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Recently Falz The Bahd Guy released the visuals to his hit banger "This Is Nigeria" which Nigerians celebrated until the Muslim Rights Concern Group (MURIC) started threatening Falz concerning the Shaku Shaku dancers wearing hijab.
Read the statement from the group below:
Folarin Falana (Falz the Bahd
Guy), a Nigerian artist, last week released a new song called ‘This is
Nigeria’.
The production featured a
character that dressed like a Fulani man, who suddenly abandoned his
traditional guitar and beheaded a man. It also portrayed women in hijab as
choreographers dancing the ‘shaku-shaku’ (a dance associated with a
drug-related song).
The Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC) strongly denounces the Shaku Shaku dance video. It is thoughtless,
insensitive and highly provocative. It is a hate video. It is Islamophobia
nulli secundus.
This video has the potential
of causing religious crisiS of unprecedented dimension. We therefore demand its
withdrawal and an apology to Nigerian Muslims within seven days or the authors
and their agents will face legal action if they fail to comply.
The video manifests ethnic
bias against Fulanis while it ignored the criminal activities of ethnic militia
of the Middle Belt who have also massacred Fulanis and rustled their cattles in
their thousands.
This video has denigrated
Islam, demonized Nigerian Muslims and subjected them to public opprobium.
MURIC rejects Falz’
explanation that the the girls in hijab in his ‘Shaku Shaku’ dance symbolize
the Chibok girls because nothing in the video indicates that the girls
represent the Chibok girls.
At least none of the Chibok
girls have been seen dancing like a drunkard. They are always in pensive mood.
Do they have any cause to be dancing? Are they happy? This video is the most
detestable, odious and insidious Islam-bashing in recent time.
Only the scenes portraying
police brutality and the money-swallowing snake in the video are near the
truth. Falz’ ‘Shaku Shaku’ video is nothing but a hate-induced production. It
is a most unpatriotic handiwork of a Nigerian youth in 2018.
Here is the work of a youth
working towards turning Nigerians against each other; a youth inciting Nigerian
Christians to hate their Muslim neighbours; a youth instigating Muslims to
religious violence. This video is in bad taste.
It is a hate video. It is an
assault on the self-dignity of every Muslim. It is freedom of expression gone
haywire.
We call the attention of
security agencies to this hate action. The tragedy facing modern societies all
over the world is their criminal complicity in Islam-bashing and their
hypocritical accusation of Muslims of terrorism and religious violence.
On the contrary, terrorism is
mere smoke. Provocation, derision and injustice are the fires which cause
terrorism. We reiterate our pontification that it is naïve for a fire fighter
to ignore the fire and turn his hose at the smoke. The world is treating
symptoms, leaving the real ailment to fester.
We remind Nigerians of the outcome
of similar provocative actions in the past and their unpalatable outcomes. The
violent reaction of Nigerian Muslims to Fun Times magazine’s blasphemous story
of December 1990 in which it was alleged that “Muhammad had an illicit affair
with a woman of easy virtue according to the Qur’an and later married her”
shook the country to its foundation.
Isioma Daniel’s article, “The
World at Their Feet” published in ThisDay newspaper on Saturday, 16th November,
2002, drew the ire of Muslims across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Violent demonstrations broke
out in 2005 when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten’s published a cartoon in
which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was depicted as a terrorist wearing
a bomb-laden turban.
In January 2015, Charlie
Ebdo, the French satirical magazine used cartoons that were considered
provocative by Muslims. Blood flowed on the streets of Paris.
We condemn violence and all
acts of terrorism. But we do not share the opinion that freedom of expression
can go to any length.
Even Pope Francis has warned
people not to insult the faith of others. He said, “It is normal. You cannot
provoke. You cannot insult the faiths of others. You cannot make fun of the
faiths of others.
Freedom of speech and
expression are fundamental human rights. However, there should be a limit to
offending and ridiculing the faiths and beliefs of others.”
But has this advice been
taken seriously? Nigerian Artistes have consistently proved that they are most
willing to ignore the Pope’s advice. They provoke Muslims at the slightest
opportunity.
They have this habit of
giving Muslim names to characters who play devilish, immoral and lowly roles in
their films, e.g. Sikiratu Sindodo, Jelili Oniso, Basira Baseje, Osanle
Modinat, Aminatu Pa-pa-pa are a few examples. Of recent, Muniru and Ambali play
despicable roles of idiocy.
The idea behind this is to
make Muslims feel ashamed of the ordinary Muslim name. It is inhuman,
despicable and bully-motivated. MURIC will defend the Muslim name with every
legitimate tool at its disposal.
There is no gainsaying the
fact that a culture of impunity pervades the arts in Nigeria. The National Film
And Video Censors Board (NFVCB), a regulatory agency set up by Act No. 85 of
1993 to regulate films and the video industry has a case to answer.
‘Shaku Shaku’ video was shot
and released under its watch. What is its alucutus. What will it say if Muslims
elect to go violent over this primitive, irresponsible and reckless production?
What will it say if hundreds of lives and properties worth billions of dollars
are lost in the ensuing violence due to its negligence?
As we round up, MURIC warns
Nigerian artists to stop giving Muslim names to devilish and lowly characters.
We appeal to Muslims all over the country to simmer down.
Let us adopt a civilized
approach to ‘Shaku Shaku’ and teach agents provocateur some lessons in respect
for human feelings. Instead of going violent, Nigerian Muslims should take
those behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video to court in order to serve as a deterrent
to others.
We therefore give notice of
impending legal action against the artist behind the ‘Shaku Shaku’ video unless
the latter is withdrawn and an apology is widely published within seven days.
What is your take on this?
Kindly let us know in the comment section.
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