Praise-singing wealthy or famous people is not new in Nigerian music industry but the way these five reigning artistes feature ‘Dangote’ in their songs is unique. In the traditional genre, apala and sakara singers such as Haruna Ishola, Ayinla Omowura and Yusuf Olatunji celebrated rich people who in turn blessed them with cash and other gifts.
Highlife and juju singers, including Osita Osadebe, Oliver de Coque; Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade and Yinka Ayefele have also thrived on the praise culture. That is why names such as Arisekola Alao, Rasak Okoya and MKO Abiola are recurrent in various albums of Obey and KSA. And, in the fuji realm, such praise-singing is more or less a religion.
In recent years, however, the pop culture is changing the tone of the game. New highlife, reggae and hip singer no more directly eulogise, but they turned names of contemporary money giants in Nigeria to themes and tunes. While the likes of ‘Otedola’, ‘Adenuga’ and ‘Adeleke’ are recurrent, the biggest ‘victim’ is ‘Dangote’. This is understandable because he is the super richest among them.
As a form of prayer for, and celebration of wealth, ‘Dangote’, referring to the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, ‘Dangote’ has appeared in the lyrics of several acts. Here are five Nigerian artistes who have mentioned ‘Dangote’ in their songs:
– Burna Boy
Burna Boy seems to top the list because of his recent hit single titled ‘Dangote’, named after the Nigerian billionaire, about how he still drives for more wealth and success.
Lyrics:
“Dangote, Dangote Dangote still dey find money o
I no dey, I no dey I no dey sleep on the money o
Who I be? Wey make I no go find money o?”
– Teniola
Also known as Teni Makanaki, Teni takes the second spot with her song titled ‘Case’. There is a bit of consolation in her own approach.
Lyrics:
“For your case oooo elele le,
for your case oo ho huh ho no
‘Cause my papa no be Dangote or Adeleke but we go dey ok yea yea”
– Oxlade
Oxlade recently dropped the video of his new single titled ‘Shugar’, expressing his love for a lady saying she must be related to Dangote for her to own an expansive chain (pendant).
Lyrics:
“As I see you for entrance
Mo pariwo mogbe e
and with this your pendant
Shey you know Dangote?”
– Reekadoo Banks
Former Mavin records artist, Reekado Banks, also named a song after the billionaire in his 2016 album titled ‘Spotlight’.
Lyrics:
“We dey hustle everyday E don tey
When we don dey pray anything dem like let them say
We go make am like Dangote…”
– Adekunle Gold
Adekunle Gold takes the 5thposition on the list of Nigerian artistes that have mentioned ‘Dangote’ in their songs. In his 2015 single, ‘Pick Up’, he sings about God blessing him with riches the same way he has blessed Dangote.
Lyrics:
“Baba god ooo
Emi na fe wa Range ooo
Mo fe wa Range o
Dangote o lori meji
Mo fe wa Range o
Na beg i dey beg ooo…”
