“Black Tide (in Niger Delta)” is a song communicating the ecocide committed by oil exploration/exploitation companies. The song highlights the high level of devastation of rivers, land, and air on the people of the Niger Delta in Nigeria.
Written and sung by artiste, Klub-Jeru, the song sues for Justice and calls for an end to the exploration/exploitation of oil in the region.
“Black Tide” was inspired by a song of a similar title produced by the South Sudanese Anataban artistes.
According to activist, Nnimmo Bassey, there are strong parallels between the oil pollution in the two countries.
“It is interesting to see how artistes are utilising cultural tools to build a movement for environmental justice on the continent,” he said. “Ken Saro-Wiwa led the way in using cultural tools such as poetry, short stories and plays. We must encourage the growth of this trend.”
Klub-Jeru said: “Black Tide is my expression of the fact that oil has no meaning to my people while our natural environment and resources such as fisheries still keep the history and culture of my people. When our people till the soil hope is birthed but with oil our hopes are dashed.”
On November 13, 2019, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) used the video to illustrate the confluence of arts and environmental protection during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
