Nigerian artistes have always expressed their emotions through songs. While some people have alleged that most of the songs produced in Nigeria are about enjoyment and vibes, politically conscious songs have heavily resonated with the audience.
Classic songs like Jaga Jaga by Eedris Abdulkareem, This Is Nigeria by Falz, Collateral Damage by Burna Boy, Dem Mama by Timaya, and songs by Fela Kuti have become cultural landmarks for boldly addressing corruption, poverty, police brutality, and government failure.
Nigeria’s rich history of protest music goes far beyond these well-known records. Across different generations, artists have used their music to question authority, expose injustice, and tell the stories of ordinary Nigerians living through difficult times in the country.
These are 1O unpopular political conscious songs that deserve far more recognition.
Se Na Like This — Wande Coal
Most people remember Wande Coal’s debut album Mushin 2 Mo’Hits for its love songs and hit records. However, hidden among those songs is Se Na Like This, one of the most underrated political songs of its time.
Instead of singing about romance, Wande Coal focuses on the struggles many Nigerians face every day. He talks about the poor state of the economy, the rising cost of living, and the falling value of the naira. Throughout the song, he asks a simple question: “Is this really how life is supposed to be?”
What makes the song powerful is how relatable it feels. Wande sounds like an ordinary Nigerian who is frustrated by the lack of progress in the country. Many years after its release, many of the issues he raised are still affecting Nigerians today.
Rara — Tekno
Rara sounds like a carefree Afropop hit. Listen closely, however, and you’ll find a sharp critique of Nigeria’s electricity crisis.
The song starts with
‘My country people eeh eh. Them go talku talku eh eh. Them just dey perambulate ara rarrara eh. Eh so so story story every year ooh oh aah’
Tekno celebrates the rare moments when power is restored, and generators can finally be turned off. For many Nigerians, that simple experience represents relief from both darkness and constant noise pollution.
What makes the song special is its subtlety. Instead of delivering a direct political speech, Tekno highlights a national problem through an everyday experience that millions can relate to.
It proves that political commentary doesn’t always have to sound angry; it can also be clever, humorous, and deeply relatable.
Get The Info — Phyno ft. Falz & Phenom
Get The Info is one of the most straightforward political songs in Nigerian hip-hop.
The song opens with Phyno talking about a public official who allegedly mismanaged over ₦100 billion in a country where many young graduates cannot find jobs. He questions why people accused of wasting public money can still live comfortably and enjoy protection while ordinary Nigerians struggle to survive. With this introduction, Phyno immediately points to one of Nigeria’s biggest problems: the lack of accountability among public officials.
As the song continues, Phyno, Falz, and Phenom speak about corruption, bad leadership, poverty, and police harassment. They express the frustration many Nigerians feel when they see politicians making promises but failing to improve people’s lives.
The artists do not try to hide their message. They openly discuss the challenges facing the country and encourage Nigerians to pay attention to what is happening around them. Falz, who is also known for discussing the challenges facing the country in his songs, also used the song to express his views too.
Released before the End SARS protests, the song highlighted many of the same issues that would later bring thousands of young Nigerians onto the streets to demand change.
Wild Wild West — M.I Abaga
Wild Wild West is one of the most emotional and personal songs in M.I Abaga’s career.
The song was inspired by the violence and killings that took place in Jos and other parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt. As someone who grew up in Jos, M.I witnessed how conflict could destroy communities and separate people who once lived peacefully together.
In the song, he describes a place where fear has become normal and where people no longer feel safe in their own homes. The title compares the region to the “Wild West,” a place where law and order have broken down.
More than a song about violence, Wild Wild West is a criticism of leaders who fail to protect citizens and stop recurring conflicts.
Sorry Sorry — Femi Kuti
When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, many people were hopeful that things would finally improve. Femi Kuti was not so sure.
In Sorry Sorry, he questions whether the politicians and military figures who had been part of Nigeria’s problems could suddenly become the people to fix them.
The song warns Nigerians not to trust political promises too quickly. Femi argues that real change requires honesty, accountability, and leaders who genuinely care about the people.
More than twenty years later, the song still feels relevant because many Nigerians continue to ask the same questions about their leaders and the state of the country.
Are You There? — Rema
Unlike traditional protest songs, Are You There? does not directly talk about politics or government. Instead, it focuses on the emotional struggles many young people face today.
In the song, Rema reflects on loneliness, uncertainty, and the pressure of trying to succeed in a difficult environment. in the song it says ‘I no fit focus on the negativity inside my country, So me I got to change the matter, I don’t talk I don’t shout I don’t vex I don’t calm, I don tweet I don cut my dada, Cruise no dey finish inside the country’. He asks questions that many young Nigerians can relate to as they deal with economic hardship, social pressure, and an uncertain future.
Hard Life — Blackface Naija featuring Alabai
Few artists were willing to challenge political leaders as directly as Blackface Naija and Alabai.
Hard Life speaks about unemployment, poverty, rising living costs, and the everyday struggles Nigerians face. The song’s message is simple: despite the country’s enormous wealth and resources, life remains unnecessarily difficult for millions of people.
What makes the record memorable is its boldness. Rather than speaking in vague terms, the artists directly question political leadership and demand accountability.
At a time when many musicians focused on romance and dance records, Hard Life chose confrontation.
I Go Yarn — eLDee
In I Go Yarn, eLDee questions why Nigeria focuses on big national projects while many citizens still struggle with basic needs like electricity, healthcare, and good roads.
The song is full of frustration, but it is also very honest. eLDee expresses feelings that many Nigerians share but don’t often hear clearly in mainstream music.
He sounds serious and emotional throughout the song, almost like he is pleading. He highlights a common Nigerian experience: leaders making big promises while failing to deliver the basic things people need to survive.
Pete Pete – 9ice featuring Asa
Pete Pete by 9ice featuring Aṣa is one of the standout tracks from 9ice’s third album, which was not a major commercial success but still contained some strong songs. The collaboration brings together two folk-influenced artists who reflect deeply on the state of the country. By 2009, the initial excitement that came with Nigeria’s return to democracy had started to fade. After several election cycles, many Nigerians were still experiencing the same problems—broken promises, repeated political speeches, and little real improvement in everyday life. That feeling of disappointment comes through clearly in the song. Aṣa asks in Yoruba, “What is patience without results?” not as a poetic line, but as an expression of frustration. Both artists sound tired and emotionally drained, capturing the mood of a country that feels stuck in a cycle of repeated disappointment. Even today, that sense of being stuck still resonates with many Nigerians.
Barawo — Ajebo Hustlers
Released during the End SARS movement, Barawo quickly became one of the defining protest songs of its generation.
The song compares corrupt politicians and abusive security officials to thieves who rob citizens of their money, dignity, and opportunities.
Ajebo Hustlers use vivid storytelling to highlight how ordinary Nigerians often feel trapped between poverty, corruption, and state violence.
Its timing made it particularly powerful, as it perfectly captured the mood of a nation demanding accountability.
