Alingo

"Alingo" is a song by Nigerian duo P-Square. It was released as the lead single from the duo's compilation album, Greatest Hits (2013) and sixth studio album, Double Trouble (2014). It peaked at number one on MTV Base's Official Naija Top 10 Chart from March 22 through March 28, 2013, surpassing 2 Face Idibia's "Ihe Neme".[1] It was originally leaked to the public. The duo recorded the song prior to the Love AfroBeats Festival, which occurred at the HMV Apollo in London.[2]

"Alingo"
Single by P-Square
from the album Greatest Hits and Double Trouble
Released	2012
Recorded	2012
Genre	Afropop
Length	4:31
Label	Square Records
Songwriter(s)	P-Square
P-Square singles chronology
"Beautiful Onyinye" (2012) "Alingo" (2012) "Personally" (2013)
Music video
"Alingo" on YouTube

Music video

The music video was directed by Jude Engees Okoye and Clarence Peters.[3]

Dance move and controversy

"Alingo" became popular due to its controversial dance moves. The duo first announced the Alingo dance during the Love Afrobeats Festival Press Conference. Furthermore, they said the pace of the dance makes it complicated for a lot of people. After uploading the music video for "Alingo" onto YouTube, the duo received numerous criticism from people who felt the song's dance moves bear close resemblance to the Azonto dance. Puffy Tee, a music manager responsible for Olu Maintain's "Yahooze", VIP's "Away" and Becca's "No Away", said, "the music industry is a vast one so everybody has the opportunity to create a new thing, so if Ghanaians introduce Azonto and P-Square from Nigeria also create Alingo, it's all in the best interest of the African music industry as a whole".[4]

The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation placed a ban on the music video, stating, "erotic dance scenes at the end of the musical video".[5] When asked how they received the news of the ban, Peter of P-Square said, "We heard about the ban. But when they ban a particular song, they are indeed helping to promote that song. By the way, if they ban a song from being broadcast in Nigerian stations, will they stop MTV, Channel O, Soundcity and other cable networks from playing the same song. It's not possible."[6]

Accolades

The music video for "Alingo" won the Most Gifted African (West) Video and was nominated for Most Gifted Video of the Year at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards.[7][8] The music video of "Alingo" earned Jude Engees Okoye the Best Music Video Director award at the 2013 The Headies.

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2013	Channel O Music Video Awards	Most Gifted African (West) Video	Won
		Most Gifted Video of the Year	Nominated
	The Headies	Best Music Video	Won

Track listing

Digital single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Alingo"	P-Square	4:31
2.	"Alingo (Instrumental)"	————	4:29

References

1. "P-Square's "Alingo" Steals 2Face Idibia's Coveted Number One Spot on This Week's MTV Base Official Naija Top 10". Bellanaija. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
2. "P-Square 'Love AfroBeats Festival 2012' with Wande Coal, May D". Nigerianmusicnetwork. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
3. "VIDEO: P Square – Alingo". Notjustok. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
4. "Ghanaians should accept P-Square's Alingo – Puffy Tee". Ghanaweb. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
5. "NBC ban the video of Psquare Alingo,Take Banana, Shake Ur Bum Bum and others". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
6. "Only 'one thing' can split us – Psquare". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
7. "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013: Full List Of Winners". 360nobs. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
8. "Channel O Music Video Awards 2013+ Complete List of Nominees". Naijanews. Retrieved 7 October 2013.