Abati's A Nation's Identity Crisis

We should be objective in criticising Mr Abati's article. He has raised some valid arguments. When I listen to the Reggae music that I grew up on in the late 80's and early 90s, I realise that what the teenagers of today are growing up on is all junk. Most of the music that is made by our singers, yes they're all mostly singers, are ephemeral and empty noise. There are those among them that will stand the test of time but the bulk is all a clangy clangy recourse to crass commercialism aimed at an audience that is too light brained to ask for better music.

I recently did an article on Gbenga Adeboye's comedy and I realised that the research that went into his works is far greater than what obtains from today's "star" comics. We have thrown great research to the dogs all because we want to make money.

But I like to disagree with Abati's claim that the word Naija is a neologism of this generation. I first heard the expression "omo Naija" in 1990 growing up in Akure, Ondo state. Maybe the growth of the expression is what troubles him, I can't tell. But he sure raises some valid arguments.