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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The latest album, “The Therapeutic Tape”, by Ajogu Zekeri has continued to attract attention months after its release, with the project gaining further exposure through the REVIVE Concerts, a series of performances designed to take its central message to audiences.
For the artiste, the concerts represent more than an album promotion tour; they are part of a broader mission centred on revival.
The nine-track album explores the relationship between music, culture, identity and personal transformation, drawing inspiration from familiar Nigerian cultural expressions while challenging conventional ideas about tradition and artistic relevance.
One of the most interesting illustrations of this approach comes in the album’s closing track, “The Story of Process”, which also serves as its lead single.
In the song, Ajogu personifies ẹ̀wà (beans), addressing it as it undergoes the process of becoming ọlẹlẹ, popularly known as moin-moin, a widely enjoyed Nigerian delicacy.
Through this seemingly ordinary culinary reference, the artiste presents a deeper message about patience, transformation and the possibilities that come with embracing a process.
By using a familiar local delicacy with cultural recognition across Nigeria’s diverse communities, Ajogu turns an everyday experience into an allegory of hope and purposeful change.
Another track that demonstrates the album’s cultural depth is “Thirsty”, the second single, which is delivered in Igbo. Its recurring phrase, “nye m mmiri” (give me water), draws on an expression widely recognised across Nigeria.
Historically associated with the desperation and hardship of the Nigerian Civil War, the expression later found its way into everyday conversations, sometimes carrying derogatory undertones.
Ajogu, however, reclaims the phrase, using it to communicate personal struggles and a deeper spiritual longing for the Living Water. In doing so, he connects historical memory with contemporary personal experiences.
On “Fela, Are You Proud of Me?”, Ajogu imagines a conversation with the legendary pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
The track provides an opportunity for the artiste to examine his place within Nigeria’s evolving music industry, particularly as a rapper operating in an environment where the genre does not always receive the same attention as other musical expressions.
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The song also touches on his personal experiences, including his encounter with Teemac Iseli, while raising questions about artistic identity, recognition and the desire for validation.
His references to the place of his music in an industry featuring groups such as The Cavemen further highlight the tension between individual creative expression and prevailing musical trends.
However, it is the sixth track, “Emotional”, that introduces one of the album’s most provocative reflections on culture and tradition.
Ajogu raps: “If the world will not remain in place, why does culture think she can’t be replaced?”
The line challenges the assumption that cultural practices must remain unchanged simply because they have been inherited from previous generations.
It also introduces an interesting dimension to the album’s engagement with tradition. Rather than merely celebrating cultural heritage, Ajogu questions its permanence and considers whether cultural expressions should evolve to reflect changing realities.
This position adds complexity to the project’s overall message. While songs such as “The Story of Process” and “Thirsty” draw from familiar cultural experiences, “Emotional” questions the extent to which tradition should determine the direction of contemporary society and artistic expression.
According to the album’s official synopsis, “The Therapeutic Tape” emerged from a personal healing journey that ultimately led to discovery rather than a predetermined destination.
This description provides a useful context for understanding the project’s themes and artistic direction.
Across its nine tracks, Ajogu does more than incorporate Nigerian food, language, history and musical influences into contemporary sounds.
He reinterprets these cultural elements, examines their significance and explores their relevance to present-day experiences.
Ultimately, “The Therapeutic Tape” presents culture as something beyond a fixed inheritance.
Through its combination of personal reflection, musical experimentation and cultural references, the album suggests that traditions can be preserved while also being questioned, reinterpreted and transformed to remain relevant to new generations.
