THE NEW NIGERIA IS HERE: A REVIEW OF ADEKUNLE GOLD’S PICK UP
OLUWAKEMI STEPHEN ADEYEMI
Adekunle Gold, Nigerian Musical Act is out with the video of his song titled Pick Up of 3 Minutes, 27 seconds. Adekunle Gold is not new to the Nigerian Musical Enthusiasts, having warmed himself into the hearts of musical enthusiasts with his songs ORENTE and SADE. In this latest release of his, the musician preached some virtues that Nigerians will need to inculcate in the New Year and this relseae will sure warm him more to the hearts of Nigerians.
First, we need the virtue of hard work. The video preaches hard work. That is one virtue, we must pick up as Nigerians in the year 2016. Our National Anthem preaches: ARISE O COMPATRIOTS: that is work. The main character in the musical video, Adekunle Gold himself woke up in the morning and instead of crying and wailing about how unfair Nigeria is to him, he assessed his phone; found where to get a taxi for his work and left to get the taxi. He was not discouraged by the attitude of the cab-owner. He even observed that: they call me workaholic, my hustle pure no be small. Have you seen a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings not mean men. We must as Nigerians take up the virtue of hard work.
Yes, we must dream in the New Year and yes, our dream must be big, very big. Imagine a young man living in a one-room apartment who was still trying to raise money to rent a taxi for use dreaming of owning a Range Rover or a Bentley or having his picture on FORBES’ magazine with the caption: “Adekunle Goldǃ From Nigeria to the World” or his dream of proposing to his boo. Yes, the present state of Nigeria does not offer much hope, however we as Nigerians must still dream and see new possibilities. We must dream big as Individuals and see a better Nigeria. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Our dreams offer us greater possibilities than our realities. Dream my friend, dream big, very big, very very big.
In the year 2016, we must promote our culture. Our culture as a people, as Nigerians, we must promote. We are multi-ethnic and multi-diverse. All of these cultures must be promoted. From the Yoruba to the Igbo, Hausa, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Tiv, Igala, Nupe, Ijaw, Benin and to every other culture in Nigeria. We must as a people promote our way of life. Adekunle Gold’s Pick up expressly this naturally. From the choice of language, mainly Yoruba to the choice of clothing (Adekunle Gold’s Jacket, agbada, short sleeve shirt, shorts, foot war; the rich man’s native wear with the Ileke) to his proposal to his boo(the Ankara on the floor, the tray) to the way he greeted the shylock and the rich man. People all over the world are buying into our culture, we must not lose it. The world around us is already buying into it big time (You may check this link with the caption: Top 15 International Celebrities Rocking Ankara Prints: http://madailygist.com/top-15-international-celebrities-rocking-ankara-prints out/ . It is time for us to buy into it. Charity begins at home.
The Second stanza of our National Anthem is a prayer: O GOD OF CREATION. In 2016, we must as a people pray to God. That Nigeria is a religious country is no doubt a truism. In this New Year, we must commit our ways to the hand of God. The entire video is a call on God. The main character was basically asking God to grant his request. PICK UP THE CALL we kept on hearing. Notice these words “Oluwa provide a boo”, “emi na fera ile Oluwa da mi lowun, don’t put me to shame.” The Psalmist counselled: Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in him, And He shall bring it to pass (Psalm 35:6).
Yes, in the year 2016, sexually explicit and vulgar expressions are not necessary for a video or a song to be a hit. One of my put-offs in the Nigerian entertainment industry is the industry’s sexually explicit and vulgar contents. The video has just one female character who was dressed well. The choice of words were great and the beat was one that people could easily dance to. The end may have just come to sexually explicit and vulgar contents in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The new Nigeria must be built on righteousness. The second stanza of our National Anthem prays that: “Help our youth, the truth to know// In love and honesty to grow//” The lead character in the short musical video had a struggle between doing the right thing and the bad thing; returning back the money the rich man forgot in his car or keeping same to buy his Range Rover or/and Bentley. He chose the former not the latter. The new Nigeria in the New Year 2015 must be built on righteousness and righteousness must be encouraged. And dear friend, please remember always that you will not be alone if you decide to follow this path: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/183267-lagos-assembly-honours-airport-cleaner-who-returned=n12m.html Please also note dear friend in your prayers that God will not answer your prayers through unrighteous means.
In 2016, Nigerians must utilize social media more and effectively too. By social media, the main character in PICK UP was able to connect with a friend who knew how to get his tool of business, taxi. My counsel to myself and folks who have taken time out of their busy schedule to read this, is that they make use of social media more effectively. Social media is a powerful tool that can be utilised for any purpose under heaven. You and I determine the use to which we put social media to. Lesson Number 1 for 2016, don’t just while away time on social media; use it to learn (I recommend @lekealder on relationships; Pastor Sunday Adelaja on Nation Building); use it to connect your business (LinkedIn, GooglePlus); use it to promote your cause (Twitter, Facebook).
In 2016, the New Nigeria must encourage start-ups to grow. Enough of shylocks like the cab owner in the video. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari must promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. One of the surest path of growth and development in Nigeria in the face of dwindling oil prices expected to be $38 in the 2016 budget is to encourage the growth and development of Nigeria. We cannot as a Nation expect to grow when the interest rate is in double figures, Central Bank of Nigeria please take note.
Friends, please join me as I sing and dance: …Olorun Oba emi na fe ra Range; Olorun Orun emi na f era Bentley; Otedola O lori meji; na beg I dey begi oh; I don go wedding tire…ǃ Happy New Year, folksǃ 2016, here we areǃ
PS: This was initially written on the 1st of January, 2016.
