#ENDSARS: 10 Nigerian Protest Songs in Remembrance of The Fight Against Injustice

On October 20, 2020, the protests against the police brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria was stalled as the Nigerian army opened fire on nonviolent protesters in the city of Lagos, an incident now widely known as the Lekki Toll Massacre. Coined #EndSARS by the youth at the forefront of the demonstrations that lasted for weeks and spread to cities across the country, the massacre ultimately ended the protests.

Music, which has always been an agency used to drive social justice and comment on the political sphere in Africa, was instrumental during the #EndSARS protests — wielded first as a tool to make the protesters' voices heard, and also to instill the spirit of solidarity. The music at the protest grounds reiterated not only the social consciousness of the Nigerian youth but also the roles that artists often play in demanding a better country.

Dwin, the Stoic was one of such artists who felt compelled to speak truth to power after the protests. “I kept thinking about the artist's responsibility to interpret the times, because days after the incident, some news media were saying no one died, so it was my responsibility to say that this actually happened,” he says.

His song, “This Fight,” which was released just two weeks after the Lekki Massacre, was a personal way of processing the tragic incident as well as to help fellow Nigerians grieve and reflect. 

Dwin was in the company of other Nigerian artists, from Burna Boy to the Ajebo Hustlers to Chike to FIKKY who recorded songs on police brutality. “Barawo” by the Ajebo Hustlers, for instance, became one of the unofficial anthems of the #ENDSARS protests. “We have never seen Nigerians united like that before and having such a powerful song that could explain how people felt at that point in time felt like a blessing,” the group told DJ Booth.

From the charged lyrics of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti to the contemporary bent of Asa, to the urgent voices memorializing the victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre, here are some Nigerian songs that have been instrumental in communicating the woes of the average Nigerian. 

“Barawo” - Ajebo Hustlers (2020) 

When the duo Ajebo Hustlers recorded “Barawo” in 2019, it was never meant to be a conscious record. Yet the story the song tells on police brutality, mob justice, and corruption coincided with a time when the Nigerian youth were coming to terms with the lawless state of the country. Anchored by a blend of upbeat tempo and a smooth pidgin delivery, the song was graced by a hit remix with Davido in the wake of the #ENDSARS protest.

“20:10:20” - Burna Boy (2020) 

Burna Boy has always been touted as a voice for socio-political issues in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, so it was not surprising when the heavyweight responded to the massacre on October 20, 2020 with a fitting number. Produced by The Elements, “20:10:20” is a plainspoken melodic tune where Burna Boy is not afraid of mentioning names and, with a cameo of the Lekki shooting, emphasizing the message that it actually happened. 

“FEM” -  Davido (2020) 

While the Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pleaded with #ENDSARS protesters at his secretariat, one of the DJs at the demonstration grew impatient and started playing “FEM” by Davido. “FEM” — which means “shut up” in Nigerian pidgin — was never intended as a protest song, but it was useful during the demonstrations. Without word of mouth, protesters wielded songs like “FEM” to make defiant statements.

“This Fight” - Dwin, the Stoic (2020) 

Dwin, the Stoic is known for his deep tenor love ballads, but demonstrating at the #ENDSARS protests awoke an urgency in him. Not only is “This Fight” a harmonious tribute to the victims of the massacre, it also doubles as a call to action. Produced by Rhaffy, Dwin’s frequent collaborator, the song is accompanied by a performance video featuring cameos of the protest.

“Jailer” -  Asa (2007)

Perhaps her most famous song, “Jailer” was the lead single from Asa’s self-titled debut album. Poetic lyricism meets dulcet piano chords meets assured vocals, the song is an excellent POV of the oppressed protesting against the oppressor, whether it's the jailer, the government, or the random person.

“This is Nigeria” - Falz (2018) 

One of the earliest Nigerian songs that addressed the SARS brutality, Falz’s pidgin rap track “This is Nigeria” samples Childish Gambino’s “This is America” (2018) and features background vocals from Femi Falana, Falz’s father and prominent Nigerian lawyer. An outright protest song that tackles several socio-political issues in Nigeria, the track was accompanied by a music video that is as satiric and indignant as its lyrics.

“Sorrow, Tears and Blood” - Fela Kuti (1977)

In the wake of the release of his 1976 album, Zombie, which criticized the Nigerian Army, Fela’s Kalakuta Republic was raided by the same army, who harassed and fatally injured his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. “Sorrow, Tears and Blood” — with its melodic sax work — might be an account of the events at the invasion, but it also addresses the subservience of Africans in the face of injustice. Arranged by Fela Kuti himself, the song has been graced with samples from Missy Elliot to Burna Boy to Skales.

“ENDSARS” - FIKKY (2020) 

A Yoruba freestyle rap song, Fikky’s “ENDSARS” became one of the unofficial anthems of the #ENDSARS demonstrations when an uncut video of the rapper singing on the protest ground went viral on Twitter. Produced by Adey, Fikky’s track is at once furious and demanding.

“Jaga Jaga” -  Eedris Abdulkareem (2004) 

When “Jaga Jaga” was released in September 2004, it was deemed “unpatriotic” and was subsequently banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The song, delivered in pidgin, was a direct attack on administrative corruption, poverty, and unlawful detentions in Nigeria. It has since become a prized protest song and a cry for frustrated Nigerians. 

“20.10.20 (Wahala Dey)” -  Chike (2020)

For Chike, the responsibility of speaking up against injustice falls on everybody whether musician, actor, or the random Nigerian. The strength of “20.10.20 (Wahala Dey)” lies in the buttery vocals and its detailed account of the #ENDSARS protests, from the events leading to the massacre to the crackdown on social media by the Nigerian government.