By Mutiat Lawore
Songstress and one of Nigeria’s brilliant vocalists, Waje, on March 24, 2019, took to her personal YouTube page in a 12-minute video clip where she shared an emotional outburst, lamenting about the current state of the music industry and the reception of fans towards her style of music.
Opening with a series of screenshots of social media users, discussing the state of the Nigerian music industry and the attitude towards what they perceive as ‘good music’ with her name regularly mentioned, Waje is seen on a bed with her hair undone and no form of makeup worn, as she flips through her phone, soaking in all that was been said about her music and the poor reception by the fans.
Then she is seen in a phone conversation with her friends identified as Fatima and Tolani (who later show up at her house), as she expresses her frustrations at how her efforts into the music is not getting its due reward.
“I know how much time and effort has gone into this particular album… I’m at that point where I’m just… maybe, it is time to just bow out,” she expressed.
She further spoke about “bowing out when the ovation is loudest.
“I don tire,” she cries, “I don’t have faith in this anymore… I am not willing to do this thing anymore… Do you know how much I have invested in this career thing?
“I don’t want to be in the class of artists that have failed; I don’t want to be in that class. I just know that I have come to the point where I just don’t think it’s working for me anymore,” she concluded.
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With her outburst, which generated lot of conversation online. Some fans expressed the opinion that she was just seeking attention while others felt that the female musicians were being treated unfairly in the industry, as the men are very dominant in the music game.
Years back, we had top female artistes ruling the game with the likes of Sasha P, Kemistry, Bouqui, Weird MC, Kel, among others. The formless structure in the industry got lot of us asking the question, ‘Where are Nigerian female rappers?’
However the sudden outburst of Waje has further shown that a lot of the female artistes are feeling unaccepted in a industry where the male dictates all. However, one fact remains that everyone has a blame and question to answer, from the label owners, artiste, media, industry stakeholders and a bulk of it all to the industry at large where there is a particular praise given to certain genre of music (Pop Music) thereby putting aside other brilliant acts whose genre of music is totally different to the grooving pop sound.
Like every other field where creativity is deployed, talent is never enough and Waje’s cries, genuine or not, is not peculiar to her and for someone like her, who has been in this for so long, and has tasted both the good and bad sides, this should be no surprise.
It is an industry where the female artiste, no matter her status, is a prey and usually subject to the crumbs left by the male artistes; same faces of artistes are being used, as headliners to events at all time. The industry has been unfair and everyone has been a victim of its failings, only that it is been served in different measures.
While the Nigerian music industry needs to do better, it has become more important for female musicians, now more than ever, to see the importance of working together to form a more united front and make a movement out of their little numbers.
Needless to say that the solution to this is not far fetch from the fact that the industry, most especially the stakeholders, should consider giving a fair field of play to all genre of music rather than been biased to a particular sound. Also finding a label willing to take on not just female artists but artistes whose sounds may not be route to short term gains is difficult but not impossible. One willing to be patient, in it for the long term, support, finances and help introduce their music to a larger audience while giving them room to make the type of music they have always chosen.
It is pertinent to note that artistes in the same zone as Waje, who believe in good music and setting the right standard, are usually less appreciated in an industry like ours unlike overseas where all genres get a fair share. Artistes like Brymo, Aramide, Bez, Waje, among others invest majorly in maintaining a standard of excellence and their originality, hoping that it translates into success but the industry has proven that there is more to breaking through the competitive ceiling than that and yes, it can be exhausting.
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A lot of artistes are currently facing depression, thanks to social media where only few can share their pain for others to learn from; the industry have further shown that it is not meant for the weak or a talent with no purpose and direction; it’s Waje’s outburst today, no one knows who is next in line.
The industry needs proper restructuring and a body like COSON and other top ones can help in salvaging the situation. Our artistes need to be paid their royalties, as at when due. Putting out a good music takes lot of creative process but it can be frustrating when these efforts are not appreciated.
Over a decade ago, Waje made a major entrance unto the scene, as she emerged as the glorious vocals on P-Square’s hit anthem, ‘Do Me’ in 2007.
In 2019, Waje alongside her close music friend, Omawunmi, teamed up together to create ‘Hernanes Media’, which provides services, such as film/TV Production, TV advert, content creation, brand events activation and creative digital marketing. With Hernanes Media, the duo has releases their first body of work, titled: She is’, which is currently doing well in cinemas across the nation.
