Afropop diva Tiwa Savage just premiered the music video of her song Ole featuring Naira Marley. The heavily political song off her Celia album and corresponding music video seems to be mirroring the minds of young Nigerians; who are currently demanding better from corrupt leaders.
Tiwa doesn’t mince her words in this song, as she directly calls Nigerian politicians ole, the Yoruba word for thief. And in the video, she and her collaborator, as well as a host of youths; carry out a revenge fantasy against those who have robbed them of a working country.
Tiwa Savage starts the video by dedicating it to every life that has been lost to the supposedly-defunct murderous rogue police unit SARS; which is seemingly under the protection of the Nigerian government.
For two weeks, Nigerian youths came out in droves to protest these government operatives profiling, exploiting, raping, and murdering them. Unfortunately, their leaders met their cries not with appropriate action, but further violence.
Tiwa Savage and Naira Marley, and many other Nigerian celebrities, have been very vocal and supportive of the #EndSARS movement. This October has seen a surge in socially conscious music and activism from Afropop artistes.
Also, Tiwa Savage famously got into a war of words with Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles; after she called on her Black Is King collaborator to speak on police brutality in Nigeria. In her words, “the birthplace of Afrobeats is burning”.
Young Nigerians may not be too quick to get respite for the violence and the harmful propaganda; which their so-called leaders have meted out on them following their quest for a better country.
But at least for a couple of minutes, we can relish the prospects of our oppressors being delivered into our hands for judgement in Tiwa Savage’s Ole.
