In a powerful and impassioned statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka strongly condemned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over its recent ban of veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song, Tell Your Papa.
The globally revered literary icon did not mince words, describing the NBC’s action as a dangerous regression into a culture of censorship.
According to Soyinka, the ban represents a troubling signal of shrinking democratic space in Nigeria and an open threat to the constitutionally protected right to free expression.
Soyinka’s statement dissected the ban from both a historical and democratic standpoint, noting its resemblance to previous attempts by authoritarian regimes to stifle dissenting voices. “This is not merely about a song,” Soyinka remarked.
“It is about a dangerous slide back into the days of enforced silence and artistic gagging.”
The professor, who has long been an advocate for free expression, decried what he termed as the “resuscitation of old habits of repression disguised in new robes of decency and broadcasting etiquette.”
In a tone laced with irony and biting satire, Soyinka even suggested that the NBC had not gone far enough in its censorship, saying, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is a member, should also go under the hammer.”
This sarcasm underscored Soyinka’s larger point—that censorship, once given a foothold, has the tendency to spiral into absurdity and tyranny.
He went further to warn about the long-term implications of suppressing creative expression, calling it not just counterproductive but a dangerous precedent in a democracy.
“Every time a government moves to silence critique—whether spoken, sung, or written—it signals a retreat from democratic values,” Soyinka warned.
He cautioned that once a government begins to accommodate only praise-singers and sycophants, it has already begun a “downhill slide into the abyss.”
Interestingly, Soyinka admitted that he had not listened to the song in question, but he maintained that the substance of the issue transcended the content of the music.
“Whether the song is brilliant or banal is irrelevant,” he said. “This is not a matter of taste but principle. The moment we begin to selectively gag certain voices, we fracture the integrity of our democratic system.”
The professor, known for his sharp wit, also noted the irony that censorship often results in the exact opposite effect of what it intends to achieve.
“The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion,” Soyinka quipped. “Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him.”
His observation reflects a recurring truth in the digital age: the more an artwork is banned, the more public curiosity it attracts.
Indeed, despite the NBC’s April 10 directive banning Tell Your Papa from airplay, the song has enjoyed growing popularity across digital platforms.
On YouTube, it initially recorded 22,754 views and 1,200 likes, but as the controversy brewed, the numbers soared to 82,138 views and 2,600 likes—a clear indication that public interest had been piqued rather than subdued.
On Spotify, the track has amassed over 30,116 streams, underscoring the public’s rejection of state-imposed silence.
Eedris Abdulkareem, the artist at the center of the storm, did not remain silent either. He likened the ban to the government’s reaction to his 2004 protest anthem Jaga Jaga, stating that the current administration, much like its predecessors, was “insensitive and vindictive.”
In an Instagram post, he wrote, “It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.”
His message resonated with many Nigerians who view the song as a courageous piece of social commentary.
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) also weighed in, aligning with Soyinka’s sentiments. The association expressed disapproval of the ban, predicting it would backfire by driving more people to stream the song.
According to PMAN, the NBC’s action betrayed a misunderstanding of modern media consumption, where bans often serve as free publicity. “You don’t silence a song by banning it in 2025,” a PMAN spokesperson remarked. “You just give it wings.”
Meanwhile, fans of Eedris Abdulkareem have taken to social media to express both support for the artist and criticism of the government’s stance.
Comments on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook show a groundswell of solidarity with Abdulkareem.
Many Nigerians see the ban as symbolic of broader governmental attempts to muffle dissent.
