as high-graded call girls for politicians and fat cats in the society. Much can be said about Afrobeat legend, Olufela Anikulapo Kuti, who got married to 27 female dancers. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (first woman to ride a car in Nigeria) was at the forefront of activism. Funmilayo later died in 1978, when she was thrown from a third-floor in Fela's house by a thousand armed military personnel after storming Kalakuta Republic (Fela's house). Fela would later divorce his female dancers.
But the norm has changed and the assumptions have been trailed by mixed reactions, and female artistes now give better and clearer pictures of the industry.
The late Igbokwe, on her part, changed the narratives of the Nigerian music industry before her demise. The Seun Rere crooner organized the first meeting of music practitioners and pushed for the platform, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), where issues regarding the interest of Nigerian artistes are being properly advocated for. In 1981, KSA became the first PMAN president, Late Sunny Okosun as Vice while she served as National Treasurer. Still women were still behind, but she later became the first female president of the association from 1996 till 1999.
With Ebenezer Obey massive record sales and KSA's Grammy nomination in 1983 and later in 1988. Christy and other female artistes never took the lead. The start of the new millennium didn't change anything either as Sasha P, Kemistry, Bouqui, Waje and ASA still couldn't break the male dominance.
Though the narratives could be different for Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage as they have won numerous local and international awards, sold out shows, massive views on YouTube (a feat achieved by the former via her Johnny video). But for all the success recorded by these Amazons and their co-gender in the music industry, they still cut it low on the big stages and on the biggest prizes' pyramid table.
In terms of relevance and dominance, the pyramid table has been densely populated by their male folks; of David Adeleke (Davido), Ayodeji Balogun (Wizkid), Olamide Adedeji (Olamide Baddo) and other B-listed male artistes.
The Davidos and Wizkids have shown tenacity to keep soaring higher. The year isn't complete without these headlines: "Davido, Wizkid sweep AFRIMMA awards", Olamide wins big with WO" and so many other related headlines. Just little lesser awards remain for the female artistes to scramble with the B-listed male artistes.
Unlike the political scene, where the men have failed the nation. Perhaps, someone living above a dollar and earns money via illegal importation and exportation may likely argue the above statement but to an average Nigerian, he/she will agree to the fact that the past and present administrations have all failed the country in every sector, music industry inclusive.
The nation has tried many male-spearheaded governments, seen how the People's Democratic Party (PDP) being overthrown by All Progressive Congress (APC), and how the female gender seldom takes the leap but falls flat on dominance, perhaps on topmost relevance too.
16 months ago, the United States (US) president, Donald Trump, and Democrat Hillary Clinton slugged it out in the presidential poll before the former emerged victorious. Certain persons cited Trump's victory as a battle against feminsm having its roots in America and the world at large.
Comments by veteran broadcaster, Funmi Iyanda after the election read: "The female, the immigrant, the black, the different are not going away but maybe the veneer of pretence will so tear pant season can start?" Iyanda tweeted.
The biggest pop culture industry in the world is situated in the US and it is dominated by male artistes but over time, the tide has changed as females like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj et al have taken the Hollywood lead.
Back to Nigera, just like how the APC dethroned the PDP, sooner or later, the women in music, politics and every other sector will dethrone their male folks and stake their claim for the biggest prizes.
But when they take the lead, Nigerians will hope that things 'change' for good in the music industry, politics and every other sector, and not otherwise.