A case for moral values in Nigerian music: A Case study of Slyde and D’prince

Abstract

The controversy that has been in existence is whether or not music is the first art form known to man. However, what has not existed as an argument is the place that music occupies in the life of man both in its functionality and its worth. Music has enjoyed divergent conceptions; it represents the identity symbol of each continent, each generation and each individual. Despite the fact that everyone exercises their fundamental human rights to listen to whatever kind of music they want, it has increasingly become apparent that most of the music in present-day Nigerian society has more rhythm (beat) than sense (constructive message). The media effect theory will be used in this paper since the youth uses media channels to access the music and media contents have psychological effects on youth. (Giles, 2003). This paper, through the qualitative investigation of selected songs, articles, journals and other relevant materials investigates the growing degradation in some contemporary Nigerian music and its subsequent effect on members of the society, and advocates for the subject to be treated seriously for there to be positive change in society. This study posits that there is need for relevant agencies to ensure that apart from entertaining listeners, music should convey messages that point the way forward to the citizenry, the leadership and the society.