Veteran Nigerian rapper Illbliss, born Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, is sounding the alarm on what he describes as a dangerous turning point in the nation’s history — marked by censorship, propaganda, and increasing pressure on voices that challenge authority.
Appearing on a recent episode of The Real Shareholders podcast, the respected lyricist expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s growing insecurity, economic hardship, and what he called the “quiet silencing” of truth-tellers, especially in the music industry.
“We are in a very dangerous part of our history,” Illbliss warned, pointing out that even socially conscious music is being actively suppressed.
He recalled how his 2020 protest anthem Country was removed from radio playlists due to its blunt criticism of the government.
“Before Country, I released songs like A Different Kind of War and National Cake. But OAPs always tell me, ‘We can’t play that — we could get fined,’” he shared.
But the silencing, according to Illbliss, has gone beyond traditional media.
“Every time you release a critical track, you suddenly get hit with over a hundred tweets saying things like, ‘Why are you mocking the country? It’s not that bad.’ It’s clearly artificial. That’s digital propaganda,” he said.
Illbliss believes the government is now investing heavily in digital platforms and narratives designed to reshape public opinion — even when the lived reality tells a different story.
“Propagandists now have podcasts just to say the government is doing great. And you see young people, with their faces showing, saying things like, ‘This government has created jobs.’ It’s unbelievable,” he said.
He also raised concerns over how social media — once a powerful tool for activism — is now being manipulated to mislead and distract.
“We thought social media was ours. But now, you start to wonder… is the government funding distractions? Have they gotten more advanced than we realized? Look around us,” Illbliss added.
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