Music  “a corner stone” fueling African Renaissance in age of globalisation

By Robert Kigongo 

African Musician from Nigeria Damini Ebunolulwa Ogulu commonly known as  Burna Boy tours in Europe at Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin and LANXESS arena in Germany registered exceedingly overwhelming numbers of music revelers in attendances from Germany and across  Europe.

Burna Boy joined Benin born rapper Divine Ikubor musically known as REMA who has recently thrilled 02 Arena in London to full capacity with his near-ubiquitous song “Calm Down” for a stunning performance in United Kingdom.

Burna Boy and Rema are not the only African Musicians dominating Global Bill boards and international news but rather joining Temilade Openiyi aka TEMs, David Adeleke aka DAVIDO,Robert Kyagulanyi aka BOBI WINE from Uganda,Diamond Platinum of Tanzania,Angelique Kidjo of Benin,South Africa’s Tyla laura, Black Sharif and  Amaarae from Ghana respectively shaping the African narrative at the Global level.

Africa continues to be Music powerhouse with genres ranging from Afro beat,raggae,poetic,&B,Soukous,jazz,juju,Mbalax,Zilin,Gnawa,Mbaqanga,Rababah Benga,Palm wine the list is endless.

Let's put a touch at how Music is fueling African Renaissance beyond just entertainment. Music effect can significantly be a corner stone that will effectively position Africa’s renaissance in the age of globalisation with an objective to bolster its visibility,economic strengthen,recognition,progress and contributions.

Since the turn of millennium, African music has been extremely active in producing African futures but surprisingly African Music and its contributions have been anachronistically isolated from renaissance studies,Africa in all forums,conferences and Agenda 2063.

Africa Renaissance is a philosophical and political movement geared towards ending Africa’s challenges in a global contexts.

African has progressively worked on Political stability,Security,foreign investments,economic and infrastructure growth, regional integration,signing international treaties,establishing Multilateral relations now that its a member of G7.

Unfortunately Africa has not paid attention Music’s contribution in its social and economic growth and its potential to be a cornerstone and a major concept in African renaissance in the age Globalisation.

Music industry can encourage and directly attract global leaders and multimillionaire dollar companies elsewhere in Europe,United Kingdom Asia and America to prioritise Africa and forge dialogues and new perspectives that will increase foreign investments,visibility,recognition and economic growth in a global context.

Music’s contribution can be added to the debates and recent concepts in African renaissance

Music’s modernities of revolution,reform and restitution can be special purpose vehicle to Africa’s renaissance to end violence,elitism,corruption ,illiteracy and  poverty that are believed to plague the African Continent and replace them with a more just and equitable order.

Music is expected to generate 500 Million United States Dollars by 2025 is clear signal to the continents future.

Music sector significantly contributes Two Billions ($2B)in revenue per year to Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and ranked 39TH in the World in terms of nominal.

Music has crossed pollinated the African cultures and value-sets and boosted tourism; for instance Angelique Kidjo from  Benin performed at 2020 Olympics in Tokyo Japan before millions of people dressed in African Cultural wears, in the same year Benin generated 202.60 Million US Dollars in the tourism sector alone that directly boosted Benin's economy with 1.2 percent of its gloss domestic product and approximately 12 percent of all international  tourism receipts in West Africa.

African economies leverage on tourism revenues to create Jobs,building infrastructures like roads, schools, markets.

Musician Tiwa Savage performed at the coronation concert of King Charles III at Windsor Castle while  David Adeleke musically known as Davido performed at closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar the biggest sports event in the world which retrospectively changed the perspectives about the black in the amidst glaring racism thus minimising racism tendencies and changes African narrative hence calling for equality and equity in the world, but most importantly showcasing Africa as a continent with so much talent,potential and Venture opportunities in a global contest.

 

Musicians are vibrant,young,innovative,enterprising and digitising, they can help translate their comparative advantages  and help to Africa translate into economic growth by leveraging their combination of economic,investing,and technology expertise into a solid Africa based team that will consequently attain a unique deal flow and we build the Africa we want.

Africa leaders should pay extra attention to music as a concept beyond entertainment.

 

Wherefore my point in case Music is corner stone to scaling up African renaissance in the age of globalisation.

 

KIGONGO ROBERT

The Writer is a sustainable development analyst.

Robertinez07@aol.com.