Falz has addressed his highly debated ‘This is Nigeria’ video which touches on many issues including the police and online fraud, also known as ‘yahoo yahoo’.
In an interview with CNBC, the actor, singer and comic explained that the manner in which Childish Gambino “told the American story” inspired him to embark on the project.
“I was inspired by that and I thought it would be amazing to tell the Nigerian story,” he said.
Falz, 27, is of the opinion that the masses are distracted by entertainment, taking the focus away from more pressing social issues.
He, however, acknowledged that inasmuch as artistes have a responsibility to the society, they have to make money.
“I feel like we need to stay at a heightened level of social consciousness and political awareness out here because everyone is seemingly distracted by entertainment… that we sort of forget we’re facing a lot of struggles as a country.
“At the end of the day, money is very important. People need to make money, even I need to make money. But I feel like at every interval we need to stop and think. We need to pause and look around. Are we becoming too insensitive?”
When asked about the backlash he received on social media for speaking out against online fraud popularly known as ‘yahoo yahoo’, Falz expressed his displeasure at how ills are being normalised.
“It’s very appalling and it’s very disturbing that the irregular has become regularised and more people now look at things that should be frowned upon as normal,” he said.
“Oh you know it’s just hustle, they’re just trying to make ends meet meanwhile that is blatantly a crime, that is blatantly wrong.
“I didn’t feel any need to take back what I said and I still stood by what I said. I readdressed the point in this video.”
Falz, real name Folarin Falana, went on to speak on the way he addressed the Nigerian police in the video. “Police station dey close by six, security reason oh”, Falz rapped on the song.
Commenting on the line, he said: “The serious insecurity issue that we have right now, nobody is secure.
“The police force that is supposed to be enforcing law and order aren’t really doing that if we’re going to be honest. In my opinion, the entire police force needs a complete revamp.
“People constantly in the north being killed, being kidnapped. It’s really disturbing. And that what I said earlier about insensitivity.
“We’re all carried away by everything that is going on. We’re forgetting that everyday little girls, little children are being kidnapped, being killed and it’s just not right.”
Falz is one of the 90 Nigerians included in Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list.
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