Since originating from Jamaica in the 1970s, dancehall found its way in trickles to various parts of the world. Typically receptive of sounds beyond its shores, the Nigerian soundscape likewise accepted into its fold this new sound from the Caribbeans.
By the late ’90s, many popular Nigerian songs flaunted one dancehall element or the other, including those by Baba Fryo, Daddy Fresh and Daddy Showkey. However, it won’t be until the early aughts that dancehall took firm root among Nigerians, as many of the country’s youths became hooked on songs by Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Brick & Lace, Elephant Man, and Wayne Wonder. In this period of worldscale dancehall exportation, Nigerians learned about Sean Paul, the Kingston-born, Jamaican rapper, singer and songwriter who made the genre a truly global phenomenon. READ MORE