Falz has come under fire for his critical cover “This Is Nigeria’. The comic rapper was ordered to pull down his video by an Islamic group – MURIC. Watch the video here
The girls dancing in hijab supposedly representing the Chibok girls in Falz ‘This is Nigeria’ video has continued to rankle the Islamic community. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has given an order that the viral video be taken down and an unreserved apology be tendered by Falz.
The Islamic group made their ire known in a statement as follows.
“MURIC rejects Falz’ explanation that the girls in hijab in his ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance symbolize the Chibok girls because nothing in the video indicates that the girls represent the Chibok girls. At least none of the Chibok girls have been seen dancing like a drunkard. They are always in pensive mood. Do they have any cause to be dancing? Are they happy? The video manifests ethnic bias against Fulanis while it ignored the criminal activities of ethnic militia of the Middle Belt who have also massacred Fulanis and rustled their cattle in their thousands. It is a hate video. This video has the potential of causing religious crisis of unprecedented dimension. It is an assault on the self-dignity of every Muslim. It is freedom of expression gone haywire. We therefore demand its withdrawal and an apology to Nigerian Muslims within seven days or the authors and their agents will face legal action if they fail to comply. Only the scenes portraying police brutality and the money-swallowing snake in the video are near the truth.”
MURIC also drew the attention of the National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to the clip and requested for its immediate ban.
“We call the attention of security agencies to this hate action. We remind Nigerians of the outcome of similar provocative actions in the past and their unpalatable outcomes. The National Film And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), a regulatory agency set up by Act No. 85 of 1993 to regulate films and the video industry has a case to answer. ‘Shaku Shaku’ video was shot and released under its watch. Instead of going violent, Nigerian Muslims should take those behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video to court in order to serve as a deterrent to others. We therefore give notice of impending legal action against the artist behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video unless the latter is withdrawn and an apology is widely published within seven days.”