Veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has recorded a serious win amid controversy, as his newly launched protest music, Inform Your Papa, continues to draw widespread consideration regardless of a broadcast ban by the Nationwide Broadcasting Fee (NBC).
The monitor, which immediately criticises President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was banned from airplay by NBC on April 10, 2025, citing a violation of the Nigerian broadcasting code.
Nevertheless, the ban seems to have fueled curiosity within the music, which has now gone viral on a number of streaming platforms.
As of time of reporting, Inform Your Papa has garnered over 89,000 views and a pair of,800 likes on YouTube—up from 22,754 views and 1,200 likes shortly after its launch.
On Spotify, the monitor has achieved over 30,000 streams, displaying a transparent surge in public curiosity following the ban.
Reacting to the event, Eedris Abdulkareem in contrast the ban to the censorship of his 2004 protest anthem Jaga Jaga, accusing the present administration of suppressing dissent and constructive criticism.
In an Instagram put up, he wrote:
“It’s apparent that in Nigeria, reality and constructive criticism is all the time deemed a giant crime by the federal government.”
The Performing Musicians Affiliation of Nigeria (PMAN) additionally weighed in, stating that the ban would seemingly backfire by drawing extra public consideration to the music and rising its recognition.
Famend Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, added his voice to the rising backlash towards the NBC.
In a press release launched from New York College, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, April 13, Soyinka condemned the ban as a harmful return to censorship and an assault on freedom of expression.
He remarked paradoxically that the censorship didn’t go far sufficient:
“It’s not solely the allegedly offensive report that needs to be banned – the musician himself needs to be proscribed. Subsequent, PMAN, or no matter musical affiliation of which Abdulkareem is a member, must also go underneath the hammer.”
Soyinka warned that censorship of this sort was each counterproductive and dangerous to democracy.
He urged regulators to reverse what he termed “petulant irrationality,” warning {that a} authorities illiberal of criticism is already “on a slippery slope to the abyss.”
Apparently, the professor admitted he hadn’t listened to the banned music, however pressured that the core subject prolonged past lyrics to a basic democratic proper:
“The ban is a lift to the artist’s nest egg, because of free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem have to be at the moment warbling his merry method all the way in which to the {bank}. I envy him.”
Nigerians have additionally taken to social media to specific their assist for Abdulkareem and frustration with the ban.
A YouTube consumer, Sheggzyunited, commented:
“Naija authorities, that is 2025, for goodness’ sake. There is no such thing as a single lie within the music.”
One other fan, Asa Anthony, added:
“They have been too fast to ban it as a result of the message was properly handed. We mount on streaming platforms and social media.”
An Instagram consumer, @directorjoelmatt, echoed the sentiment:
“Our authorities doesn’t like the reality.”
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