Eedris Abdulkareem to Nigerian musicians: “Singing about boobs and booty is crazy”

“Nigeria jaja-jaga rapper”, Eedris Abdulkareem has expressed disappointment at the kinds of music done by most Nigerian artistes “today”. According to him, “there are lots of things to talk about; there is rape, there is insecurity and lot of more things to talk about. So why would you waste time singing about boobs and booty? It’s crazy".

Eedris Abdulkareem

 Eedris who spoke to Vanguard at Gulf International Technology Exhibition and dinner held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where he was billed to perform, said that music, unlike what it is turning out o be these days, should be a platform to educate people.

His words: “The music they play today is always talking about boobs, booty and all that. For me, I think music should be educative, it should be a platform where you can educate people. Some wouldn’t know what education is all about but when they listen to music, they learn. If you listen to my music 12 years ago, I talked about the ills in the society.

“I also remembered then when I came back from Egypt, when I represented Nigeria at the Olympic Torch with Prof Pat Utomi, late Dora Akunyili, Chief Olusegun Odegbami and others, I came back and sang about the ills in the society. ‘Mr Lecturer’ was one of them, Jaga-jaga was another. Those are the kinds of songs that I do and for me, I think that is the best way to educate the people.

Talking about that hit, “Jagajaga” which got him into former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s bad books, the former Remedies member used the opportunity of the chat to say that he did not miss it when he said all was not well with Nigeria then. But he said things have really under President Goodluck Jonathan’s rein.

Asked if Nigeria was no more jagajaga, he said: “No, no no! Twelve years ago Nigeria was jaga-jaga, but now Nigeria is no more jaga jaga, even though we know that the insecurity happening in Nigeria is propaganda against government, but Dr. Jonathan is doing his best and is trying. I must tell you that for the first time, I’m very positive about this government. In three years, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been able to show Nigerians that there actually could be development”.

He also said: “Our airports are being refurbished. See our road from Lagos to Ore, which has been there for fifteen years — he has done it. Now it’s three hours from Lagos to Benin. Also the Lagos-Ibadan road has also been there for years and Dr Jonathan is doing it. I am positive about this government and it is my responsibility to use music as a platform to promote what he has done.”