23:44
Wizkid’s 'Ojuelegba' video is a
lesson in nonchalance
Simply put, the new video by Nigeria's star
artiste is not a representation of the song. If
anything, it is a true representation of the
Wizkid’s current mentality.
WIZKID - OJUELEGBA
Wizkid finally dropped the video of his smashing
‘Ojuelegba’ song, and frankly I am at odds with
the video. Simply put, the video is not a
representation of the song. If anything, it is a true
representation of the state of Wizkid’s mentality.
Wizkid released his Ayo album in September
2014, and he received mixed reviews » . People
expressed both joy and disappointment at the
basic pop concept of the album, citing a lack of
lyrical depth, But ‘Ojuelegba’ has taken everyone
in and ultimately remained timeless has been
touted as the saving grace of the Ayo album.
A music video is a videotaped performance of a
recorded popular song, usually accompanied by
dancing and visual images interpreting the lyrics.
This should have held true for the Ojuelegba
song.
Wizkid starts the video on a good note. There was
a bus with a conductor calling out to passengers
to board his vehicle to Ojuelgeba. Wizkid boards
it and proceeds to go on a ride. Many would
expect a drop at the popular Ojulegba ‘under
bridge’ scene to make an appearance. But no,
only a B-roll, of some street signages such as the
famous Ayilara and Itire road made the cut.
The video devolved (yes, devolved, and
degenerated) into a joke. The Ojuelegba video
ended at the 1:25 mins mark. The moment
shooting left the street, the video went on a
downward spiral in quality to a dark room with
scenes that lack inspiration, or if inspired, were
executed wrongly.
A cheap-looking studio would have done justice
in interpreting the show. No. Not for Wizkid and
creative team. An abstract scene with highlights
that were an attempt to show symbolism failed in
translating effort into effect.
Wizkid (and Clarence Peters » ) threw in a dining
scene at the 2:50 mins mark, which would have
been great at a local restaurant or ‘Buka’, but in
that room, it lacked spirit. That scene cued in
another equally below-par one of him conveying
wealth and success at another dining table.
Simply put, Wizkid lost a good chance here to
make a classic visual to accompany a timeless
song. One can argue that shooting a scene at the
real Ojuelegba would have been quite an uphill
task to manage, but with the right set-creation,
you can have an ‘Ojuelegba’ created even in
London. ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ » with all its
tricky and emotional scenes was shot in Cross
Rivers state, Mavins’ ‘Adaobi’ video » with its
Eastern Nigerian flavour was shot in a village in
Epe, Lagos State.
Funding is no excuse. A video is a reasonable
investment for an artiste, and the funds for this
wouldn’t be a huge inconvenience for Wizkid.
The main underlying reason for this isn’t
incompetence, neither is it linked to the material
resources or a dearth in creativity. It is simply
nonchalance. Wizkid’s head is at a place where
he lacks the hunger to keep firing on. He has
become complacent, and it is beginning to show.
Ojuelegba video is just the latest manifestation of
that nonchanlance.
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