They’ve faced accusations of privilege and pretension – but alté artists such as Odunsi, Santi and Lady Donli are walking their own path through an often conservative culture
Just after the release of his debut album, Mandy and the Jungle, 26-year old Santi is relieved. “I feel like I gave birth,” he says. “I don’t know how that feels, but if I could I’m sure it would kinda feel like that.”
We’re in his flat in Victoria Island, an affluent area in Lagos. The near constant stream of visitors on a weekday afternoon reflects his position as one of the pioneers of alté: not a
music genre, but a whole mindset in Nigerian music. Artists who align themselves with the scene are known for blending and fusing a variety of sounds, from R&B, soul and rap to Afrobeats and indie guitar music. Alté (which stands for alternative) draws heavily on western and Nigerian influences, and puts creativity, individuality and a sense of rebellion are at its core – qualities at odds with Nigeria’s conservative culture, where, in a country dominated by Christian and Muslim values, those who go against the grain are often treated with suspicion, derision or bewilderment.