NIGERIA: Music maestro Lagbaja explains that he is not ready to remove the mask he habitually wears until the voice of the common people is heard

Record ID: 235230

  • Title: NIGERIA: Music maestro Lagbaja explains that he is not ready to remove the mask he habitually wears until the voice of the common people is heard
  • Date: 2nd June 2009
  • Summary: LAGBAJA WALKING AROUND THE COMPOUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGBAJA, MUSICIAN, SAYING: "In principle, the mask could only be removed when the common man has a face. But then the question is when will the common man have a face? I hate to think that I have committed myself to a life long punishment of wearing the mask but it seems that might just be the case." LAGBAJA'S PICTURE PAINTED ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGBAJA, MUSICIAN, SAYING: "Unfortunately we haven't made as much progress as I would have loved. You can always argue back and forth, say things are relative, but there is no reason why we shouldn't have been farther away, in terms of the living standard of the people than where we are right now. The only thing I can say is better is that we are in democracy in principle." LAGBAJA'S PICTURE PAINTED ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGBAJA, MUSICIAN, SAYING: "Right now the biggest challenge is piracy. People don't seem to appreciate the meaning of intellectual property because it looks like it's not like a physical thing."
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZKHYSL1UV8BSICJW5FQ7BDC5
  • Story Text: Nigerian musician Lagbaja is known for wearing a mask which he says he will not remove until the common man is given a voice.
    Lagbaja who calls his type of music genre 'Africano', an infusion of African traditional drums, saxophone and jazz, is known as much for political activism as for his music.
    His name is a Yoruba word which describes the anonimity of the common man. It can have the meaning "nobody", "somebody" or "anybody" depending on the context in which it is used.
    "In principle, the mask could only be removed when the common man has a face. But then the question is when will the common man have a face? I hate to think that I have committed myself to a life long punishment of wearing the mask but it seems that might just be the case," Lagbaja said.
    Lagbaja uses music to reflect what is going on in society. The lyrics of his songs focus on issues of democracy and fair treatment of people.
    "Unfortunately we haven't made as much progress as I would have loved. You can always argue back and forth, say things are relative, but there is no reason why we shouldn't have been farther away, in terms of the living standard of the people than where we are right now. The only thing I can say is better is that we are in democracy in principle," said Lagbaja.
    Lagbaja says that music piracy is an issue that authorities need to address.
    "Right now the biggest challenge is piracy. People don't seem to appreciate the meaning of intellectual property because it looks like it's not like a physical thing," Lagbaja said.
    Lagbaja has been in the music industry for more than 16 years now and continues to be in high demand all over the world.
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