Why are we seeing a resurgence in sampling and reimagination of Nigerian classic songs?
When Tems won the prize for Best African Song Performance at the 67th Grammys, it was a major milestone for the superstar, but also for Seyi Sodimu, whose classic record she sampled 28 years after its release.
Tems’ win was a major point in a growing trend of artists sampling and reimagining classic Nigerian records.
Clearly, the art of sampling is not new in the Nigerian music industry. After all, music in itself is a process of finding new ways to channel existing art forms.
However, we can’t deny that there has been a noticeable increase in the trend of Afrobeats stars taking a trip to the past to find classic materials that can shape the present.
One of the leading figures of this trend is the legendary music producer and executive ID Cabasa, who has been releasing a series of reimagined Afrobeats classics ahead of his upcoming project.
The reasons for this trend can be explained from a creative and marketing standpoint, as all factors have aligned to create a pattern that artists are now embracing.
Nostalgia
Music is a powerful art form that offers unique connections to individuals who use it for many things, including time stamps of the different moments in their lives.
When artist samples or reimagines a classic record, they do not only remind listeners of the timeless beauty of that record, they also create an atmosphere that transports them back to the specific point and moment in their lives marked by the song.
A Google search on the power of nostalgia summarises the findings as
“an experience that can be a powerful tool for mental well-being and personal growth. It can boost self-esteem, increase optimism, and provide a sense of meaning in life by connecting individuals to their authentic selves.”
When rightly executed, nostalgia offers artists an effective tool with which they can get listeners to reconnect with a part of themselves and experience varying strong emotions that would invariably affect their appreciation and gratification of the record.
A growing desire to appreciate the history
While this might not be a collective or dominant sentiment, some artists are showing a willingness to appreciate the rich history of Nigerian music and the talented artists who shape hits.
Sampling and reimagination is a means to pay tribute to these veterans for their pacesetting and innovative contribution to Afrobeats.
Ayra Starr paid tribute to Don Jazzy‘s genius on ‘Jazzy’s Song,’ Keys The Prince has paid tribute to Tungba and Gospel music legend Yinka Ayefele by sampling his work while street hop star TML Vibez also hailed the influence of Fuji music legend King Saheed Osupa by sampling his work.
These are some of the many examples of artists giving veterans their flowers in an industry where stars are sometimes parsimonious with credits and acknowledgments.
