Rapper and actor, Falz, has responded to the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) ultimatum over his music video ‘This is Nigeria.’
Earlier during the week, MURIC gave the rapper a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw his ‘This is Nigeria’ video and apologise to Nigerians or face legal action.
In a statement released, it was seen that MURIC took offence at some girls dressed in hijab dancing ‘shaku shaku’ in the video.
MURIC’s director, Ishaq Akintola, said the dancers in the video in no way depict the situation of the girls kidnapped also describing the video as thoughtless, insensitive and highly provocative.
It also said the video is spiteful and intended to denigrate Islam and Muslims.
However, in an interview with Punch published on Saturday, Falz reiterated that the girls dancing ‘shaku shaku’ was to symbolise the constant issues and troubles facing an innocent girl child in Nigeria.
He said: “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.”
When he was asked why the girls in the video have to dance ‘shaku shaku’, he said, “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.”
Falz also stated that there is no law that is against young ladies dancing in hijab.
“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 sportswear that has hijabs, so why are they not saying that is disrespect to the religion? I think it is a baseless allegation,” Falz added.
