The Melody of Blending Storytelling in Music
I can't but write about the days when our ancient moonlight folk tales are sung by our grandparents to us while growing up, it always a wonderful time for children especially for me and my brothers, it's always something we will always look forward to during our holidays when we will want to go and visit grandma because of her wonderful folktales and the delicious fried meat she gives to us whenever we get the song😋. To me, it really feels like a lot of creativity to use a story to create a song, music really has long served as a powerful medium for storytelling.
[Image source] (https://pixabay.com/photos/lady-sax-musician-female-music-4628418/)
[Image source] (https://pixabay.com/photos/children-young-poverty-almajiri-7832776/)
The one truth that remains unchanged from time past is that "Music is storytelling". Storytelling and music have been intertwined since the earliest days of human expression. The most direct storytelling tool in music is "Lyrics". Lyrics has been the primary tool for storytelling in music but strong storytelling lyrics goes beyond rhythm and choruses but they build characters and develop plots in music. However, lyrics alone cannot carry a story but melody which is the rise and fall of sound, the instrumentation, the tempo is what breathes life into those words. Narrative lyrics often employ literary devices like metaphor, personification etc. These tools allow musicians to express deeper meanings without overwhelming the melody, preserving the emotional rhythm of the song.The way a talking drum mimics speech in a Yoruba praise song or how a slow guitar riff in a love ballad can make your heart swell, these are not coincidences but they are calculated choices, meant to make the listener feel the story.
In Nigeria, both old and new artists understand the weight of words they speak of family, hardship, triumph, and sometimes mischief in highlife, juju, and fuji music narratives. When you listen to Ebenezer Obey or King Sunny Ade, you will hear proverbs, folk wisdom, and parables neatly wrapped in danceable melodies. Oral tradition runs deep in the veins of our people, musicians have long served as historians, philosophers, and poets wrapped in rhythm and melody, their afrobeats hits still light up global stages.
[Image source] (https://pixabay.com/photos/instrument-cello-musician-6961328/)
The creativity of blending narrative and melody is an art form in itself. It demands not only musical talent but a storyteller’s intuition which means an understanding of structure, timing, and emotional pacing. When it is done well, it creates songs that are more than soundtracks to our lives, they become part of our personal narratives. The power of story in music remains one of the most compelling forces in art.
The power of narrative and melody is what allows music to transcend language barriers and cultural divides. Even when lyrics are in a language a listener doesn’t understand, the melody often conveys enough emotional context to suggest the story’s tone or meaning. The songs that stick with us are often the ones that tell us something about the world, about others, about ourselves. By blending narrative and melody, musicians offer not just entertainment, but insight, empathy, and connection.
In modern music, the storytelling hasn’t stopped but has evolved. Some of our gospel artists like Tope Alabi and Sinach blend scripture and life experience with melodies that transport you spiritually and emotionally, their stories are not just sung but they are felt in every note. Then there’s Olamide, the voice of the streets, who wrote and sang about the struggle of the average Nigerian youth. In his songs like "Eni Duro" and "Letter to Milli," he uses Yoruba and Pidgin English to tell stories rooted in survival and ambition, expressing tales that resonate deeply with his listeners.Also take Burna Boy, for example. His song "Another Story" tells the tale of colonialism and its lingering consequences in Nigeria. With a beautiful beat and emotional lyrics, he delivers a history lesson that hits harder than any textbook.
The creativity of blending storytelling in melody is an art that needs to be celebrated and commended from time to time. Every artist, storyteller and songwriter deserves an award for always imputing in our hearts stories and histories we will never forget.
I hope you had a good read with me 😊, see you next time 🤗