Eco-Marxist Study of Beautiful Nubia’s Jangbalajugbu and Lekeleke

This study offers an eco-Marxist analysis of two songs, “Jangbalajugbu” and “Lekeleke,” by the Nigerian musical artist Beautiful Nubia. It argues that the artist’s work represents a significant stylistic and thematic departure from mainstream trends within the Nigerian and African music industries. Framed by the theoretical insights of Raymond Williams and John Bellamy Foster, this qualitative research employs lyrical, textual, and critical discourse analysis to investigate the selected songs. While previous scholarship has engaged with Beautiful Nubia’s music and lyrical poetry, this paper addresses a critical gap by examining its explicit engagement with Eco-Marxist critiques. The primary significance of this work lies in its demonstration of how popular music can function as a discursive tool to critique environmental degradation stemming from capitalist exploitation. The analysis finds that Beautiful Nubia’s music transcends mere entertainment, embedding substantive socio-political and ecological content. Consequently, the study concludes that his songs serve as valuable resources for ethical reflection, pedagogical engagement, and civic consciousness in Nigeria. It recommends increased scholarly attention to Beautiful Nubia’s oeuvre as a vital corpus for understanding art’s role in addressing pressing societal and environmental issues.