Nigeria taps the power of music to try to beat coronavirus

By Nneka Chile and Libby George
LAGOS, May 4 (Reuters) - Two dozen Lagos healthcare workers
in scrubs and face masks rushed outside the isolation tents and,
making sure to keep six feet apart on the bright green grass,
danced and swayed as a saxophone and trumpet struck up the band.
Inside the tents, some of the patients, all battling the
coronavirus, watched through plastic windows and, if strong
enough, danced and swayed along with them.
Abolaji Banjoko, a 32-year-old also known as BeejaySax,
typically would have spent the day playing to a crowd of
thousands at a packed megachurch in Nigeria's thrumming
commercial capital.
But this was no ordinary Sunday. Lagos was under lockdown,
mass gatherings were banned and Banjoko and his musicians were
under special orders from the state to play their gospel tunes
to try to speed the recovery from a virus that has killed
hundreds of thousands worldwide.
"The purpose was to lift the spirits – to deliver spiritual
healing," Banjoko said. "That was greatly achieved."
The virus is still spreading though the capital, the
epicentre of the outbreak in Africa's most populous nation,
upending life for its 20 million residents and stretching
government resources.
On Monday, there were 2,558 confirmed cases in Nigeria, home
to large Christian and Muslim communities, 1,107 of them in
Lagos.
Music plays an integral role in Nigeria, the nation of Fela
Kuti, Afrobeats and a steady stream of chart-topping artists
including WizKid, Davido and Burna Boy. Thumping gospel at
weekly church services propels congregants to feel the power of
God.
Akin Abayomi, Lagos state's health commissioner, launched
the Art4life project last year to add music, painting and poetry
to the healthcare arsenal. Now it includes weekly concerts
outside coronavirus isolation and treatment centres.
Abosede Lewu, a Lagos doctor, called the initiative
essential.
"If we have something that can stimulate people fighting
back, which you cannot quantify in terms of the number of pills
or whatever you give ... we have to encourage it," she said.
Peter Oluwadare, a 23-year old violinist, said it was scary
to be so close to the pandemic but said the music helped him
conquer his fear.
"It was refreshing to see the affected people and healthcare
workers, you know, revitalised with the music," Oluwadare said.
"I feel so honoured to play there."