In a chat with Saturday Beats, the former Plantashun Boiz member, Blackface, voiced his disdain for the killings happening in his hometown, Agatu, Benue state and surrounding areas. He also urged other musicians to use their platform to protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards the killings. As the conversation progressed he mentioned how he has been unfairly blacklisted by the media since he claimed younger artists, like Wizkid, were stealing his songs. Read his claims below.
They have killed a lot of people from my village, Agatu, in Benue. They have also killed people in Makurdi, and other places in Benue; then as they move up north to Adamawa, the trail of dead bodies continues.
It does not affect my state alone. Sadly, the musicians are not doing anything about it.
Some musicians just claim that they help victims either to gain public praises or for political reasons.
Why can’t we come together and think of ways we can stop the killings probably by staging a concert?” he said.
The singer further told Saturday Beats that as a socially conscious singer, he has always sung about the ills of the society but the radio stations would not play his songs because he is in their bad books.
He claimed that ever since he raised the alarm that certain singers stole some of his songs, he became blacklisted by the media.
“I did a song which preaches against the killings but radio stations would not play it because I am in their bad books.
Simply because I said some people stole my songs, that is why they placed me in their bad books. I know there is a plan against me. I am an independent musician and I do not need Tuface to push my music.
If I release a song titled, ‘Stop the killings,’ and the radio big boys do not play it, only a few people would listen to the message I am preaching which is of national benefit.
The so-called big OAPs like Freeze, who is always talking about pastors, are on the radio but they are not doing anything to push socially conscious songs that preach a message.
But if Tekno sings a ‘Jogodo’, they will gladly play it. Their nonchalant attitude would destroy a lot of things and only bring more chaos.
I have always advised the younger artists to seek the permission of older artistes before they use their songs but no one listened. Wizkid took my song, ‘Whine it,’ sang it with Banky W and put it on his album, ‘Starboy.’
That same song is on my album, ‘Dancehall business.’ When I raised the alarm, the whole media kicked against me and they stopped playing my music.
Yet they say I am the bad one. How long would they keep sabotaging me?