This post discusses the significance of the gender gap among Nigerian artistes by overall statistics like streams, awards, and so on.
Nobody will deny the fact that the Nigerian music industry is dominated by the male gender and the gap among male and female artistes is appalling.
Cutting across gender bias, the propensity to favor one gender over another, therefore, comes to our controversial debate as to why the Nigerian music industry is gender-biased.
Female top artists are no match to the male counterparts, not even close in terms of streams, awards, discography, and so on, the least streamed male artists can go head to head with the most streamed female Nigerian artists.
The most streamed project by female Nigerian artistes is not a quarter of the most-streamed male project.
This is a very delicate topic that needs careful evaluation and should be reconsidered, a lot of times we’ve seen some artists raise alarm on the issue but was overly abolished.
It’s been over a decade of motion yet no reasonable margins for Nigerian females.
As it is in many African countries, being a woman in Nigeria is quite daunting; there are practices steeped in anachronistic culture norms, asymmetrical power relations that sometimes mean that the woman is denied a seat at the table, and lots of often-misinterpreted doctrines to contend with.
At MP3bullet, we’re pleased to retouch the conversation and share more insights as it’s becoming pervasive and entrenched in the music industry.
First and foremost let’s highlight the case study with the work ethics of the female Nigeria artists, such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Niniola, Waje, Omawumi, Teni, Tems, and so on, the more reason they work tirelessly and consistently hard are prolly because of the fear of being completely erased off-the-radar, while their male counterparts do little or absolutely nothing and yet will be given due attention because of the lingering stereotype.
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In an industry with over twenty plus male popping artists and yet we can’t boast of like six popping female artists in the same industry, that’s quite below par and practically disgusting, the female can’t stand alone for too long without attaching themselves to find balance and relevance.
Imagine if Tiwa Savage was a man or perhaps Yemi Alade, weird but yeah! Do you think they will still rate them below the usual ranks?
I don’t think so! the Nigeria music industry and its entirety need to do better and embrace gender equality to foster the movement.
Now let’s talk about US/UK music industry, their artists are rated equally and according to their work, artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Ella Mai, H.E.R, Taylor Swifts, Normani and so on, there is no such thing like gender stereotype, in fact, their female enjoy more attention and buzz than their male counterparts.
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On the other hand, Nigerian media and show promoters, need to play an important role in balancing it, more especially the show promoters and organizers by allowing female artists to headline a concert and other gigs thereby creating an atmosphere that will favor their artistry, it will yield more attention towards them.
At this point is not new that the stereotype is deepening, and needs to be addressed in finding a lasting solution to what has gradually turned into norms.