Sound Sultan’s Mathematics: Solving Nigeria’s Problem
“I want to lead like Moses, show my people to the promise land…. but then…. people wey try am don dey underground….”
Like FELA, another rare one leaves. Sound Sultan is cut from the coat of patriots and poets as “The Chief Priest” and Lagbaja. His love for Nigeria shines through his art (listen to Mathematics, Area, Ole (Bushmeat), King of my Country, 2010). I imagine that the current state of Buhari’s Nigeria could only have broken his ailing heart.
Listening to “Mathematics” on Music Africa as a boy on a long 3 months holiday, the song’s bubbly appeal kept me wanting more of the rationed 6+ minutes listening experience. Today, I have grown to understand the latent meaning of Sound Sultan’s Mathematics. Sound Sultan suggested BODMAS can solve algebra and Nigeria’s societal mess. But the latter requires ‘BODMAS’ – Brotherhood, Objectivity, Democracy, Multiplication, Accountability, Solidarity – not BODMAS.
Sound Sultan continued to sound suggestions even till his final moments. His message – strongly themed, tenderly delivered – remains resounding even after his exit.
In Nigeria today, the blackouts are still there, japa route remains busy, and the hunters are still having a field day. Nigeria is still a problem needing applied solution despite Fela’s relentless activism, even with Lagbaja’s allegories, in spite of Sound Sultan’s Mathematics.