Traditional vs Modern Music: My Honest Take as a Music Lover.

image source

Music is life. It's a part of my everyday routine, my mood booster, and sometimes even my therapist. I honestly can't imagine going a day without listening to music. Whether I'm happy, sad, working, or just relaxing, music is always there with me.

So today, the #AfriTunes community asked that we share our thoughts on traditional music versus modern music, and I’m really excited to talk about it from my own experience and perspective.

Let’s start with traditional music. From what I know and have experienced, traditional music includes the kinds of music that deeply reflect our culture, heritage, and history. In Nigeria, genres like Fuji, Apala, Highlife, and even some early forms of Juju music fall under this category. These types of music are usually sung in local languages, and they often carry deep messages, proverbs, stories, and even life lessons. The instruments used are usually traditional and handmade — like the talking drum, bata, sekere, and agogo.

I grew up listening to a lot of Fuji music. It’s everywhere in Nigeria, especially in Yoruba-speaking areas and mostly in parties or even local gatherings. Truthfully, I’ve enjoyed listening to it a lot — the energy, the rhythm, and the storytelling are actually powerful.

But I have to be honest — I’m more of a modern music lover. That’s where my heart really is.

Modern music basically includes all the new genres and sounds that started becoming popular mainly in the 20th century and beyond. We’re talking about Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, Alte, and Dancehall. These genres have grown massively, and we now have a lot of artists who have become famous and are making it big in the industry.

One of the biggest reasons I love modern music is its variety. There’s literally something for every mood. If I’m feeling down, there are solemn, slow songs that help me process my feelings. If I want to vibe or dance away my stress, there’s a whole collection of upbeat songs with crazy rhythms that make it impossible to sit still. Modern music just feels more flexible and fits into any moment I’m in.

Now, that being said, I do think traditional music has an edge in terms of lyrics and messages. Many modern songs today, especially some trending ones, are filled with lyrics that honestly don’t carry any meaningful message or have much meaning. Some even promote negative values like violence, internet fraud, drug use, or other inappropriate behaviour — and that’s a big concern. Traditional songs, on the other hand, often focus on things that can actually benefit the listener positively.

However, in terms of instruments, modern music has an advantage of technology. With tools like electronic drum sets, synthesizers, auto-tune, and digital mixing, artists today can do so much more with their sound compared to the past. In fact, some artists have not so good voice, but with these instruments, they usually sound even better when the songs are produced and released.

In conclusion, while I respect and appreciate traditional music for its cultural richness and lyrical depth, I’m still going to go with modern music as my personal favourite. It’s what makes me happy, helps me relax, and keeps me going. It might not always have the best lyrics, but it speaks to my generation in a way that feels alive and real.

Thanks for reading.

Posted Using INLEO