Segun Akinlolu was born in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1968 and started writing poems and songs at an early age. He graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1992 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and worked as a Vet Doctor in Nigeria for about 8 years before becoming a full-time artist. He also has a post-graduate diploma from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. His songs, written in Yoruba and English, are built on rich folkloric traditions and native wisdom but the message is universal in thrust and theme. The music speaks for the voiceless and champions the dream of a balanced society where individuals are truly free. It preaches love and tolerance but also urges people to stand and defend their rights when trampled upon.
Beautiful Nubia has shared his music with audiences across Nigeria, other parts of Africa, Europe and North America. The music has garnered excellent reviews in leading African/world music publications. It has been nominated for music awards and topped international/world charts on community, grassroots and campus radio stations around the world. The 2002 album Jangbalajugbu made him a household name in Nigeria has sold in excess of a million copies.
Discography
Keere (2014); Oriojori-Eternal Spirits (2012); Sun No Dey Sleep (2011); Irinajo (2009); Kilòkilò (2007); Fere (2006); Awilele (2004); Jangbalajugbu (2002); Voice From Heaven (1999); Seven Lifes (1997)
Website: www.beautifulnubia.com
Are You Ready
beautiful nubia and the roots renaissance band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a land where nothing works
And the youths are asleep or watching porn on TV
I could take you around on the rough bumpy road
Whipped with the blood of innocents
Where light ever shines on through
Some wait for a deliverer, some cry for deliverance
And the day goes into nights, weeks into years
Hope is shattered and the union is fragile and worn
For the little ones looking up
And the ones unborn who will be here very soon
Can we wake up from our slumber?
Purge our minds of bigotry
Turn our backs on corruption and fix the house
We can knock it down, rebuild it
We can grind it to dust or we can go our seperate ways
And fight new wars
The sunrise of pain must not set in sorrow
Say what you must, do what you should
Be the change you wish to see
Tomorrow is another day to rise and lift your voice
To reform, to rebirth to truth and justice
Well, are you ready? Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
When will you be ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
When will you be ready?
The lyrics to Beautiful Nubia and The Roots Renaissance Band's song, "Are You Ready," express a deep concern for the state of the singer's homeland. The land is described as a place where things do not work and the youth are either asleep or watching pornography on television. The singer takes the listener on a journey through the rough and bumpy road whipped with the blood of innocents, where light shines through. Some wait for a deliverer, some cry for deliverance, while others rape the motherland openly without remorse. The hope is shattered, and the union is fragile and worn. The singer urges the people to wake up from their slumber, purge their minds of bigotry, turn their backs on corruption, and fix their home. The little ones looking up and the ones who will be born soon will need a better home. The lyrics call on the people to rise, lift their voices, and fight for reform and rebirth built on truth and justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I could sing you a song
I have a story to tell about a certain land.
About a land where nothing works
This land is facing some problems and nothing seems to get better.
And the youths are asleep or watching porn on TV
The young people in this land are not actively involved in creating a better future.
I could take you around on the rough bumpy road
The journey to change this land will be difficult.
Whipped with the blood of innocents
Many innocent people have suffered and died on this journey.
Where light ever shines on through
There is still hope and there is still light shining through the darkness.
Some wait for a deliverer, some cry for deliverance
Some people are waiting for someone else to come and fix everything.
Some just rape the motherland openly without remorse
Some people are harming the land and its people without any guilt or shame.
And the day goes into nights, weeks into years
Time passes by quickly and yet the situation remains the same.
Hope is shattered and the union is fragile and worn
The people's hope has been broken and the country is struggling.
For the little ones looking up
There are young people who are watching and learning from the actions of their elders.
And the ones unborn who will be here very soon
Future generations will inherit the consequences of our actions.
Can we wake up from our slumber?
We need to wake up and take action to make a change.
Purge our minds of bigotry
We need to get rid of any prejudices or biases we may have.
Turn our backs on corruption and fix the house
We need to reject corruption and work to make our country better.
We can knock it down, rebuild it
We have the power to completely change everything.
We can grind it to dust or we can go our separate ways
We can either destroy everything or we can choose to part ways and leave the situation as it is.
And fight new wars
If we don't work to fix things, we will only create new problems.
The sunrise of pain must not set in sorrow
We must not let our pain turn into despair.
Say what you must, do what you should
Speak out and take action to make change happen.
Be the change you wish to see
We should embody the values and behaviors we want to see in others.
Tomorrow is another day to rise and lift your voice
We have another chance to make things better tomorrow.
To reform, to rebirth to truth and justice
We need to work to rebuild our country with values of honesty and fairness.
Well, are you ready? Are you ready? (Are you ready?)
Are you prepared to take action?
When will you be ready?
When will you be willing to work towards change?
Writer(s): Ruth Anne Cunningham, Daniel O'donoghue
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.