Nigeria bans songs by Wande Coal, Olamide, Falz

In a letter from the regulatory body Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to the management of a radio station in Jos, Plateau State, the songs ‘This Is Nigeria’ by Falz, ‘Iskaba’ by Wande Coal and ‘See Mary, See Jesus’ by Olamide were flagged as unfit for airplay.

The letter, dated 6 August and carrying the heading Persistent Airing of Music with Vulgar and Indecent Lyrics, cites the “casual use” of the names of figures in the title and chorus as inappropriate: “’Mary’ and ‘Jesus’” are “regarded as sacred by the Christian faith” and their mention “contravenes Section 4.3.1.e”.

‘Iskaba’ is said to have “vulgar lyrics”, with the line “Girl you de make me kolo, shaking the *ss like kolo” singled out in the letter.

Where both ‘Iskaba’ and ‘See Mary, See Jesus’ can be said to have gone against social etiquette, ‘This Is Nigeria’ is political and has apparently been banned for that reason, although the letter claims the line “This Is Nigeria, look how we are living now, everybody be criminal” is a “vulgar” bit of lyric.

“Recall,” says the letter, “the commission had cause to warn your station via letters dated 6 March 2018…for airing a song by Falz [titled] ‘This Is Nigeria’ and also on 24 July 2018…for airing Wande Coal’s ‘Iskaba’.” The station has been fined 100 000 naira ($280).

Of the three songs, ‘This Is Nigeria’ has proven the most controversial, as it has been the subject of heavy attention since its release as a Nigerian version of Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’.

It was criticised, praised and parsed on social media before an Islamic group demanded its withdrawal. The group later relented on its threat of legal redress but now the song has caught the attention of the Nigerian authorities.

Whereas critics of the authorities might point to the political nature of the Falz song as responsible for its ban, in the case of Wande Coal’s ‘Iskaba’, they might be able to ask a single question: Why has it taken the NBC so long to issue a ban? The single ‘Iskaba’ was released in 2016; its video was released April last year.