Renowned Nigerian music legend Femi Kuti expressed disappointment about the challenging conditions of touring in Nigeria. During an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, the veteran Afrobeat artist highlighted how the lack of viable touring opportunities within Nigeria and Africa has compelled musicians to seek performance opportunities in foreign countries.
At 63 years old, Femi Kuti recently completed a 24-stop tour across North America in just one month. He emphasized that if the touring circuit in Nigeria functioned properly, he would prefer to spend extended periods performing in different regions of his home country.
“Unfortunately, in a country like Nigeria, touring is not a common practice. If Africa was thriving as it should, I would dedicate around 2 months to touring within Nigeria,” lamented the multi-award-winning icon, envisioning an extensive tour across various Nigerian cities.
The comments from the five-time Grammy-nominated musician shed light on the dire condition of music touring in Nigeria. Major artists are hesitant to tour locally due to infrastructural and security challenges, contributing to the limited live music experiences available to Nigerian audiences.
Femi Kuti is not alone in his observations regarding the challenges of touring in Nigeria. In an interview with Pulse Nigeria, Grammy-nominated artist Made Kuti expressed willingness to tour Nigeria if presented with suitable opportunities.
Despite captivating international audiences, Nigerian fans often have to wait for the annual Detty-December festivities to enjoy live performances from these renowned artists.
Matters Arising: The Challenges of Music Touring in Nigeria
In the past, touring in Nigeria was a significant aspect of the music industry, with corporate sponsors organizing nationwide concerts that allowed fans to experience live music from their favorite stars.
However, economic, security, and infrastructural hurdles have made local touring less appealing for most artists, who now prioritize overseas engagements with paying audiences.
Presently, touring in Nigeria demands determination, overcoming economic constraints, safety risks, and a strong desire to engage with fans.
The development of touring in Nigeria is still at an early stage and falls short of the necessary level to capitalize on the global success of Afrobeats. Collaboration and commitment from various stakeholders, including the government, private investors, labels, artists, and fans, are crucial.
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Despite the challenges, successful tours like Llona‘s Homeless Tour and Odumodublvck‘s Greatest Campus Tour demonstrate the potential for touring in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for more superstar involvement to attract private investments.
Femi Kuti’s remarks underline the necessity of improving the touring ecosystem in Nigeria. This requires government policies that enhance disposable income for concert attendance, address security concerns, and improve transportation infrastructure for logistical convenience.
