Prof. Tunji Vidal, a Professor of Music and Musicology at the Mountain Top University, Lagos, says that the Nigerian contemporary music industry is falling below standard.
Vidal said this while delivering a public lecture as part of activities lined up to mark King Sunny Ade’s 70th birthday at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The theme of the lecture was: “Nigeria music industry; the falling standard.”
Vidal said the present crop of musicians lacked the vital preparation to take up a career in music.
Vidal, who noted that the old generation of musicians attended mission schools for training before they ventured into music as a profession, said such training was lacking in today’s music.
He said that lack of adequate experience, training and skills on the part of many of the contemporary musicians had created a vacuum in the Nigerian music industry.
According to him, many of the musicians do not spend time in carrying out research on their music composition and lyrics before producing it.
The professor of music noted that olden days songs were more meaningful and able to withstand the test of time than what “we have today”.
Vidal said: “Musicians of today’s generation lack the vital preparation for a musical career.
“Unknown to many people, every profession requires talent, training, skill and mentorship.
“How many of the young people taking up music as a profession has talent for music, how many have developed skills for music making?
“Who trained them, who mentor them, who coached them, who were their song writers?
“For Nigeria music to move forward and maintain aesthetic standards competitive in today’s global market, these questions must receive adequate attention by all those involved in the Nigerian music industry.’’
Vidal commended King Sunny Ade for making Juju music “what it is today’’.
He said: “King Sunny Ade is an aged tested musician and he must be commended for moving the Nigeria music industry forward.”