By Bamidele Kolawole

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A folk song is a simple, short melody improvised by someone with no musical training and no desire to extend it into a longer, more structured piece.
A Nigerian folk musician, Akinyemi Alexander Akinterinwa, said that folk songs possess deep meanings that can easily be applied to one’s life.
During an interview with Friday Extravaganza, Akinterinwa noted that they can depict the community’s traditions, cultures and livelihood because they can use it as a guide.
He expressed his feelings about some ladies who wanted to be his wife by force but he made them to understand that he cannot marry them, saying he cannot marry whom he doesn’t love .
He said some would come to his house and be parading themselves as his wife but he always tell them to look for their love elsewhere.
While explaining the importance of folk music in the society, he noted that: “When we sing folk songs, it connects people with the generations before them as well as other cultures from around the world.
“We follow their footsteps and gather together because of our love for singing and dancing. Folk songs are also great because they make it so easy to teach history and culture”.
Folk media helps in making the task of nation building and socio-economic development easier and acceptable to rural masses.
Folk arts have continued to play a meaningful role in the society, in educating people about the consequences of social evils like alcoholism, illiteracy, superstition, communalism, population explosion, malnutrition and insanitation, dowry and so on.
He pleaded with upcoming artistes to work harder to achieve their aim in life, saying they should not wait for anybody for help because their help is from God.
Akinterinwa said that since he started singing, God has been faithful to him and he can do great things.