Folarin Falana popularly known by his rap name Falz, simply put is one of the most innovative artists of his time. Educated as a lawyer, from the beginning of his career his approach as a rapper has always been distinct, he’s created a personality of humor, wit and social commentary which has helped him define a very unique path and career. Persuasive with his deliveries and hilarious hooks, his music videos are what make him spark the most. Through his videos which he shoots as microfilms, he highlights different aspects of society taking note of the good, bad and ugly an example of what true art should represent.
Art, as we understand, is a reference point for cultural reflection, a mirror of society, and Childish Gambino executed that with his new video ‘This Is America’ which touched on social issues that plagued America, ranging from politics to the inhumane treatment of black people, and a celebration black-American culture. It’s no surprisingly ise an imaginative and ambitious Falz could not stay away, recreating his own version titled ‘This Is Nigeria’.
This is Nigeria, look how I’m living now, look how I’m living now. Everybody be criminal, Falz sings accross the song.
The song starts with a voice over from his father, the lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, addressing issues about corruption and terrible governance, it ends with Falz talking about criminal cases being unsolved. The video addresses a range of issues from the missing Chibok Girls, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Yahoo Yahoo (Internet Fraud), Crooked Pastors and Churches, recently concluded Big Brother Nigeria, Missing Nigerian Funds, even the viral clip of Nigeria’s Inspector General Ibrahim Idris painfully stumbling through a speech.
The videos like many others done by Falz does justice in highlighting the many irregularities in the Nigerian society, things we know are occurring but turn the blind eye and accept without challenging or uproar. Using his platform to comment and put forth thought-provoking critiques.
