Falz releases new single ‘Ole’ condemning inflation, insecurity, bad governance
Falz’s new single ‘Ole’, a two‑minute‑fifteen‑second rap track released on Friday, directly tackles Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, soaring inflation and perceived governmental failure. The Yoruba word ‘ole’ meaning ‘thief’ is repeated throughout as he accuses political leaders of exploiting ethnic divisions and keeping citizens poor to secure votes. In the verses he references kidnappings, killings and attacks that have plagued communities in Oyo, Borno and Kwara states, rapping lines such as ‘Many people wey dem kidnap. And dem turn them to deceased’ and ‘For under your nose dem kill a whole brigadier general; arrest count still on zero.’ He also links economic hardship to personal frustration, saying ‘Inflation rate is high, like my blood pressure.’ The song follows his earlier socially charged work like ‘This Is Nigeria’ and is now available on all major streaming platforms.
With inflation biting and insecurity persisting, does ‘Ole’ reflect the reality you experience, or do you see it as artistic exaggeration?