In 2023, the London-based Nigerian artist Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, also known as Modenine, released “Show Me Love”. This song particularly demonstrates how he is asking to be shown love by those around him. Through his lyrics and visuals, he represents both his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria, and London, England.
At the beginning of the song, he tunes into Davido’s live session. Davido is one of the prominent figures in Afrobeat music from Nigeria, which is also Modenine’s birthplace. In the live session, Davido talks about his musical journey and acknowledges Modenine’s influence, highlighting Modenine as the first artist he hung out with in Nigeria and one of the first he collaborated with. Starting the music video with this clip is remarkable, as it serves as a significant connection for Modenine to his Nigerian roots. It demonstrates that he has not forgotten his home and people but carries them along with him on his artistic journey.
Additionally, in the video, Modenine is seen in a town in the UK, walking through the streets and showcasing various parts of the city. This is another way of revealing another aspect of himself—the British part. He shows that although he is a Lagosian (a Naija boy from Lagos), he is still deeply connected to his British heritage.
Furthermore, Modenine not only displays his Nigerian roots visually but also through his lyrics. For instance, he mentions, “Met Davido in 2010 in Lekki Phase 1”. This lyric exemplifies how Modenine represents his homeland, Nigeria. Even as he recounts the incident with Davido, he specifically references Lekki Phase 1, a distinct area of Lagos. Through these lyrics, it is evident that Modenine strongly embraces his Nigerian heritage and recognizes how that particular encounter significantly impacted his career and life as a whole.
