Tribute to Obscenity

When Reuben Abati wrote his controversial “A Nation’s Crisis of Identity”, he poured a highly infectious venom on Nigerian music artistes whom he described as “irreverent and creative young Nigerians who are revising old norms and pattern”. The reactions generated by the piece were expected but the unexpected was the manner Banky W made mockery of the intelligence of a well-respected journalist like Reuben Abati by bringing out the various contradictions that were glaring in his (Abati) write-up. Perhaps Abati underestimated the intellectual prowess of those in the industry and reasoned that no one could ever contest with an opinion he thought was infallible. I believe if Abati was given a second chance, he would modify the content of the analogies he made from research he thought was flawless. This piece is not however meant to subtract from Abati’s piece but to explore a new dimension to it.

But wait a minute; is crisis of identity prowling only the music and the movie industries? I must say that the entire continent, I mean the universe, not just Nigeria suffers from a chronic disease of identity. The world is enmeshed in an undiluted and unstable identity that’s brought to it by a change that has somewhat become inevitable. In order to belong, to draw attention on the world’s stardom, to be seen amidst large crowd and to be heard in the multitude of people, one must join the rest of the world in paying tribute to obscenity!




My dear reader, pause a bit; don't discharge your adrenaline yet; don’t rush, keep your reservations, spare me your disagreements, hold back all your comments, suppress all prejudices and cage all rants and raves, just read on.

The free world is painted in obscenity! Nudity is now everywhere. Major streets are market places where nudity of different degrees is traded. Pay your cash and carry your goods, get my drift? The world is going crazy, you may say. That craziness is manifesting in every area of our lives. The world has gone nude. It’s that nudity that the music artistes, the movie makers and fashion designers are celebrating.

Any time you hear any lyrics like “enter the place,” “o4ka sibe” or “suddenly”, just know that it’s part of the artiste’s tribute to obscenity. Whenever you see clothes that reveal rather than cover the nakedness of man, just relax for that’s the designer’s own homage to obscenity. When you see private things done in public places, don’t be surprised, it’s the dominant culture.

The American Hollywood is at the vantage point when it comes to this. They are the drivers of the car that carries the rest of the world. The world is becoming one dimensional where universal culture is gradually replacing the diverse cultures of different nationalities. You need not watch movies to know this. You need not listen to the lewd and sexual illuminating lyrics of music artistes to be acquainted with this.

Those things that are used to be done in the secret of bedrooms are today done on the street. Popular soaps, reality shows are more sexually inclined than never before. What is African about Big Brother Africa? The private parts are now being celebrated at the public domain! Who cares? Media or the consumers? You'll quite agree with me that no one really cares, not even the religious moral guerillas!




Commentators may point accusing fingers at the direction of producers of these programs or the manufacturer of these products. Yes, in part, they share the blame. But can the media for instance continuously bombard the viewer with scenes, images and pictures that (s)he will not subscribe to? Can any medium for instance, survive stiff competition without joining the rest of the world in paying tribute to obscenity or without ‘satisfying’ the luscious appetites of the consumers? How practicable it is in today’s world of consumerism where there’s high level of obsession for obscene products, due to its universal and mass appeal? It is the high demand of these products that seems to be the reason why there’s a continuous influx of these products into the market; even the most inferior has its niche market!

Those who watch porn movies, magazines or visit those ‘adult’ sites do it in the seclusion. Disappointedly also, most of the people that publicly discredit this kind of popular culture (obscenity) sometimes even pay the greatest tribute at their closets. If not what can you say of a Pastor who says abortion should be aborted from the hearts of the youth but at the same time promoting sexual promiscuity among teenagers by ‘anointing’ young girls in his ‘holy’ bedroom? What about a father who tells his children to abstain from sex but has brothels as his favourite joint? Hem! You can move on and add similar instances where people display hypocrisy in the name of public acceptability.

This piece is not aimed at justifying and glorifying mundane and flirtatious disposition of men and women. It’s neither a tribute to those who are propagating it. The message is rather clear, simple and vivid-the five fingers of the world are soiled on this highly debilitating issue that’s crushing down the culture (if there’s any word like that) of many nations. Would nations survive the holocaust that’s threatening their identity? Many people now believe or are made to believe that to be seen and be heard, one must pay tribute to obscenity.

The bottom line is that everyone should discover the essence of his or her existence. If you’re musician, know that music is beyond entertainment, shaking of ‘bom-bom’ or making public the private parts or changing the nomenclature of women to ‘bitches’. In fact, music begins where entertainment ends. If you’re a movie maker, know that there’s more to commercial benefits. Fashion designers should remember that though naked designs sell than those that cover, they should remember that certain values and groups need to be protected in their quest for profit maximisation.





As you join the rest of the world in singing "arise obscenity", as you paye tribute foul language and nudity remember your origin, identity, others and above all, remember your life’s essence.