The Global Role of Musicians

The Global Role of Musicians

“Beethoven tells you what it’s like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it’s like to be human. Bach tells you what it is like to be the universe.” ~Douglas Adams 

Fela Kuti remains one of the most influential African and Nigerian musicians of all time. Before his death on the 2^nd of August 1997, Fela Kuti had earned global recognition and a legendary status through 50 albums. Current and former musicians worldwide, including Missy Elliot, Nasir Jones (Nas), The Roots, J Cole, and Kendrick Lamar, have sampled Fela Kuti’s music in their productions. What is little said about Fela Kuti is that he was arrested over 200 times throughout his career. The current paper examines the reasons for the arrests and beatings while commenting on the role of musicians in the world.

Musicians’ Role in Society

            The above-stated quote by Douglas Adams shows the expansive role of musicians in the world. What is common among Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach is their legendary statuses in the music industry and their ability to entertain. However, according to Adams, each of these musicians had a different point of view. The quote summarizes the vast nature of the role of musicians; in that, they speak about self (self-expression), people (societal behavior), and the universe (the world we live in).

            The role of music is comprehensive and far-reaching, ranging from entertainment to informing. Scientific studies show that music is good for the development of the brain, especially in children (Dumont & Syurina, 2017). Psychologists have found music to bring a calming and healing effect on patients (Golden & Springs, 2021). A majority, if not all, of human ceremonies, rely on music. ...