Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has vehemently condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to ban Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song, “Jaga Jaga Reloaded: Tell Your Papa.” Soyinka described the action as “a disturbing return to the culture of censorship and suppression of free speech in Nigeria.”
“Petulant Irrationality” Undermines Democracy
In a scathing piece sent to PM News from NYUAD, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, Soyinka employed both satire and sharp criticism to address the situation. He directly called out the Bola Tinubu administration for what he termed a “petulant irrationality” that fundamentally undermines democratic principles.
Soyinka used a cartoon by artist Ebun Aleshinloye, which critiqued the government’s censorship, as a starting point for his broader commentary. He then points to the dangers of silencing dissenting voices.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka wrote.
Mock Exaggeration Highlights Absurdity
Adopting a tone of mock exaggeration, Soyinka aimed to expose the absurdity of the ban. He quipped that perhaps the authorities should not only proscribe the song but also Abdulkareem himself, his musical association – the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), and even the cartoonist Aleshinloye. This rhetorical flourish served to highlight the extreme lengths to which suppression can escalate if left unchecked.
“I have yet to listen to the record, but the principle is inflexibly etched on any democratic template. It cannot be flouted,” he asserted.
Censorship Often Emboldens Artists
Soyinka emphasised that censorship rarely weakens artists; instead, it often emboldens them and significantly increases their popularity. “The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he said.
Warning Against Erosion of Democratic Freedoms
The literary icon issued a strong warning. He reminded everyone that Nigeria has experienced this form of suppression before. He stressed that clamping down on free speech only serves to erode democratic freedoms and embolden impunity. Soyinka not only criticised state agencies but also the growing influence of religious and governmental authorities that harass and imprison artists for expressing dissenting views. “Any government that is tolerant only of yes-men and women, which accommodates only praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss,” Soyinka said.
Sombre Reflection on Edo Killings and Impunity
In a sombre postscript, the playwright shifted his focus to the recent killings in Edo State, where nineteen youths were reportedly victims of mob violence. Drawing a parallel with the 2022 lynching of student Deborah Samuel, Soyinka denounced the persistent culture of impunity that allows perpetrators of such heinous acts to evade justice. “The horror is not in numbers but in the act itself… Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
