Ever since popular entertainer, Falz, released the song, ‘This is Nigeria,’ it has been shrouded in controversy. At first, Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern called for the song to be banned because some ladies in hijab were dancing Shaku Shaku and they believed it was against the Islamic religion, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
During the week, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission fined a radio station to the tune of N100,000 for playing the song which they said was unfit for airplay because of this line, “This is Nigeria, look how we living now. Everybody be criminal,” stating that it made the song vulgar and it was in contravention of Section 3.6.1 and 3.13.2.2 of its constitution.
When Saturday Beats reached out to the entertainer, he said that he felt it was ridiculous for the commission to ban the song, arguing that it was not a vulgar song but a socially conscious piece of art which addresses the current issues in the country.
Falz said, “There is absolutely nothing vulgar about the song and I think it is ridiculous that the Nigerian Broadcast Commission singled out the least vulgar line in the song and ascribed it to be the reason they banned the song. It is a very simple and clean song. The only thing is that I was very blunt about the way I talk about things. I do not know maybe some messages in the song hit them and that is the real reason they banned the song. The line was, ‘This is Nigeria, look how we living now. Everybody be criminal.’ If they ban this song, then I do not understand them because that song is definitely not a vulgar song.”
The singer turned actor told Saturday Beats that he did not know if there was any conspiracy to ensure that the song never enjoyed airwaves but he was aware that the song could have hit some nerves of certain people. He further disclosed that he would investigate why his song was banned through his lawyers.