In Lagos, we work hard so we play harder
Banky W and Eldee have managed to fill our collective eardrums with information on exactly what goes on in Lagos when folks decide to cut loose and enjoy. The saying goes “Lagos na so so enjoyment” and true to form, every night starting on Thursdays, Lagos City comes alive with men and women dancing, drinking and grooving away the stresses of the week.
In a city where we hustle from daybreak under extreme working conditions, it is not uncommon to catch the impoverished spending their meagre earnings and affluent flaunting the benefits of their wealth on multiple rounds of alcohol and party extravagancies, which Banky W and Eldee manage to capture in the lyrics of their hit party anthems “Lagos Party” and “Big Boy”.
With their infectious hooks and hip shaking baselines, everyone from the guy selling recharge cards in traffic to the Senator on the floor of the House become Big Boys with stunner shades on.
The W Experience
Banky W has a new album coming out this year called the W Experience. “Every album that I’ve done so far is usually a snapshot of the time. You will know when I had a crush on someone, you’ll know when I was in love or when I just wanted to have fun and that’s basically what the inspiration for the W experience was.”
So when I ask if he is in love, the cherub-faced crooner admits, “Right now, I am very married to my music and to the ideas and goals I have for myself and getting myself to be the best man I can be. Marriage is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life and hopefully God brings me the right woman and hopefully I am satisfied enough with my circumstance to provide for that woman and future kids, so stay tuned.”
Problem has changed name
Eldee is married, and with a child on the way he still finds time to produce, write and record records on his label Trybe records. Formerly of the group Trybesmen, he is known in the industry as an architect of the genre we know now as Afro-hip-hop.
He has recently transferred his energy to galvanizing support for his brainchild, Light Up Nigeria, a platform to engage the country in discussion about our crippling demand for diesel and alternative sources of electric power.
“People have sat back and watched for too long and Light Up Nigeria is a campaign to get people talking about the real issues we have in Nigeria, power being the biggest one.”
With daily tweets on the micro blogging website Twitter, Facebook and lightupnigeria.org to rally the support of notable figures in society, local news organisations and the everyday man, to spread the word. “With power in Nigeria at least 50 per cent of our problems or more would be solved, either by virtue of companies coming here to set up small businesses or owners being able to sustain their businesses at reasonable costs. The reason why nothing has been done is because we are very complacent people. If we talk about it enough then whoever comes into power after the current government will have to take it as a serious issue. If we make enough noise about it and can even get the international community involved, questions will be asked.”
We have tried to gather facts from the government and it seems that there is some sort of cartel behind holding up the entire country to make some money. We are trying to bend their arms backward using their own information. We can’t fight the government and we are not interested in starting any rebel groups; we just want light.”
Generational Generalisations
A few weeks back, an article published by the chairman of the editorial board of the Guardian Newspaper Reuben Abati criticised a generation of Nigerian musicians. Both Banky and Eldee were mentioned. The article sparked intense debate for weeks on the blogosphere and offline.
In defence of their fellow musicians, Banky and Eldee penned articulate rebuttals online to what some felt was an unfair and poorly researched generalisation towards an entire generation. Banky explains, “The argument that musicians and music are on a moral decline is an age old debate. People will stereotype and judge you if you don’t show them what you are made of. It is about us trying to put our best foot forward.”
Though Banky has not run into Mr. Abati since then, he assures me there are no hard feelings on his end. “It wasn’t about insulting anybody and I think people took it too far on the Internet with some of their comments. It was an intelligent intellectual discussion. He raised some points and I felt like there were too many errors and contradictions in those points he tried to make. The points have been made and we can move on to other things now.”
Eldee offers his candid opinion on the exchange. “I really would love to meet Mr. Abati in person. Being at the head of a reputable medium of public opinion, it is important to be careful about the information that is put out there. You cannot fight an entire generation based on your own personal opinion. If you don’t understand it, try to find meaning for it or just leave it alone”.
Music and Regulation
Eldee explains that the Nigerian music industry has its upsides, “Music has made Nigerians look inward. I think music is the only thing that has brought us as a people together after football disappointed us. We have built a semi industry. Now there is actually a business out of entertainment.”
Banky adds, “The business side of the industry needs help, though. Issues with piracy, bootlegging, publishing, licensing, royalties and making money off actual CD sales. Theses are the things that uphold the music industry in other parts of the world. I would hope to see within the next 10 years, these problems being adequately addressed for the future generation of artists.”