Afrobeat Music in Nigeria: Expressions and Impacts of the Lágbájá’s Variance

Abstract

Lágbájá is the stage name of the popular Nigerian Afrobeat musician whose real name is Bisade Ologunde. This work concerns itself with the afrobeat musical genre in Nigeria as one of the popular music styles, highlighting specifically the examples of Bisade Ologunde (Lágbájá). The study aims to assess, among other things, what Lágbájá stands for within the context of Afrobeat music and his impact and contributions to Nigerian society. Using a qualitative method, it employs discography, Books, Journal articles, Newspaper publications, as well as internet sources to analyse the work. The findings show that this musician, through his musical creativity, has made socio-cultural impacts, economic impacts, and educational impacts among others, that are worthy of note as they all contributed to the development of the music industry and the Nigerian society. The study concludes that, significantly, music and musicians are not just tools to entertain, but also agents of change and societal transformation. Thus, the Afrobeat style continues to evolve into various examples of transformative music as demonstrated in Lagbaja’s music.