How Eedris Abdulkareem’s Banned Anthem “Tell Your Papa” Won Nigerians’ Hearts After Soyinka’s Endorsement.
When the Nigerian government bans a song, history shows it only fuels its fire. This was true in 2004 when Eedris Abdulkareem’s scathing critique, “Nigeria Jaga Jaga,” was banned under President Olusegun Obasanjo—yet it became an anthem for the masses. Now, history repeats itself as Abdulkareem’s latest protest track, “Tell Your Papa,” faces the same fate under President Bola Tinubu’s administration—and the result? A viral uprising.
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Despite being blacklisted by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on April 10, “Tell Your Papa” has exploded in streams, proving once again that censorship often backfires. The song, which lambasts Tinubu’s leadership, has seen its YouTube views skyrocket from 22,754 to 82,138, with likes doubling from 1,200 to 2,600. On Spotify, streams have surged past 30,000, signaling a defiant embrace by Nigerians who refuse to let their voices be silenced.
Eedris Abdulkareem is no stranger to controversy. His music has long been a thorn in the side of Nigerian leaders, with “Nigeria Jaga Jaga” exposing corruption and societal decay under Obasanjo. That song, too, was banned—yet it remains a cultural touchstone, remembered more for its bold truths than its suppression.
Now, with “Tell Your Papa,” Abdulkareem has reignited that same rebellious spirit. The NBC claims the song violates broadcasting codes, but the rapper sees it as another attempt to muzzle dissent. “In Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism are always deemed a crime by the government,” he fired back on Instagram.
The NBC’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from activists, musicians, and even Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) warned that banning the song would only amplify its reach—a prediction that has come true.
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Soyinka, in a scathing statement, called the ban “petulant irrationality” and warned that any government intolerant of criticism is “on a downhill slide into the abyss.” Though he admitted he hadn’t even listened to the song, he mocked the ban as free promotion, joking that Abdulkareem must be “warbling his merry way all the way to the bank.”
Fans have flooded social media with support, streaming the song in defiance. “Naija government, this is 2025, for goodness sake. There is no single lie in the song,” wrote one YouTube user. Another added, “They were too quick to ban it because the message was well passed.”
Once again, Abdulkareem’s music has struck a chord—not in spite of the ban, but because of it. And as history has shown, when the government tries to silence a protest song, it only makes the people sing louder.
How Eedris Abdulkareem’s Banned Anthem “Tell Your Papa” Won Nigerians’ Hearts After Soyinka’s Endorsement.
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