Nigerian rapper and activist Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz, has released a new single titled 'Ole', a sharp critique of insecurity, inflation, and governance in Nigeria. The 2-minute 15-second track, released on Friday, marks his return to hard-hitting political commentary.
Falz Targets Political Leaders Over Nigeria's Challenges
The song's title, 'Ole', a Yoruba word meaning 'thief', recurs throughout the record as the artist accuses political leaders of failing to address the country's mounting problems. Released amid growing public concern over the rising cost of living and persistent security challenges across parts of the country, the track delivers some of Falz's strongest political commentary in recent years.
In 'Ole', the rapper references kidnappings, killings, and attacks that have continued to affect communities across Nigeria. “Many still ain’t really free, Many losing all the will, Many soldiers in the field/Many brothers dem dey kill,” he raps in one verse. The song also reflects concerns over abductions and violent crimes: “Many people wey dem kidnap. And dem turn them to deceased,” Falz says.
Economic Hardship and Inflation Highlighted
Beyond security, Falz focuses on economic hardship, particularly rising inflation and the increasing cost of living. “How many we go take before we don fed up? Inflation rate is high, like my blood pressure,” he raps. The release comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, including attacks by armed groups, kidnappings for ransom, and communal violence in several states. Recent attacks in communities and abductions of school children in Oyo, Borno, and Kwara states have further heightened public safety concerns.
The rapper also criticises what he describes as the exploitation of ethnic divisions and poverty by politicians. “Don’t think that you can whip up tribal sentiments for life. Keep keeping people poor and hope that you can weaponise. Hope that you can bank on all the hungry votes that you can buy,” he raps. In another section, Falz questions the government’s response to insecurity: “Security welfare na the primary job you take,” he says, appearing to reference the constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property.
Falz Condemns Killing of Security Personnel
The rapper further condemns the killing of security personnel and continued attacks by criminal groups. “For under your nose dem kill a whole brigadier general,” he says. “Who dem catch for the crime? Arrest count still on zero.” In this song, Falz points out the government’s complacency amid serious national concerns. The 35-year-old lawyer-turned-singer has built a reputation for addressing social and political issues through his music, with previous hits like 'This Is Nigeria' addressing corruption, insecurity, and social inequality.
'Ole' is now available on all streaming platforms.
