Throughout the years in Nigeria, Hip-Hop has been used to raise awareness for various issues that the citizens have been dealing with. Recently, Vector and M.I. Abaga ft. Pheelz released, “Crown of Clay” which looks at being African and all the struggles that they have endured, punches they have had to endure, uplifting their nations through the various struggles, and the biggest social issues of colonization.
To address colonialism in the past, M.I. Abaga sang, “The wealth that’s in our continent was stolen out.” Numerous African nations dealt with colonization of various extremes by many European countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom which colonized Nigeria. Mr. Abaga sings that alludes to this thought process of colonization and how through this major event, the wealth of the 54 countries of the continent was stolen. He further explains that although this issue occurred, it has no hold on him. He says, “But what they going do with me when they can’t control me now”. I believe this line is very powerful because it shows how he has control over this negative situation and in no way will he let it control or impact his life.
Moreover, a struggle described by Vector is the lack of freedom of expression. He says, “We can’t speak, Judge me, my genes … (we are speaking up, are they listening up)”. He goes straight to the point of how they are not able to speak, he then says they are speaking up but the question at hand is are they listening to them. We cannot point to who the ‘they’ he refers to is, but a general assumption could just be those in a place of power. Additionally, he goes on to prove how he endures all he goes through and the punches he has received, “I’m African and blessed. I hold it down even when I face stress. The kind of punches wey fit make your face press”. These verses go to show how Vector is happy to be African regardless of all he has gone through over the years, he describes himself as being ‘blessed’. He also talks about holding down regardless of all the stress and punches he has faced.
In conclusion, I believe through this song, Vector, M.I. Abaga, and Pheelz use their lyrics to encourage many Africans out there due to all the hardships they have dealt with from the beginning due to colonization and up until now.
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