Renowned Nigerian folk singer and songwriter, Segun Akinlolu, who is popularly known as Beautiful Nubia, has issued a powerful and urgent warning against the rampant destruction of the country's natural environment. The musician voiced his deep concern during a recent public appearance, criticizing what he describes as a collective Nigerian "war against nature."
A Drive That Sparked Outrage
The artist's latest condemnation was triggered by a personal experience. A recent drive along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway filled him with dismay as he witnessed widespread tree-cutting. He lamented the rapid transformation of the landscape, stating that areas once lush with greenery were now bare.
"I drove on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway today. They are cutting down all the trees," he said. He expressed bewilderment at the prevalent attitude, noting, "When Nigerians buy land, they hate trees. Nigerians have a war against trees; we have a war against nature. I don't know why. Something is wrong with us."
The Root of the Problem: A Cultural Mindset
Beautiful Nubia, known for weaving social commentary into his music, pinpointed a common aspiration as a key driver of this environmental degradation. He linked the problem directly to the widespread dream of property ownership.
"Everybody is dreaming to one day have money, buy land, and build a house [and] cut down all the trees," he explained. He criticized the immediate impulse to clear and cement every plot of land, questioning the logic behind destroying vital natural elements. "What is wrong with you? Without the trees, we would all be dead, and we're getting there very quickly, you wait and see," he warned emphatically.
An Urgent Call to Action
Highlighting the alarming speed of the destruction, he gave a stark timeline: "Two weeks ago, the trees were still there when you drove on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Today, you are traveling there, and the trees are all gone." This rapid loss, he argues, is a direct threat to human survival.
Segun Akinlolu's advocacy is rooted in a lifetime of artistic and intellectual pursuit. Born in Ibadan in 1968, he began writing songs at the age of nine. He is a graduate of the University of Ibadan, where he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1992 and practiced for about eight years. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma from the Nigeria Institute of Journalism.
His artistic foundation is built on traditional Yoruba culture, including oral poetry and folklore. In 1997, he founded the EniObanke music company and leads the Roots Renaissance Band, cementing his role as a foremost voice in contemporary Nigerian folk music. Through his platform, he continues to sensitize the public on critical issues like the ongoing deforestation in Nigeria, urging a fundamental shift in how Nigerians relate to their natural environment.
