{"id":32660,"date":"2019-11-15T12:43:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T10:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=32660"},"modified":"2020-04-27T03:33:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-27T02:33:43","slug":"new-voices-nigeria-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/new-voices-nigeria-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"The year of the underdog: the rise of new voices in\u00a0Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32662 size-full pam-featured-content pam-featured-content\"   src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641-759x645.jpg 759w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641-1010x859.jpg 1010w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641-661x562.jpg 661w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641-465x395.jpg 465w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2be50d99-fireboy-dml-1-e1573813682641-375x319.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #127db5;\"><b>These y<span style=\"color: #127db5;\">oun<\/span>g artistes who \u2018blew up&#8217; in 2019 are the future of the Nigerian music industry.<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Picture:\u00a0Fireboy DML<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #127db5;\"><b>FIREBOY DML\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u201c<a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Wtjjz1nCOYA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jealous<\/a>\u201d wa<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0song. Featured in 2018 on the in-house\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">YBNL Mafia\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">album, the song grew into a force of its own in 2019, when its visuals were released. On it, we see a love-struck Fireboy marauding the streets of Lagos, searching for a departed lover. In his crazed moments of The Search, the director flips the linearity, featuring scenes which depict warm moments of love and sexually-charged activities. Suitably, Fireboy DML revealed that it was inspired by a personal experience. \u201cI had a roller-coaster affair with a young lady that turned into an unhealthy addiction. I wanted to relive the experience in a song, so I did.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since \u201cJealous,\u201d Fireboy DML, born Adedamola Adefola, has risen through the ranks, carried on the wings of his music, which he chooses to describe as Afro Highlife. His songwriting skills are impeccable, his voice too. His fashion, fashioned by Uncle Soft (a Lagos-based fashion designer and writer) is avant-garde, one which leans on the experimental and detached coolness of youth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His singles include \u201cSing\u201d (a collaboration with Oxlade), \u201cWhat If I Say,\u201d \u201cYou,\u201d and \u201cKing,\u201d his latest song, released with accompanying visuals. One of Fireboy\u2019s biggest wins so far will be his performance at the O2 Arena in London, alongside Wizkid at the Starboy Fest. While he performed, Rema won the Headies Next Rated back in Lagos, surely the new kids are here to stay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fireboy DML, in what seems like forever, has shared details for his debut album, titled \u201cLaughter, Tears &amp; Goosebumps.\u201d It will be released under the YBNL imprint on November 25<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<br style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-32663\" src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n.jpg 960w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-759x759.jpg 759w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-661x661.jpg 661w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-465x465.jpg 465w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-375x375.jpg 375w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5ba7a21a-697072711159006531178861854467067667808256n-73x73.jpg 73w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #127db5;\"><b>JOEBOY<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The song<span style=\"color: #333333;\"> \u201c<a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I6wzhp4g2Cw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Baby<\/a>\u201d has been one of the most enduring songs of the year. In Nigeria, the song is played in many social<\/span> gatherings. Joeboy, the artiste, was an unlikely challenger for Artiste of the Year at the start of 2019 but the narrative changed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2017, Joeboy posted a video on Instagram of himself covering Ed Sheeran\u2019s smash hit \u201cShape of You.\u201d A friend of his sent it to Nigerian singer Mr Eazi, who immediately DM\u2019d Joeboy \u2013 he wanted to help the new artist break through.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A year later, Mr Eazi created a talent incubator for emerging African artists, called emPawa Africa \u2013 a full-service company offering marketing, distribution, publishing, label and management services. He also launched #emPawa100, a funding and mentorship program, and encouraged Joeboy to sign up. And Joeboy did, becoming one of 10,000 applicants from 14 countries. As part of the program, he was the first of 100 recipients to earn a share of a $300,000 grant aimed at helping a new generation of African artists find mainstream success. The artiste, born Joseph Akinfenwa-Donus, has been the poster face for emPawa\u2019s growing influence across Africa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On November 8<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Joeboy released his debut project,\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Love and Light,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0a six-track EP. Mr. Eazi has also revealed that in December, Joeboy will headline his own show in Surulere, a middle class suburb in Lagos, which doubles as a spot for emerging creatives. There\u2019s also a US and Europe tour forthcoming for the 22 year-old Afropop star in 2020.\u00a0<br style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30212\" src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rema-jeune-prodige-de-lafrobeats.jpg\" alt=\"rema\" width=\"863\" height=\"575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rema-jeune-prodige-de-lafrobeats.jpg 660w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rema-jeune-prodige-de-lafrobeats-465x310.jpg 465w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/rema-jeune-prodige-de-lafrobeats-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #127db5;\"><b>REMA\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This 19 year-old, born Divine Ikubor, is having perhaps the fastest come-up in Nigerian music history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas he was just last year a kid in Benin City, this year, after being discovered by D\u2019 Prince, he has, on the back of three Eps, risen to prominence in Nigeria and surely <span style=\"color: #333333;\">beyond.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #333333;\">\u201c<a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/rema-dumebi\/\">Dumebi<\/a>,\u201d the banger produced by Ozedikus, was the propelling force. Its sound was instantly likable. <a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/tag\/rema\/\">Rema<\/a> banked on his youth, pairing it with his artistry \u2013 an unstoppable force was born. His music is a curious child of genres, from afrobeats (\u201cLady\u201d) to trap (\u201cWhy\u201d), to emo-rap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #333333;\">With the coveted Headies Next Rated to his name, next year promises to be even bigger for Rema. He\u2019s recently put out a video for \u201c<a style=\"color: #333333;\" href=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/rema-lady\/\">Lady<\/a>\u201d and he\u2019s scheduled for a tour in America; Rema is shaping up to be a real superstar: there seems to be no market he cannot break into.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #127db5;\"><b><br \/>\nHONORABLE MENTIONS<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artistes like Tems, Lyta, Barry Jhay, Buju, Blaqbonez, Crayon, and Oxlade, amongst others, have also proven themselves to be capable of ushering a new guard. Among these names, many hits are shared, and much hope for the immense possibilities inherent in the future of Nigerian music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #127db5;\">Read next:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #127db5;\" href=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/5-best-nigeria-ghana-collaborations\/\">The 5 best Nigeria-Ghana collaborations<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These young artistes who \u2018blew up&#8217; in 2019 are the future of the Nigerian music industry. Picture:\u00a0Fireboy DML FIREBOY DML\u00a0 \u201cJealous\u201d was\u00a0that\u00a0song. Featured in 2018 on the in-house\u00a0YBNL Mafia\u00a0album, the song grew into a force [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":32662,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[87],"tags":[],"location":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32660"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=32660"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=32660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}