NBC Bans Five Nigerian Hit Songs
Olamide’s hit single “Wo” was banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) a few days after the video was released. This was after the Federal Ministry of Health had tweeted that the video was in violation of the Tobacco Control Act 2015, claiming that the video, which features ghetto scenes in which youths are seen smoking, encourages second-hand smoking.
The public is informed of the dangerous public health content & violation of š³š¬ Tobacco Ctrl Act 2015 in "Wo" by @olamide_YBNL #ClearTheAir pic.twitter.com/oVlUI976yJ
— Health Ministry NGR (@Fmohnigeria) August 18, 2017
Olamide’s “Wo” video features ghetto scenes in which youth are seen smoking, encourages second-hand smoking. This is not the first time that an Olamide song will be banned by the NBC. In 2016, just a few months after the ban of one of his songs “Shakiti Bobo”, NBC also banned, “Donāt Stop” which is a track off Olamideās 5th studio album, Eyan Mayweather, for its vulgar lyrics. Defending the decision at the time, the NBC said the song was banned from being aired for its āobscenity, indecency, vulgar languages, and lewd and profane expressions like āwa gba ponronā, āI just want to hit you nowā, āje kin wo beā, and others.
“Wo” is just one of five songs which have been tagged by the NBC as “Not to be Broadcasted”. The corporation released the list, saying the songs had been banned from being aired on all local radio and TV stations. The other songs include: The songs are: Olamideās āWoā and āWavy Levelā; Davidoās āFallā and āIf (Remix)ā; and 9iceās āLiving Things.ā
“Falz the Badt Guy” had, in June, criticised musicians who glamourise fraud with their lyrics. Fans took this criticism to be a direct hit at 9ice for his lyrics in “Living Things”.
See the photo of the NBC notice below:
Update: Olamide cleared the air about the ban on his video, saying he did not intend to promote the use of tobacco in Nigeria.
No intentions of promoting tobacco to get people killed, I love my people, I love my country, one love , one Nigeria #ClearTheAir š³š¬Oya Wo !
— Olamide Adedeji (@olamide_YBNL) August 22, 2017
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