Today is the World’s Water Day, with a theme, “Water and Sustainable Development”. RITA OKONOBOH looks at the trajectory of water provision in Nigeria and why its lack or dearth has caused arrested development in the country.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s “Water e no get enemy” became a popular hit in the 1970s, not only because of its rich ensemble of African percussions, the sonority of guitars and saxophone, but also because of its rich message. The late afrobeat legend rocked the airwaves with the hit, and few would probably claim ignorance of the song as well as the syncopating rhythm that accompanied it.
Even up till now, the evergreen song has refused to grow old, and its message resonates each time it is played on the airwaves.
Using water as an indispensably metaphorical asset, the legend sang, “T’oba fe lo we, omi l’o ma’lo/If you wan to wash, na water you go use/ T’oba fe se’be omi l’o ma’lo/If you wan to cook, na water you go use/T’o ri ba n’gbona o omi l’ero re/If your head dey hot, na water go cool am/T’omo ba n’dagba omi l’o ma’lo/If your child dey grow, na water he go use…”, as a way to emphasise that water heals, cures, nourishes and energises.
