Although the momentum of the EndSARS protests isn’t quite the same as it was last month (especially following the Lekki massacre 3 weeks ago), young Nigerians haven’t quite given up and continue to speak up against bad governance. We’ve lost faith in our security forces’ ability to defend our safety in the streets, so people are using their voices in different ways to continue to exposes the rot in our society and document things as they are happening in real time. Falz was very active voice during the protests last month, and he has continued to lend his platform to the cause since. Now, his newly released video for “Johnny”, one of the standout tracks from the socially conscious tape he released last year, ‘Moral Instruction’ aims to pay tribute to the victims of police brutality and those who we have lost.

 

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We will never forget the heroes that have been unlawfully slain. This is for them. For every single Nigerian life snatched away unlawfully, we must make sure we get justice. Almost two years since I released the audio. Even more disturbing to think that as time passed, the message became more relevant. Title: Johnny. Author: Falz 🎥 Directed by – @oluthewave Link to full clip in my bio 🎞

A post shared by Falz TheBahdGuy (@falzthebahdguy) on Nov 10, 2020 at 4:58am PST

‘Moral Instruction’ is Falz’s fourth project, however, unlike the previous Falz tapes which saw him build public appeal with his humorous and often charming takes on social issues, ‘Moral Instruction’ took a more serious tone as he criticised social norms and the negligent government with a Fela inspired gravitas. Though “Johnny” was the tape’s opening track, it remains as timely as ever because it offers a detailed description of the police brutality that sparked the recent #EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Over the retro-inspired hip-hop beat produced by TMXO, Falz narrated the story of young people getting killed by trigger-happy police officers.

To drive home just how rampant this issue is, he’s just updated the nearly two-year-old track with a graphic video to match the horrific tales he narrated on the track. In addition, to the dramatised clips of Falz at a staged protest, Olu The Wave-directed music video also features some original clips of the police brutality recorded during the EndSARS protests—including the video recordings that captured as army officers attacked protesters at the Lekki toll gate.

Saying “Johnny just drop/ Na popo shoot am down/ If Johnny continues to drop/ Iyan melo Lo na ku”, “Johnny” highlights how all young Nigerians are at potential risk of getting killed by the police and the video captures this with shuffled shots of Falz and several others lying in a pool of blood.

You can watch the video for “Johnny” by Falaz below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/FalzVEVO
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You are meeting Debola at a strange time in his life. He wandered into a dream and lost his way back. Tweet at him @debola_abimbolu

ICYMI: Watch the video for Falz’s latest single, “One Trouser”