Voicing Resistance: Nigerian Female Artists and the Semiotics of Protest in the Fourth Republic
), Stephen Olusegun Ojo(2), Esther Abosede Azeez(3),
(1) Kabarak University
(2) University of Ibadan
(3) University of Ibadan
Corresponding Author
Abstract
The contributions of female Nigerian artists in the pursuit of good governance have not enjoyed as much scholarly attention as the legacies of their male counterparts. This study explores Nigerian female artists’ participation in musical activism in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Anchored in Music Semiotics, the study generated data through content analysis of protest music of three purposively selected female Nigerian artists – Asa, TY Bello, and Nneka. Asa’s “Fire on the mountain”, TY Bello’s “The future”, and Nneka’s “Africans” within the scope of civic conscience, hope and inspiration for collective action, as well as post-colonial critic. The study provides a critical lens to assess how women engage with national governance beyond conventional politics. It also bridges gender studies and musicology, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship. The artists demonstrate that the pursuit of good governance through art is not a monolithic endeavour, but one that can be addressed from various perspectives. Asa acts as the nation’s conscience, issuing prophetic warnings against docility by both leaders and followers. TY Bello serves as a visionary, building a foundation of hope and civic pride to encourage citizen participation and the right use of their political power. Nneka acts as the radical critic, building upon the model of Fela Kuti, in demanding a complete deconstruction of oppressive systems. There is a need for Nigerian artists to engage more in music activism to create a resonant voice that will help address the myriad of problems affecting the social and political life of Nigerians.
Keywords
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