Pragmeme of glamorizing material in Olu Maintain’s song, Yahooze

Abstract

This paper investigates the preponderance of vulgar expressions in the selected song that glamorize materialism. Ostentatious living without a corresponding legitimate source of livelihood makes this study a compelling one as the song under reference seeks to glamorize Advance Fee Fraud otherwise referred to as ‘419’ in Nigeria parlance. This international crime derived its name from the section of the Nigeria Criminal Code in section 419. The study purposively selected the song as it meets the purposes and intentions of the paper while Pragmatic Acts Theory is chosen as its theoretical framework. This study purposively selected Olu Maintain’s song titled Yahooze on the basis of its conviction that it meets its preconceived bias of a song that thematizes and encourages materialism and crime. The study adopts the content analysis approach to discuss the identified lyrics that fit into the focus of this paper. Phrases and clauses in the song that are found to promote and glamorize illegal acquisition and flaunting of wealth are presented in a table and analyzed. Ostentatious living, globe-trotting, and mindless money-spending are evident in the song and highly promoted. The study concludes that Nigeria hip hop artistes should use their songs to mould the characters of Nigerian youths towards nation- building and imbibe the culture of dignity in labour.