Nigerian hip-hop artist and self-proclaimed “bahd guy,” Folarinde ‘Falz’ Falana has just released a new album that unabashedly criticizes the faults and flaws of his native country through a fusion of razor-sharp lyrics laced with hip-shaking, booty-dropping West African beats. Moral Instruction is Falz’s fourth studio album and it features rising stars like Chillz, Demmie Vee and SESS rapping in English and Pidgin. The album artwork is designed by Lemi Ghariokwu, a legendary artist in Nigeria known for producing imagery for Fela Kuti, the father of the Afrobeat genre.
Many will remember Falz, born Folarin Falana, from his controversial 2018 hit “This is Nigeria,” a cover of Childish Gambino’s chart-topping single ‘This is America.’ Falz’s version has racked up 15 million views on YouTube to date but has ignited its fair share of controversy as well. In August, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) banned it from the airwaves for “vulgar lyrics” like “This is Nigeria; look how we living now, everybody be criminal.” The viral video certainly didn’t put him on the map in Nigeria; Falz has been producing award-winning music in the country for nearly a decade. But “This is Nigeria” solidified his role as a mouthpiece for Nigerians fed up with the status-quo of corruption, violence and economic turmoil, particularly in recent years. The song also inspired a procession of politically-charged singles leading up to his latest album.
One of the more notable of these releases is “Talk,” which evokes a simple message: Nigerians should not be afraid to speak up and speak out against the country’s current state of affairs. The music video, directed by Prodigeezy, features Falz being transported into a video game on a mission to save Nigeria, playing the role of a judge and a politician. The chorus is a catchy anthem of: “Anything you talk make you talk am again.”
Nigeria is home to Africa’s largest economy, but it is plagued by violence and corruption. According to the Global-Terrorism Index Report, it was among the three most-terrorized countries in the world in 2018, behind Iraq and Afghanistan. President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign has failed to address fraud and scandal within his own administration and these instabilities and tensions could cause an already fragile economy to slip back into recession. With national elections set to take place in February, critical discussions are well underway as to how the country can endure positive change.
In spite of its many hardships, Nigeria has consistently produced some of the continent’s most successful and well-known Afropop and highlife artists (think Burna Boy and Mr Eazi, both of whom are scheduled to perform at Coachella this year).
What sets Falz apart however, is his ability to merge the musical with the socio-political, and use his art to convey a meaningful message. The son of two lawyers and prominent social activists in Nigeria, Femi and Funmi Falana, Falz was also trained as a lawyer before deciding to pursue a career in music. The now 28-year-old has established himself as a voice of his generation, actively speaking out against the country’s injustices. Last year, after releasing the single ‘Sweet Boys’ Falz founded the Sweet Boys Association – a group of “well-mannered, well-clad, and purposeful, ambitious gentlemen.” The SBA membership includes prominent singers, media personalities, fashion designers and actors in Nigeria. The code of conduct requires Sweet Boys to aspire to greatness, never engage in fraud or corruption, treat all humans with respect and, of course, to dress impeccably well at all times.
In keeping with Falz’s style, “Moral Instruction” is peppered with critical commentary; some subtle, some not so much. In “Hypocrite” he calls to attention Nigeria’s appalling treatment of gays and the prevalence of gender-based and domestic violence:
Who are we to crucify the homosexuals?
Most of una don dey involved from time
But no be anybody business who you wan climb
You dey form gentle man when we dey with you
But you go still go home beat your wife to stupor
“E No Finish” is also a brutal critique of the government, calling into question the leadership’s negligence of the people’s welfare with lyrics like: “Corruption and indiscipline, with no regard for the life of a citizen.” It’s also a nod to Falz’s idol and musical inspiration Fela, incorporating various lines from the late singer’s 1985 song “Army Arrangement.”
The album is highly informed and spectacularly charged. It is probably best summarized in the last track, “After All Said And Done.” Falz speaks clearly and directly over rhythmic West African drumming and a jazzy saxophone melody, expressing hope on top of a desperate need for change.
After all said and done
we are still the most resilient bunch
If we can redefine love and remember the meaning of humanity
Maybe then we can restore the sanity
If we remember to react
And repeatedly refuse to be content with mediocrity
only then can we be free
You can stream the album at www.moralinstruction.com and follow Falz (@falzthebahdguy) on Twitter and Instagram to stay on top of his latest news.