Raggae Music In Nigeria: Pioneers And New Generation Artists
10 September 2020
Photos: Twitter/Vanguard Newspaper
By Khisa CJ
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The genre is today widely known and popular across the globe.
Just like other countries globally, Raggae is equally popular in Nigeria. It became a major part of the Nigerian music following the rise to prominence of the late Majek Fashek who died earlier this year.
During Majek Fashek's dominance, he was, like most of the Raggae Music artists at the time, part of a band. His was named 'The Jahsticks' Band.
Some of the other pioneers of Raggae Music in Nigeria include Daniel Wilson popularly known as Mr. Ragamuffin who introduced his brand of ragamuffin music to Nigeria, Orits Williki, Peterside Ottong, Andy Shoreman, Alex Zitto, Evelyn Ogoli, Wale Man, Isaac Black and Jerri Jheto.
Others are Daddy Showkey, Ras Kimono, Rymzo, De king, high school band of Victor Eshiet and Peggy Umanna, The Mandators and the London-based MC Afrikan Simba.
With the help of FM radio stations, Raggae Music found its way into the Nigerians in the 1980s.
As the pioneers in the genre reached their peak and started heading towards an exit, a new generation of artists was slowly coming up.
With the changing dynamics in the music industry and emergence of different genres, Raggae Music in Nigeria also had a change in its face.
The new generation of Raggae artists would start fusing the genre with others like Hip-hop, Rhythm and Blues (R&B), Dancehall as well as the Afrobeats which has a West African touch.
One of the outstanding Raggae Artists in Nigeria today is Patoranking who describes himself as the next big thing after the late Jamaican Raggae legend Bob Marley.
Several Nigerian singers among them Olamide, Victor AD, Burna Boy, Davido, Seyi Shay, 2Baba and Harrysong also fuses some elements of Raggae genre in their songs once on a while.
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