Beyond Music: Power, Policy, and Youth Voices in Nigeria

Beyond Music: Power, Policy, and Youth Voices in Nigeria

Author: ISRAEL OLUWAFEMI MAKANJUOLA September 20, 2025 Duration: 14:58

An artiste can sing, sure. But in our world today, being an artiste goes beyond music. Anyone with a message of value has a song, and that song does not have to sound like Drake, Beyoncé, Tems, Wizkid, or Davido. Your truth can be your song. Your hustle can be your song. That is why on The Artiste Hangout, we are not just spotlighting emerging artistes. We are amplifying voices with something meaningful to say.


This podcast is usually about music and artistry, but sometimes we need to step back and look at the bigger system that shapes every opportunity we fight for: governance. Whether you are an artiste, producer, or young hustler, the policies made in Abuja ripple down to how we live, work, and create.


In this episode, I speak with Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC (Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre), about why youth participation in governance is not just a political matter but a survival issue. With more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under 25 and young people still sidelined in decision-making, the gap between policy and reality could not be clearer.


Rafsanjani explains how digital activism, civil society, and grassroots pressure are forcing the doors open for youth inclusion, and why staying silent only guarantees exclusion.


If you have ever wondered why your voice feels unheard or why the hustle in music and beyond is so tough, this conversation connects the dots between governance, opportunity, and the future young Nigerians deserve.


At Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx, the conversation starts where the music ends. Hosted by music journalist Femi Makx, this isn't a typical interview show; it's a deep, meandering exploration of how the sounds we love are forged. Each episode is built on the premise that a song is never just a song-it's a product of identity, a response to power structures, a spark of creativity shaped by its time. You'll hear long-form, in-depth conversations that deliberately wander, connecting artistic choices to the wider currents of youth culture and social change. The podcast operates from a simple, powerful idea: to examine music not as a passive soundtrack, but as an active, living commentary. This means peeling back the layers of a hit record to find the personal and political stories underneath, or understanding how a specific creative scene reflects broader shifts in society. The analysis is thoughtful and the atmosphere is more like a candid backstage chat than a formal Q&A. It’s for anyone who listens to a track and wonders about the world that made it, who sees the artist as a citizen and their work as a cultural artifact. Tune in for a perspective that treats the creative landscape with the seriousness it deserves, making each episode a hangout that challenges how you hear everything.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Artiste Hangout with Femi Makx
Podcast Episodes
Shallipopi Auracle Album Review and Predictions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:38
On this episode of The Artiste Hangout Podcast with Femi Makx, we dive into Shallipopi’s highly anticipated Auracle album. We discuss possible challenges including oversaturation, repeated formulas, album bloat, feature-…
Why Nigerian Artistes Are Speaking Out on Insecurity and Kidnapping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:21
Explore why Nigerian artistes such as Davido, Rema, Falz, and IllBliss are using social media to highlight insecurity across the country. This episode breaks down kidnappings, ransom trends, and the critical role of cele…
Rema, Young Jonn, Asake, Blue Disco: What to Expect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:29
In this episode, we break down Young Jonn’s highly anticipated album Blue Disco and dive into the impact of having Rema and Asake featured on key tracks like Lalala. We explore how the album blends emotion, introspection…
The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift: Review & Reaction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:58
Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl is here and it is already dominating global conversations. On this episode of The Artiste Hangout Podcast with Femi Makx, we unpack everything shaping this new e…
This One Is Personal by Tiwa Savage Podcast Prediction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:49
This one right here is personal……Tiwa Savage is about to drop her new album and I’ve got some thoughts. From the title alone you can already tell it’s not just music, it’s a statement. In this episode I break down what t…
Why Gospel Music Feels Like Everything Else Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:27
In this episode, I sat with Toni and Kalhm to talk about something a lot of people have been noticing — gospel music is starting to sound like everything else.We talked about the pressure to chase virality, how trends ar…