A Review of This is Nigeria by Falz

This is Nigeria by Falz is by far the boldest song from Nigeria replete with a creative video that seeks to not only disturb but actually does disturb the sociopolitical and religious system of the Nigerian State, since Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s music in the history of Nigeria.

Unlike the many attempts at a mimicry of Fela's music which ends up on the fringes of stimulating and impressing our senses through melody and rhythm. This is the absolute true Fela-nian spirit, captured in contemporary hip hop music.

Dabbling beautifully between the fluid boundaries of a cover, re-make or re-imagery of Childish Gambino’s This is America, this video has won its own sole standing as a masterful piece depicting true and orginial This is Nigeria experience.

This is Nigeria; is a big win for the artiste, director and the Nigerian music industry as a bold dare into an artistic call out only credited in the history of Nigeria to Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

In this three minute, forty two second video, ending shorter than Childish Gambino’s over four minute video, starts with Falz on an analogue radio set which nicely depicting the technological backwardness of Nigeria (reminding me of the cover of an old book I read from my father's library My Cousin comes to Jo'burg by Mbulelo V. Mzamane). Though shirtless Falz's trousers could pass for a Fela style wear.

The video being soft in imagery and graphics depicting the Nigeria situation, makes a lucid case while leaving us a video to be watched by almost anyone.   

The reception and critique of this video as a remake justifies the display of Falz’s message right in front of you rather than behind as western reviewers pointed out from Childish Gambino’s This is America when placed in acute juxtaposition. 

The hijab wearing female dancers compliment both the ideological and revolutionary signs Falz makes toward the end of his video symbolic now to the black and African communities; the Fela-nian spirit and music. The stereotype of conservative and withdrawn hijab wearing ladies was defiled by ‘the stride in their steps’, to paraphrase Maya Angelou’s line in the poem Phenomenal Woman. The swing of their arms is beyond confident to daring.

The brilliance and intelligence in this work, not long after the original version, doesn’t banter with a message drowned by unnecessary theatrics and display, as it comes with lyrical balance of Nigeria’s issues and great rhythm.

The non-compromise in the use of certain illustrations to communicate, like the Toyota SUV for a scene where a politician gets his son out of police trouble neglecting the other victims supposedly students like his son in his company is something Nollywood could learn from, of scene where the lyrics said little leaving more to the watcher.

A complete This is Nigeria experience by Falz can only come from this video.

See video link here 

Falz


Review Author: Anselm Sesugh Ngutsav
writer, poet, radio presenter and photographer