It is pretty common to hear Nigerian artistes mention foreign lands in their songs, most times aspirationally. What is definitely less common is to hear foreign musicians name-check Nigeria in their music.
Here are six instances where Nigeria has been mentioned in song by foreign musicians.
READ: International music stars who derive inspiration from Fela
1. Reflection Eternal – ‘Ballad of the Black Gold’
Talib Kweli had Nigeria and particularly the oil spill in Ogoniland on his mind on ‘Ballad of the Black Gold’, a song off RE’s 2010 Revolutions Per Minute album.
He rapped, ‘And make examples of the leaders, executed Saro-Wiwa. Threw Fela’s mom out the window right after they beat her. In an effort to defeat hope. Now the people’s feet soaked in oil.’
2. Dizzy Wright – ‘Red Balloons’
A father himself, Dizzy released a touching tribute in honour of families who have lost their young ones in 2014 and he remembered the missing Chibok girls in Nigeria.
He rapped, ‘Praying you get through this – For a child we lost today, Lord knows it ain’t right – I pray for peace I pray for strength – No child should be killed – Bring them babies back in Nigeria.’
3. Alicia Keys – ‘We Are Here’
A well known advocate for peace and justice with her ‘We Are Here’ movement, Alicia Keys mentioned Nigeria on her song of same title as she sang, ‘Let’s talk Nigeria, in a mass hysteria.’
4. Mistah F.A.B ft Keyshia Cole – ‘All Around The World’
In his 2016 song aimed at addressing the ills in the world, F.A.B opened his lyrics with: ‘Pray for Paris, what they tell us while Nigeria burn.’
He really let his heart out.
5. Royce Da 5’9 – ‘Pray’
On 2016’s ‘Pray’, Detroit rapper Royce had prayers for everybody struggling with trying times in their lives, countries and people of colour battling oppression.
On the song’s opening verse, he rapped: ‘Don’t pray for me, pray for Paris, pray for Nigeria, pray for peace, pray for your marriage – they need you more than me, pray for them.’
6. Cyhi the Prynce – ‘Weak People’
GOOD Music rapper, Cyhi called out his rap colleagues who wouldn’t use their voices for good causes and would rather rap about their bling and drink.
Y’all muthaf*cking spent ten bands on the muthaf*cking section in the muthaf*cking club, tens bands’ll build a muthaf*cking home in a muthaf*cking neighborhood in Nigeria.’
Sometimes, a little of these consciousness in music matter…
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