Fashion and music trends in the 21st century Nigeria

Abstract

Fashion and music are vital constituents of music videos, and the Nigerian entertainment industry which has risen from a place of obscurity to global relevance. From the Afrobeat genre which is traceable to the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to the most recent - Afro-pop or Afro-fusion which is traceable to contemporary Nigerian artists like Wizkid, D-Banj, Davido, Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Niniola, Omah Lay and many others. Nigerian artists have continued to make bold statements with their fashion and music styles around the world. Using two Nigerian artists – Burna Boy and Yemi Alade, this study examines the influence of fashion and music in African entertainment and the world by extension. This qualitative research employs Molefi Kete Asante’s (2003) “Theory of Afrocentricism” as its theoretical framework and argues that both artists use their fashion and music styles to make social commentaries on issues affecting Nigerians, while promoting the Nigerian culture as well as combating negative narratives of Africa.