Afro Beats Lyrics and Substance Usage among Juveniles in Warri City of Delta State, Nigeria

The study explores Afro Beats lyrics and substance usage among juveniles in Warri City of Delta State, Nigeria. The study revealed that the depiction of drug and substance use in Nigerian musical videos influenced the desensitisation of the youths towards drug and substance abuse. This is not new to the Nigerian music industry, as drug and substance use has been there since the 1970s. A descriptive survey research design was used in this study to examine how the Afrobeat lyrics impact substance use amongst juveniles in the city of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. The target population was secondary school students in the age range of 13 to 19 years in Warri City since this group is a group of people very exposed to popular music and prone to peer and media influence. A structured questionnaire known as the Afrobeat Influence and Substance Use Questionnaire (AISUQ) was constructed by the researcher and validated by scholars in the fields of psychology and sociology. The findings revealed that Afrobeat music often mentions and encourages the use of drugs. An impressive 80% of people agreed that they have heard lyrics that talk about drugs or substances such as codeine, weed, and shayo. It was concluded that most of the juveniles, however, are critical, with only a small minority showing interest or approval of using the drug. The study recommended that substance use can also be normalised by providing programmes that enable young individuals to be empowered to challenge the use of drugs in their lifestyles.