Your Favourite Afrobeats Songs Might Be Lowkey Shady

You know how you’re vibing to that Afrobeats jam, having the time of your life whining your waist and nodding your head in a chill club?? Yeah, it slaps. But hold up.

Have you ever stopped to actually listen to the lyrics? Some of these songs serve more than just vibes. They dish out propaganda, and you might just be eating it up without a second thought.

Music isn’t just vibes on vibes; it sticks. That’s why you can sing every word of Kizz Daniels’ ‘Buga’, but you can’t remember the periodic table to save your life. Those catchy beats and clever one-liners? They’re planting ideas in your head, subtly shaping how you think. And Afrobeats? It’s addictive.

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You get lost in the rhythm, and before you know it, you’re singing along to something low-key problematic. Fela Kuti knew the power of music; that’s why Kalakuta Republic was raided more times than NEPA has cut your light. This was because his songs called out corruption and oppression. But today? Some of your faves are promoting ideas that are harmful, especially for the ladies.

The Anti-Condom Agenda in Your Playlist

Let’s be real. Nigerian music has significantly shifted from fighting the system to pushing narratives that glorify risky behaviours like unprotected sex, stealthing and even vibes that make it sound like exploiting women is cool. These songs aren’t for you; you’re not the audience but the target. But don’t worry, you can reject anything that threatens your health, dignity or peace of mind.

Take Odumodublvck’s ‘Olufunmi’

“Comot my rubber, secure my woman”, have you heard this line before? When this song dropped, some of the ladies on Twitter laughed, some raged and the guys? They called it bants. But if you’ve ever had to negotiate the use of a condom in the bedroom, then you know fully well that this isn’t a joke. This is stealthing — the non-consensual removal of a condom, and it’s being packaged in a catchy Afrobeats song. Ladies, you have the power to say, ‘No condom, no entry’. Full stop.

Then there’s Kizz Daniel, who doesn’t even bother with metaphors in ‘Addict’ when he says “Fuck girls, no condom.” Basically, bold and bare-skinned audacity. And the scary part is that people eat it up. Suddenly, raw dogging is cool while safe sex is for boring people. See, there’s no trophy for catching STIs or dealing with unplanned pregnancies. Insist on protection because your health is not a joke.

Even the Smooth Ones are Sus

What about Ruger? In ‘Bun Bun’, he sings, “Make we make some condom babies.” Sounds clever, but think about it. That’s a subtle jab at protection, making it sound like condoms are pointless. That kind of lyric plants doubt, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself second-guessing your boundaries. See, condoms work, but they’re not the only option. You could explore other contraceptive options for extra peace of mind because you deserve to enjoy sex without stress.

Pheelz and Young Jon aren’t off the hook either. In the popular ‘Jelo’, they drop, “Mio o wo condom and I go chop am till thy kingdom come.” No woman is mentioned, but the message is clear. An entitlement to unprotected sex. This narrative needs to die. If a guy brags about skipping condoms, believe him and RUN! Safe sex is out there, and you deserve it.

Even CDQ in ‘Sun Seyin’ throws shades when he sings “Swear say you no know say ballon no be condom.” A balloon, really? Trivialising condoms like that is a choice, and it’s not a good one. Don’t let anyone make you feel silly for prioritising your safety. Condoms aren’t a punchline.

You’re the One Holding the Power

Music has always been a mirror of society but can also shape it. When lyrics normalise sexual irresponsibility, then we’ve got a problem. If a guy wouldn’t say it to your face in public, then why is it okay for him to sing it? If you wouldn’t let someone tell this nonsense to your sisters, why let it play on repeat in your AirPods? These artists may be dropping bangers, but that doesn’t mean you should drop your standards.

Men can sing about “no condoms” all they want, but guess who deals with the consequences? Women. So take charge. Find contraceptives that work for you, condoms, pills, IUDs, whatever works for you. Talk to your partner. Own your choices and don’t let anyone pressure you into compromising your health.

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