Veteran Nigerian highlife legend, Bright Chimezie, has expressed concerns over the current state of the music industry, lamenting that the quality of songs has declined compared to previous generations.
Speaking on the CreativTea Podcast, the “Respect Africa” crooner noted that while today’s artists are doing well in terms of rhythm, they often neglect meaningful lyrical content.
“Music is more profitable now than in my time. The only problem I have with the present crop of artists is their lyrical content. In terms of rhythm and every other thing, they are doing quite okay. But what message are they passing to society?”
Chimezie reflected on his own career, citing his 1984 hit Respect Africa as an example of music with enduring value.
“I remember I did Respect Africa in 1984 — that’s about 40 years ago. I can still watch what I did back then and be proud of my lyrics. But these days, I ask these boys: ‘The things coming out of your mouth, if your music stays for 40 years, can you sit back with your children and still be proud of yourself?’”
Despite his criticism, the veteran acknowledged the impressive strides of today’s stars but urged them to pay closer attention to the messages in their songs, stressing that music should be both entertaining and impactful.
