Performative political communication through musical interludes: An exploration of Nyesom Wike’s speeches as governor of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract This study examines the use of musical interludes in the political communication of Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, situating his speech performances within the broader traditions of Nigerian political expressivity. Drawing on Multimodality Theory and Affective Political Communication Theory, the research demonstrates how music, gesture, verbal content, and audience participation converge to create a dynamic communicative performance. The analysis shows that musical interludes in Wike’s speeches function not merely as entertainment, but as semiotic and emotional tools that shape rhetorical interpretation, reinforce political identity, and mobilize collective sentiment. The study reveals that Wike’s integration of music reflects a culturally embedded mode of political performance. Through examples such as “A Bigi Man,” “Nah Whom Dem Dey Bone Face For,” and “Face Me I Face You,” the paper illustrates how musical cues encode power relations, dramatize political narratives, and enhance charismatic authority. Ultimately, the research contributes to scholarship on multimodal political communication by demonstrating that musical interludes are central to the crafting of political meaning and the aestheticization of power in contemporary Nigerian politics. Key Words: Performative, Political Communication, Musical Interludes About the Authors * Sunday Olufemi Akande, Ph.D., is a Music Lecturer in the Department of Music at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. His areas of interest include Music Education, Popular Music, African Music, Music Therapy, Church Music, Music Performance and Gender Studies. He currently serves as the Sub-Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Arts. **Esther Ihunanya Idahor, Ph.D., is a Music Lecturer in the Department of Music at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. Her areas of interest are Music Conducting and Ensemble Management, Choir and Choir Directing, Popular Music, African Music. JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 2, October 2026, pp. 114-121. © Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON). Article Citation Akande, S. O. & Idahor, E. I. (2026). Performative political communication through musical interludes: An exploration of Nyesom Wike’s speeches as governor of Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (2): 114-121. Full Article Words: 3,905 Pages: 8 To access full article, click on download.