01/10/2026
Nigeria was about to become independent... but there was already trouble over who would provide the music. ๐ณ๐ฌ
It was September 1960.
Preparations for Nigeria's long-awaited Independence celebration were everywhere in Lagos. The streets were decorated, dignitaries were arriving, and everyone was preparing for a night the country would never forget.
Then came the announcement:
Victor Olaiya and the NBC Dance Band had been chosen to play at the Independence State Ball.
But some other highlife musicians were not happy.
They felt they deserved a place at such an important Nigerian celebration.
The disagreement became serious enough that musicians took their protest to the House of Representatives in Lagos.
Imagine that...
A country was only days away from raising its own flag, and musicians were already fighting over who would provide the soundtrack to history. ๐ณ
Then Tafawa Balewa stepped in.๐๐๐