ABSTRACT: The study which investigated the influence of foreign music on lifestyle of Nigerians youth with a focus on Osun State Polytechnic Students, Iree. The study was anchored on Social Learning Theory and Cultivation Theory to give the study the needed footing. A survey research method was adopted and questionnaires were used to elicit responses from respondents within Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and the data were presented with the aid of tables. The study found that (50.5%) of the respondents prefer listening to foreign music to a very high extent. Equally, majority of the respondents pointed out that foreign music promote indecent dressing, drug/Substance abuse, cultural Imperialism, lust and eroticism, heavy smoking, tattoning. It is recommended that government should make policies regarding the control and sanctions of foreign music against the morality of the society.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The introduction of foreign music such as hip-hop, reggae, rock and roll, R&B, jazz, etc. into Nigeria has been a welcomed phenomenon, but some people think it has brought about a significant and unappealing change in the lives of the youth, insisting it is slowly but surely eradicating the Nigerian culture. This is due to the idea that the entire world is imitating America in many ways, and Nigeria is not an exception (Leadership Newspaper, 2014).
It is a well-known truth that young Nigerians regularly list Jay-Z and other international musicians as their favorite musicians in the twenty-first century. The rest of the world can now copy American music and create new cultural forms that emerge in music and identity. However, the title of Jay-Blueprint Z’s 2 album, “The Gift and The Curse,” is a fitting depiction of the delicate link between African American culture and Nigerian youth identity, which also has an impact on Nigerian popular music (Adeolu, 2011).
Many young individuals in Nigeria, as well as the elderly, now view themselves differently as a result of the foreign music culture. Many female musicians nowadays aspire to have careers similar to those of Beyonce, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Nicky Minaj, etc. They disregard the type of society they are a part of and wear revealing clothing that reveals all of their natural assets. They wander around in shorts that could be mistaken for men’s undergarments. They dress inappropriately for the weather only to look cool, unlike their masculine counterparts. However, the individual styles of Nigerian musicians are still highly distinctive. For instance, Phyno has won over fans all over the world with his unique hairdo and tight clothes. Phyno is recognized for incorporating the Igbo dialect into his music.
On the other hand, Olamide, from the yoruba cultural setting, usually has a mix of western and local outlook in his dressing and this goes a long way to influence the lifestyle of their fans.
Many Nigerian artistes, as mentioned earlier, strive to be like foreign entertainers, at the expense of their own cultural values and modes of expression. When they put down lyrics, they are usually replete with words and expressions quite alien to the conservative society they belong. While technology has enhanced acceptability of otherwise strange phenomenon, many Nigerians frown at the continued denudation of our culture.
In Nigeria today, it is a known fact that music influence Nigerians and foreign music in particular, but it has often been an argument of the day to arrive at a conclusion of whether foreign music still influence Nigerian youth, as there are lots of Nigerian musicians especially hip hop artiste which many Nigerian youth now adore.
Although, critic like Reverend (1996), claimed that one of the reasons Nigerian youth started smoking and putting on kinds of dresses ‘ungodly’ is because of their exposure to foreign music. For example, skimpy dresses that showcase almost private bodies of females are the culture of the westerners portrayed and propagated through music and videos. Notwithstanding, it is against this backdrop that the study investigates the influence of foreign music on lifestyle of Nigerian youths
1.2 Statement of the problem
In Nigeria today, the youths have been brain-washed. They think more of other peoples’ culture particularly much which they watch on cable TV, watch on lifestyle of Nigerian youths channels and downloaded. About 97 percent of such foreign music have violent and romantic traits. Many Nigerian youth get their phones and other personal digital assistants (PDAs) like MP3, Ipad loaded with thousands of foreign music which might contain thousand of death and heartbreaks, heard harsh and brutal languages “fuck you”, a son of bitch, nigger men and kiss my ass etc which have some negative effects on their lifestyle and the type of peers they keep.
Equally, there is little or no empirical studies that covers this area despite it unquantified effect on socio-cultural up bring out Nigeria youth. It is also believed to have influenced their dressing pattern which has contributed to behavioral changes in youths in general. Hence, it is against this backdrop that the study investigates the influence of foreign music on lifestyle of Nigerian youths.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the extent to which Osun State University students listen to foreign music.
- To examine the influence of foreign music on the lifestyle of Osun State University students.
1.4 Research Questions
- What are the extent to which Osun State University students listen to foreign music?
- What are the influence of foreign music on the lifestyle of Osun State University students?
1.5 Significance of the Study
It is expected that at the end of this study, it will update knowledge within the framework of the study. However, the study will specifically benefit the following
Youth/Students: The study will avail students/youth on the effect that exposed to foreign music can have on their lives.
Parents: The study outcome will educate Nigerian parents on the influence of the foreign music on the lifestyle on their youngsters.
Government: The government through its various regulating bodies such as National Film And Video Censors Board ( NFVCB) will design measures to checkmate the influx of foreign music especially the bad ones into the country.
Researchers: This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.
1.6 Scope of the study
The study which investigates the influence of foreign music on lifestyle of Nigerian youths has been narrowed to Osun State University. Hence, the geographical scope of this study shall be within Osun State University Osogbo Campus.
The choice of Osun State University, Osogbo Campus is due to its proximity to the researcher, inadequate time to study all tertiary institutions in Osun State among other logistics. Also, the demographic variables of the respondents will be carefully studied before the administration of research instruments (questionnaire) such factors include: age, gender, academic level e.t.c
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
Influence: In this research, effect refers to how foreign music influence students of Osun State University lifestyle.
Foreign Music: This refers to music song by musicians other than Nigeria. Such as music by Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
Osun State University Students: In this study, Osun State University students, are students of Osun State University especially Osogbo campus.