The art of music making knows no bounds; a record could be inspired by the universe (or divine inspiration), personal experiences or by another record – through sampling or just recreation.
In 2017 alone, a hand full of Nigerian musicians have explored the technique of recreation. Runtown’s ‘For Life’ is a remake of his 2016 hit, Mad Over You. Davido’s ‘Fall’ is a remake of his smash hit IF and the former was birthed as a result of combined influences from old classics.
From Lagbaja’s ‘Gra Gra’, Duncan Mighty’s ‘Port Harcourt First Son’ to Kojo Funds ‘Dun Talkin’, you will find litters of influences in Davido’s IF.
Kojo Funds:
Ye me dun talkin’
Ye me dogs them gone barkin’, yea
Davido:
Are you done talking?
Tell me baby, are you done talking?
Duncan Mighty:
If I do you wrong before, sorry eh
I no dey perfect oh
If I do you wrong before, sorry eh
I no dey perfect oh
Davido:
If I offend e you – if I offend e you,
Biko sorry, o baby take heart oh
Sorry o, baby abeg e take heart oh
Wizkid is wrapping up his glorious 2017 with a new single titled ‘Manya’ and yes it explores the same technique of recreation. Manya is an adaptation of Ghanaian Hip-Life Group – VIP’s 2003 classic, ‘Ahomka Womu’. The hook, the instrumentation and undertone are all a modification of the VIP record.
‘Ahomka Womu’ was a huge song. It was number one on the Ghanaian charts for over 20 weeks; everyone who is 18 years and above must recall how heavy the record was, along with its signature dance move that got the entire continent twisting and turning.
With improved technology, skill, experiences and everything that Wizkid is armed with, one would expect the Starboy do justice to the record. But creative laxity, ignorance and overconfidence won’t let him make an extra effort – Manya is simply one of Wizkid’s familiar freestyles.
There was no stretch of creativity or whatsoever and as a matter of fact, VIP’s version sounds way better.
This doesn’t, however, take away from the fact that Wizkid has scored a potential hit with Manya. The objection is; If you are going taking us down memory lane, If you are going to remake such a glorious record, then you have to put some respect/creative spin to it. Like what Simi did with Sir Victor Uwaifo’s – ‘Joromi’, what Skales and Burn Boy did with Fela Kuti’s – ‘Sorrow, tears and blood’ etc.
Manya is an awful revamp of VIP’s 2003 hit, certainly could have been way better.