Music and political identity salience in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election

Abstract

This article addresses the nexus between musical taste and political identity salience, and how (if at all) that informs citizens’ own perception and performance of national (cultural) identity in Nigeria. It specifically interrogates the extent to which Nigerians signalled political affiliations and identities in the sonic and textual references of selected 2023 presidential election campaign songs. Following a synthesis of the discourse on political and cultural identity, Nigerian musical arts and culture, and with specific analytical reference to three preselected election campaign songs, we demonstrate that, beyond party ideology, campaign promises, money, and literacy level, Nigeria’s voting public activate and perform political identity salience when messages and objects of cultural and socio-political value align and are communicated in song.

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