Controversial Nigerian activist, VeryDarkMan (VDM), has pledged to fund a new music video for ‘Tell Your Papa’, a protest song by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, which was recently banned by the Nigerian government.
According to TSB News, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) issued the ban on Thursday, labelling the song “inappropriate and offensive”. Ironically, the government’s action has sparked massive interest in the song, which had previously flown under the radar.
In a video posted to his social media page, VDM blasted the federal government for attempting to silence criticism through media censorship. He insisted that Abdulkareem’s lyrics reflect the harsh realities in Nigeria, including rising hardship and insecurity.
“They banned Eedris Abdulkareem’s song just because he told Seyi Tinubu to tell his father about the suffering in Nigeria. Are people not dying? Is there no hardship?” VDM asked.
Undeterred by the NBC’s clampdown, VeryDarkMan announced plans to shoot a new version of the video — ‘Tell Your Papa 2’ — and promised to finance the production himself.
“We’re taking it to social media. Forget radio and TV — that’s old news. We’ll create a stronger version of the video. I’ll be in it, and we’ll find a Tinubu lookalike to drive the message home,” he added.
The activist emphasized that this move is part of a broader push to highlight Nigeria’s ongoing challenges and push back against government censorship.
This bold response by VeryDarkMan has reignited conversations about freedom of expression, music as a form of protest, and the power of social media to bypass traditional gatekeepers.