MURIC’s threat to sue me is absurd, baseless - Falz
- Rap artiste Falz has reacted to Islamic group, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)'s lawsuit threat
- He says the lawsuit is baseless and uncalled for
- The singer says his father is cool with the song This Is Nigeria
Since rap artiste Folarin Falana aka Falz released the video of his song, This Is Nigeria, it has been greeted by many criticisms with the major one from Islamic group, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The lawyer-turned-singer has reacted to MURIC’s threat of lawsuit. He also spoke about his father legal luminary Femi Falana’s reaction to the song.
The Muslim Rights Concern, claims of disrespect to Islam in using girls in hijab in This Is Nigeria video and reason behind the scene
I think it is very clear what that scene represented in the video. The message is very clear because the girls there symbolise the constant issues and troubles that face the innocent girl child in Nigeria, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. They have been victims of kidnappings and we have the case of the Chibok girls and recently the Dapchi girls. Till date, most of the Chibok girls have not been found while a Dapchi girl is still held captive. That is what those girls symbolise. I feel everyone got the message and it is absurd that a group of people like MURIC alleged that it is a hate video. I do not think that makes sense in any way because in the same video, I spoke about other issues like insecurity, corruption, and I even talked about pastors. No Christian has come out to say that it is a hate video; so what is MURIC talking about? I do not really understand them.
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And girls in hijab dancing Shaku Shaku, a secular dance step
If you noticed, I was dancing as well and the dance was symbolic. The dance was symbolic of entertainment being a distraction from everything that is happening in our society. Shaku Shaku is the most popular dance step in Nigeria and it is currently in vogue; it is pretty clear that with all that is happening, everyone is embedded and carried away with the dance culture. I was just trying to say that everyone is too carried away with entertainment that they seem to forget all the things that are happening right in front of our faces.
Was he expecting the song to generate controversies especially from Nigerian Muslims?
I expected reactions, conversations, controversies but I did not expect that anyone would allege that it is a hate video or that the video would incite violence. There is no way that a video like that would incite violence.
MURIC and the alleged lawsuit, how true is it?
Yes. I feel it is very funny because there is no cause of action, to be honest. There is no law that is against young ladies dancing in hijab. There is absolutely no basis for a legal action, I mean, people dance in hijabs all the time in movies and parties. In fact, designers have made sportswears that have hijabs, so why are they not saying that is disrespect to the religion? I think it is a baseless allegation. I have the utmost respect for Islam as well as every other religion but what I think our people need to focus more on is how to get away from being religious fanatics. It is one of our biggest problems and it was an issue I addressed in the same song and visual.
On his preparedness to meet MURIC’s lawyers in court. He said:
If there is really going to be a court case, of course, I am prepared but there is none; there is no case here and I do not think it is anything that would hold water in any court. If they were to institute proceedings, I do not think it is something that would see the light of the day because there is no cause of action.
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Will this stop you from being an activist through your music?
I am very prepared and I know that social conscious songs like this do not come without repercussions and reactions. They do not come without backlash. It is something I have thought about and it would definitely come my way but if you are going to speak the truth, then you have to stand for what is right. This is something I am going to continue to do and I would always stand for what is right.
What’s your father’s reaction to the video and the controversy it has generated?
Political commentary and socially conscious music is something my father has always encouraged me to do; so he was happy when this came out.
Falz - This Is Nigeria: 9 Hidden Messages | Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
