Nigeria’s broadcasting authority has banned a politically charged rap song criticising President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the economy from being aired on radio and television, according to the artist behind the track.
The song, titled Tell Your Papa, by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, takes aim at Tinubu’s administration for the worsening economic hardship faced by Nigerians under his leadership. Tinubu’s presidency, which began in May 2023, has been marked by a severe cost-of-living crisis, driven by sweeping economic reforms.
In the track, Abdulkareem addresses Tinubu’s son, urging him to “tell your papa” that Nigerians are suffering due to economic pressures and continued insecurity. The lyrics, delivered in a blend of Yoruba, English and Pidgin, have now been deemed too controversial for broadcast.
On Thursday, Abdulkareem posted a letter from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to his Instagram page. The letter, dated Wednesday, instructed television and radio stations across Nigeria to refrain from playing the song, labelling it “inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature”.
The NBC has not issued a public statement or responded to media requests for comment on the matter.
“It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government,” Abdulkareem wrote in response to the ban.
Despite Nigeria’s globally recognised Afrobeats music scene and the prolific output of its Nollywood film industry, campaigners say artists continue to face restrictions on free speech, particularly when challenging those in power.
The legal advocacy group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has vowed to take legal action against the government over the censorship, accusing authorities of violating freedom of expression.
President Tinubu has introduced economic reforms aimed at stabilising the country’s finances, including the removal of a fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the naira’s exchange rate. While these policies have been praised by some economists and international partners as necessary steps for long-term growth, they have also caused widespread hardship as inflation soared and the value of the naira plummeted.
In response to the ban, Abdulkareem encouraged his fans to stream the song online, posting: “We go stream.”
