Looking at the Nigerian music industry through the lens of the female musicians, considering all they have been through to attain the level of success enjoyed today, one does not need space science to know that a considerable number of an all-female collaboration will further boost their chances for more success and provide opportunities for emerging talents to be seen. As 2019 gradually comes to an end, looking back at how some female artistes have struggled to release a hit song and how new talents have to strive to have their head above water, it’s so sad that there are no female A-list collaborations that would have helped resuscitate some of the careers, promote and as well solidified the places of the leading brands. For superstars like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, they could have joined forces to delivered one of the most anticipated collaborations or collaborated with other struggling female artistes that needed their star power to boost their careers.

Words by Sesan Adeniji

In contrary to the way the female artistes are operating, the Nigerian male musicians have found a way to exhibit a huge level of support for each other and as well to up and coming artists. In collaborative songs from artistes like Slimcase’s “Azaman” featuring 2Baba, Peruzzi, Larry Gaaga and DJ Neptune, as well as Skiibii’s “Daz How Star Do” featuring Falz, Teni, and DJ Neptune, we have witnessed some of the biggest tunes in the country.

Respectively, in those songs, Skibbii’s career was reaffirmed while Slimcase repositioned himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian music industry. Going by this contextual analysis, several talented female musicians like Seyi Shay and Chidinma would have excelled further in 2019 if they had such an opportunity. Just imagine a Seyi Shay featuring Tiwa Savage or Chidinma featuring Yemi Alade. Such collaboration could have provided monster tunes.

The rap artiste named Ice Prince is another beneficiary of A-list collaboration in 2019. Like in football, a great player sometimes loses forms, so as well, a great artiste may lose ground. There can be no doubt that Ice Prince is a fantastic rapper with a huge cult following but when he needed to boost his career in the competitive 2019 music arena, he dropped the massive single titled “Feel Good” featuring Phyno and Falz. The result was monumental and instant. He immediately started getting booked for shows.

With Larry Gaaga signing a deal with Universal Music Group Nigeria in June 2019, that is a textbook example of how good collaboration is effective. As of now, ninety percent of the hype surrounding DJ Spinall comes in from the engagement related to his various music collaborations. The artiste Zlatan’s success story started as a product of the Burna Boy’s star power in their collaborative single “Killin Dem”. Sadly, I can’t name a single female entertainer benefiting from such success attributed to assistance from fellow female music stars.

Looking back today, one can conclude that the public brouhaha that happened in April of this year within the artiste Victoria Kimani and Tiwa Savage where she allegedly alludes Tiwa was obstructing other females from progressing, might have disappeared into thin air, but still, there are several ongoing backend battles between other female artistes. It’s also worth to mention that today, some of these songstresses go on each other’s Instagram page to drop congratulatory messages like I saw Tiwa did when Seyi Shay was promoting her single “Gimme Love – remix featuring Tayana Taylor. The likes of Seyi Shay and Tems also performed at artiste Niniola’s The Human Radio concert, but still, it’s hard to imagine why these divas can’t enter the studio together to record a hit song. It’s also worth mentioning that individually, 2019 has been great for the female musicians with the likes of Tiwa signing an international record deal with Universal Music Group, and Yemi Aalde also had a sold-out performance in London and most African countries. But still, arguably, both artists have not done enough to use their clout to uplift upcoming or fellow struggling female artists just like their male colleagues Davido and Olamide have done on series of collaborative works. Although Tiwa Savage collaborated with the artist Wavy The Creator for the youngin’s “Body Deep” remix. But more of such is expected.

The ongoing abnormally of Nigerian A-list female musicians failing to collaborate or support young emerging female talents have been in existence for years, and I am sure it will continue until one of them break the jinx. As someone that has been in the industry for long and has witnessed brands eagerness to engage female artistes, that notion of females not getting inclusivity is long dead. It’s time for these ladies to stand up and also help others rise. In the Nigerian music industry today, it’s sad that we have less than five A-list female artistes compared to the long list from the men. Olamide has helped by collaborating to make Adekunle Gold and Fireboy DML a household name. Likewise, Davido and Mr Eazi have helped Mayorkun and Joeboy respectively to become continental brands. It’s time for Nigerian female A-list artistes to start collaborating and as well support to help the legion of C-list talented new female artists.