A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF FEMI KUTI’S MUSIC

The importance of music to African society cannot be overemphasised. Music is an integral part of everyday life. Ranging from confessing and affirming love to cherished ones, to giving advice, imparting knowledge, soliciting for favours, asserting authority, praying to a deity and chastising/rebuking erring individuals or wards, it is perceived that music has physical, emotional and psychological effects on the listeners. There is a great synergy between language, music and discourse, especially in the analysis of language use in music. This work undertook a discourse analysis of selected works of Femi Kuti’s music.  Using Austin, J. L’s Speech Act Theory (1962) as foundation, this study adopted the descriptive method in analyzing the selected tracks, which mirror the political and socio-economic situations in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.  The findings of this study revealed that Femi Kuti’s Afro beat music is a medium of socialization, eliciting political, economic and even psychological reforms. The study concluded that through the creative use of language, the music of Femi Kuti instils confidence, teaches morals and informs the public on societal happenings.   Keywords:  Afrobeat music, Discourse analysis, Speech act theory, Creative language use, societal reforms, Music of disenchantment.