Veteran Nigerian rapper Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, popularly known as Illbliss, has criticized fellow artists who have remained silent amid Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and escalating insecurity.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Real Shareholders podcast, Illbliss expressed disappointment in entertainers who, according to him, have chosen to ignore the suffering of ordinary Nigerians due to personal interests or fear of offending political connections.
He stated,
“There are very commendable names that have come out to speak and join protests and even get arrested. Falz The Bahd Guy is one of them. He has a whole project titled ‘Moral Instruction’. I dare believe that it is probably Falz’s album with the least streams or commercial success because he was hugely introspective. It mirrored society.”
Illbliss further noted that a “huge percentage” of the entertainment industry has deliberately distanced itself from political matters, possibly because they are being protected by their influential connections in government.
“Perhaps, they know that regardless of whatever you say, the government will do what it wants. Or, they are just playing safe because the people in the government are their godfathers. They invite them to their events.”
He praised Falz for using his music and influence to speak out against injustice, even at the cost of commercial success, referencing Falz’s involvement in past EndSARS protests and his politically charged projects.
Illbliss’s comments have sparked fresh debate on the role of artists in social advocacy, with fans urging more celebrities to use their platforms to demand better governance.
