Nana’s Sunday Jams: Heartbeat - Nneka

Published on 2020-10-25 00:00:00 by Nana Fani-Kayode

Banner a_rtwork by the majestic Trav, all of Nanas jams are gathered in_ this playlist.Yes, yes, Sunday Jammers! How are you? Hope you are managing to stay upright in this permanent state of upside down.\

So, the unearthing continues into 2020, and full disclosure, some of it has weighed in hard this week. It’s been almost impossible to escape to some unseen corner and nestle into music. There are times when looking straight into the heart of the blaze is the only option left, and my gaze is fixed firmly on one of the countries that make up my origin soil: Nigeria.\

For anyone who might not be aware, Nigerian citizens have been taking to the streets to protest against police brutality. Initially, the protests back in 2017 called for an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which was set up to tackle armed robbery. However, the unit has gone on to abuse its power, with accusations of kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful detentions and arrests, and extortion, to name a few. This has resulted in mass protests and the horrific scenes on the 20th of October where protestors in Lagos were shot, sending shockwaves around the country. The protests are a symptom of the continuing anger and disillusionment Nigerians, in particular young Nigerians, feel with the political and elite classes. Another historical moment of reckoning.\

So, this week I am taking a detour, taking a moment to stand with Nigeria. This is as much as I can do from my comfortable perch across the seas, but to any Naijas who might come across this: I see you, salute your bravery, and I dedicate this to you.\

‘Heartbeat’ by Nneka, from her debut album No Longer At Ease, feels right for this exact moment. Everything about it echoes the rage and disconnection felt by the artist and her fellow citizens, then and now.\

This track was later remixed by Chase and Status. I struggle with this version—not because it’s bad, their version has some merit, but it’s always felt disconnected from the purpose of the original, which stood as a direct criticism of the brutality and the dismissal of the Nigerian government towards its citizens. The remix feels like an exercise in electronica and bass, stripping the track of its heart. Nneka’s original veers between love, dismay, anger, sorrow, and a desire to shout directly at those in power. Her voice is at once a rebel yell, but the rasp in her tone gives it a vulnerability that articulates the sense of suffering and fatigue that comes with going unheard. The bass-heavy Afrobeat beat and drum ‘n’ bass inspired rhythm face off against the piano’s melody, pushing along the intensity, leading into the repetition of “blood is barely controlled chaos.” It speaks to the fury and desperation for change. It’s beautiful, elegant, and powerful.\

#EndSARS

Written by Nana Fani-Kayode