Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has strongly criticized the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for banning Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song “Tell Your Papa,” labeling the move a troubling return to censorship and a threat to free expression in Nigeria.
The NBC banned the song, which criticizes President Bola Tinubu’s administration and addresses issues like economic hardship and insecurity, citing its “objectionable nature.”
In a statement released from New York University, Abu Dhabi, Soyinka condemned the ban, calling it a regression to a culture of censorship. He satirically suggested that not only should the song be banned, but also the artist, his musical association, and even cartoonists who comment on such issues, highlighting the absurdity of suppressing dissenting voices.
Soyinka emphasized that censorship often backfires, drawing more attention to the suppressed content. He warned that silencing critical voices undermines democratic principles and fosters an environment where only praise-singers are tolerated, leading to a decline in governance quality.
He concluded by urging the government to reverse the ban and uphold the fundamental right to free expression, stating that such rights are essential for a healthy democracy and should not be curtailed under any pretext.
