Fokn Bois recent song, Thank God I’m Not A Nigerians, has caused some controversy as it was meant to do. The controversy itself is interesting for the issues that it raises.
Explaining a joke means it loses its humour. It also becomes incredibly pedantic. So if you’ve already got the joke, I suggest you go and read something more interesting!
The controversy
- Some think it is ridiculing Nigerian culture but the point is missed as I will reveal later.
- An offence has been taken due to a mishearing of the lyrics, reproduced on many Nigerian websites, in which a verse about Fela’s red draws (underpants) is reported as “[something inaudible] drugs”.
- Some Ghanaian critics have highlighted the mismatch of Wunlov’s African wear with the songs critique of Nigerians for wearing the same. But they didn’t question the obvious contradiction seeing it only as hypocrisy.
- Responses involve the accusation that this song will destroy hopes of African unity, a rather grand claim, but actually the reactions themselves indicate possible obstacles to unity.
- Some people have not seen the joke. Some have even missed the clue – the deliberate grammatical error in the title, the name of the group and the fact they describe themselves on Twitter as a “Christian rap duo”!
The Background
M3NSA and Wanlov the Kubolor are two musicians who come together to make Fokn Bois. M3NSA is married to a Nigerian and his daughter is Nigerian. He also enjoys Nigerian food (there are comments in the song relating to food).
Kubolor means vagabond in the Ga language hence he walks in bare feet. He also dresses in his own unique African style – I don’t think you’ll see him in Armani wear – as he sports his Trashy Bag made from the waste of pure water satchets!
The duo are comedians hence the name Fokn Bois. Humour should have no boundaries. Programs such as South Park laugh at religion, Jews, gays and the disabled. Black American comedians make jokes about whites. British comedians often ridicule their own audiences. People who appreciate this appreciate the context and are able to laugh at themselves. M3NSA and Wanlov both have international influences and have travelled widely and their music and views reflect a wider perspective.
Failing to see the context of the song has prevented an understanding of its intentions.
The root of the problem?
- People mistake the character a musician might play, for real life.
- People read song lyrics in the same way as they read the bible – literally! (Yes, readers I managed to slip in a dig at religion, even into this post!)
When I heard the song it seemed to me to be a gentle teasing of cultural difference. There was nothing vicious or nasty in it. However, it can be difficult hearing a criticism, no matter how nicely expressed, of one’s own country. We have to accept that there is a history of rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria so it has immediately been presumed this song is an attack. However, people have rushed to send insults back the other way without taking time to think.
The fact that people seem to expect to be insulted and respond by throwing more insults perhaps suggests what the problems to African unity really are. Fokn Bois became a symbol of the whole of Ghana as the insults were not just confined to the musicians but projected onto all Ghanaians. Are we able to move beyond this hyper-sensitivity? Can we control ego and pride?
The punch line
The whole point of the song for me is not an attack on Nigerians but, implicitly, a parodying of the petty attitudes of some Ghanaians.
There is obviously some teasing of Nigerians involved but aren’t Fokn Bois adopting the personas of narrow-minded people in order to laugh at them?
So we hear a criticism of traditional dress and a pretentious glorification of Armani. We hear a certain envy at the amount of meats Nigerians eat. We hear negative attitudes to Liberians (when I first came to Ghana I was advised to stay away from Liberians!) and so on.
Fokn Bois are not expressing their own prejudices, in my opinion, but are parodying the small-minds of some Ghanaians. Some Nigerians have obviously seen this but didn’t take it further to realise this is the joke. It’s also been lost on some Ghanaians who thought they were laughing at Nigerians!
Or am I reading too much into it? Let the games begin!
Further Reading:
Critical Point 
First thought when i heard the title was “What will Wanlov be dissing about Nigeria; the never-ending issue of 419 scams?, hmmm”
Then I heard the song for the first time on eTV after Wanlov’s interview on the Celebrity Show. Up until then i only knew the song title and my dad pointed out the fact that there was a grammatical error. Hearing that snippet of the song, i burst out laughing cos it was so out of contest with who/what Wanlov is. (I don’t know much about Mensa) Anyway, my point is I love Nigeria; born in a country i left at 4years and have not been to since then, I admire my ‘prodigal’ country-people.
I find the song ironic taking in the fact that Wanlov is a described as a vagabond by some Ghanaians and as much as i like what he portrays, i find that i can only handle him in small doses.
Since i can take this dose, :), I am making it a point to download and listen to the song ‘propa’.
I just read ur post and listened to the song for the first time. I thinks fokn boys were not politically correct. Sure it is funny but they went a little too far.
The whole damn point of Fokn Bois is to NOT be politically correct.
Are people really this dense??!
Great article! However I don’t quite agree with this sentence “The whole point of the song for me is not an attack on Nigerians but, implicitly, a parodying of the petty attitudes of some Ghanaians.” They meant to attack Nigerians but just in a playful way. And I mean some of the they said are true. Nigerians are always complaining about NEPA, I know a Nigerian named Friday, watch some of these nollywood movies and you will hear ‘taarteen’, ‘mistor’ and see the many witches and wizards, they also have 2 colors in the flag. Not that I find anything wrong with all those stuff but it’s not as if Fokn Bois made them up just to mock them. But if you consider the Armani wear and pizza lines you could say yes they were probably parodying the small minds of some Ghanaians or trying to play ignorant themselves. But consider the song in its entirety and you’ll find that’s not their aim. Those Nigerians insulting Ghanaians are just too sensitive and have found the perfect opportunity to do free their minds.
They also attack Ghanaians whenever they get the chance in the name of ‘rivalry’
I remember reading a Nigerian sports page on the net and the author was mentioned that there were 10 seeded teams in Africa for the World Cup Qualifiers and then went on to mention all of the countries and left out Ghana. No I didn’t overlook anything, I read the sentence about 5 times because the names didn’t add up to the stated number. Unless you consider Burkina and Faso as separate. I felt that was petty journalism on his part. But who in Ghana really cares enough to start insulting the author.
“Fokn Bois adopting the personas of narrow-minded people in order to laugh at them?” I do agree with this! Listen to this song “Broken Language” by them and you will realize they did something very similar to kind of mock some Ghanaians.
The only part I feel they went too far was when the Liberians came up. That was just totally random.
I happen to be a Nigerian living in the UK with many Ghanaian friends. Until three years ago, when a Nigerian friend took it upon herself to “enlighten” me about the so-called “rivalry” between Nigerians and Ghanaians, I never would have been the wiser! I thought this was ridiculous as I am accepting of anyone from any part of Africa.
Anyway, back to this controversial song, which in my opinion stinks of petty mischief on the part of Fokn Bois. Having said that, I think that Nigerians should not take it too personal but rather take pride in the fact that they are unique or should I say authentic enough to be sung about. Obviously, the Ghanaian duo do not think that Ghanaians are that interesting.
Also, I find the blogger’s defence of the song a bit ignorant as some jokes can be quite expensive and lesser things have been known to start wars or conflicts. These are harsh times, but it will be easier on everyone if we celebrate each other’s diversities with better class and style. As for the rhythms, it will not be getting me on the dance floor anytime soon. Perhaps, if the beats were rich enough, people might have been more forgiving to it’s lack-lustre lyrics.
I also find the duo’s claim to be Christians even more hilarious (like their name) as they ought to be more sensitive to the impact that their art is creating. What really is the deep positive message here?
Olumide, thanks for taking time out from my old country, the UK, to comment. Fokn Bois are all about mischief, hence their name. In the UK, you know our humour is very incorrect at times: I don’t know whether Ghanaians and Nigerians are ready for this form of humour. Expensive jokes are only expensive in the eyes of the individual; I know some Nigerians have laughed genuinely at this song and don’t take offence. But agreed, nationality is a delicate matter. But in all the “respect for diversity” and looking for commonality, could we find a space for humour which is politically incorrect?
When I heard about the title (actually before listening to the song) I felt really amazed (by the guts of Kubolor and mensah) and at the same time was eager to listen…I just did and I do not know for others, but the song in its entire form is a mighty humorous blast…I am Cameroonian and actually living in Accra, and for sure I can bet my life that Ghanaians would not have taken things lightly if the were dissed this way in the first place…But the songs smells a joke even from the title and it was a nice one pulled, seriously. If any Nigerian wants to take it personal, then it would not be fair, because they are really great at dissing others…I for one am a witness of their really pushed jokes (talking of those concerning nationality)…
Christian rap group? Obviously the FOKN bois are ignorant of a lot of things (and words)
I am a Nigerian based in the UK and i did laugh when I first heard the song. However in retrospect, most of the things mentioned in the song are actually what makes me proud to be a NIGERIAN! Unlike the the judgemental description of Nigerians to be loud, i am quite reserved and still a NIGERIAN! thus all i can conclude is the FOKN bois are quite ignorant and as a so called “Christian” group, they should be more enlightened on the teachings of the bible about ignorance! Try egusi soup and pounded yam, for one and after that, let us see whether you will use it as a means to diss anybody! if you decide not to….who really cares???? Please where is my 5 piece agbada? i gotta jet….
A Nigerian minister last year made an informal statement ‘jokinly’ saying that all the water produced in Ghana could not flush the toilets in Lagos. I dont think Ghanaians found it funny. A Nigerian has also recorded a reply to that song but the difference here being that Fokn bois are an established act in Ghana,the Nigerian reply was done by an anomymous nobody. Many struggling Nigerian artiste could have capitalized on this silly song by fokn bois and released a hit single ridiculing Ghana,and trust me,Nigerians are really good at that. But we didnt. Except for football,believe me most Nigerians dont see Ghanaians as rivals in any way.
I have just listened to the the so called controversial song it is funny!! it is meant to be a joke, I dont understand why they are making a big deal out of this, I live in UK and I know for a fact that magority of Nigerians think they are better than Ghanaians and look down on us which is very funny, just because somebody is loud does not mean they are better, you have to admire their confidence tho, they actualy believe they speak better english than us now that I find hilarous, we have put up with a lot from Nigerians for years but we never complain, they just had a little taste of their own medicine and they dont like it, well tough!
I have just heard the song myself , what i actually think about this song is that, the so called Kubolor and his unfortunate associates are nothing but a piss of shit,
just imagine someone goes to the studio and record a song that ALL GHANAIANS ILLITERATES and Are GOOD AT NOTHING.
you as a Ghanaian what will you think and feel about it?
HE SHOULD MIND WHAT HE SAYS BECUS MUSIC IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HEARD ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IT’S THERE FOR AS LONG AS IT CAN BE
SO MUSICIANS SHUD MIND WHAT THEY SAY ON RECORD
WITH THIS, THE UNITY BETWEEN GHANA AND NIGERIA CAN BE BREACHED
KUBORLOR GO AND MAKE ANOTHER RECORD TO APOLOGIZE OTHERWISE YOU OR ANY GHANAIAN WILL NOT LIKE THE SINGLE RECORD I’LL BE MAKING IN 4 WEEKS TIME.
Thanks for your comments. I’m sure we’ll all be looking forward to your song.
@ GK: Your blog/thread seems to be getting more interesting as the days roll by…lol. (nice strategy to pick a controversial issue). But on a serious note guys, maybe we should all give it a rest? This issue is now tending towards the RIDICULOUS. 🙂
Interesting song. I live in Ghana and it is only today that I am hearing about this song.
i’m a full citizen of nairaland …….this song made me to hate ghanians ……we ain’t lazy like ghanians!!!
Yes, the lazy Ghanaian Wanlov (of FOKN Bois) who just won the Mandomix Babel Med Music for his music.