Soyinka Slams Ban On Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song

Wole Soyinka has condemned the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, calling it a threat to free speech and a return to censorship.

Professor Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Prize-winning writer, has slammed the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian artiste Eedris Abdulkareem.

He called the action a step backwards into censorship and a serious threat to freedom of expression in the country. Soyinka made his statement from New York University in Abu Dhabi, where he expressed concern that this kind of ban reminded him of previous efforts to silence artistes and social critics in Nigeria.

“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learned recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” he said.

Although Soyinka admitted he had not listened to the song in question, he made it clear that the bigger issue was not about the content of the music, but about the basic right of free speech. He sarcastically added, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is a member, should also go under the hammer.”

Soyinka emphasized that freedom of expression is a key part of democracy and should not be taken lightly. “It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic,” he stated. He also pointed out that trying to silence an artist often brings them more attention and benefits. “The ban is a boost to the artiste’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he joked.

He warned that repeating the same pattern of censorship over the years is not only ineffective but also dangerous. “We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseam. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” he said.

Soyinka expressed concern that censorship gives those in power the excuse to suppress opposition and control public opinion. He argued that it encourages government officials to act without fear of consequences. This, he said, sets a harmful example for the nation.

Beyond the song ban, Soyinka also touched on serious problems affecting the country. He condemned mob violence and impunity, mentioning the recent killing of 19 young people in Edo State. “My heart goes out to friends, colleagues, and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.

He also recalled the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, criticizing how some of her killers were celebrated online without any punishment. “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on social media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces,” he remarked.

Soyinka demanded justice for these incidents and warned that as long as those who commit violent acts face no consequences, such tragedies would continue. “As long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail,” he warned.

In closing, he urged the regulatory authorities to cancel what he called an unreasonable and emotional decision regarding the song ban. He gave a strong warning: “Any government that only tolerates praise-singers has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”
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