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NIGERIA

Nigeria: Banned Hausa rapper uses internet for alternative distribution
Hausa rapper Ziriums satirical song 'Girgiza Kai' (Shake Your Head) was banned by the Kano State government. Instead, Ziriums uses online sites to distribute his songs
13 September 2010
Nigeria: Music festival cancelled by censorship board
A three-night music festival at a cultural centre in Kano in northern Nigeria, KANFEST, was cancelled by the Kano State Censorship Board, reported AFP
12 April 2010
Nigeria: Proceedings against composer of banned song
The singer Ala was arrested in Kano on 4 July 2009 for his song 'Hasbunallahu' which was banned by a mobile court judge linked to the Kano State Censorship Board
09 July 2009
Nigeria: 11 songs banned by Kano State Censorship Board 



A chief magistrate in Kano has banned listening, sale and circulation of 11 Hausa songs, described as obscene, confrontational and immoral
18 June 2009
Nigeria: Kuti's nightclub in Lagos closed by authorities
Presumably angered by the activism of the Femi Kuti, authorities have closed the legendary nightclub and concert hall in Lagos he runs together with his family
10 June 2009
Nigeria: Actor jailed for releasing an uncensored music video
The actor Adam A. Zango was imprisoned for producing and releasing an uncensored hip-hop video. The incident was a result of restrictions within the kannywood film industry
09 April 2008
Nigeria: Banned song became duo's break-through
The debut song of Nigerian duo Zule-Zoo was banned by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Instead of silencing them, the ban actually helped making it a nation-wide hit
15 November 2007
Nigeria: Kano state bans all films from carrying music
Kano state in northern Nigeria recently banned all films from carrying music, wrote Elizabeth Dickinson from Kaduna on 28 October 2007.
06 November 2007
Nigeria: Radio station restricted for playing song with political lyrics
Freedom Radio in Kano has been sanctioned, possibly for playing a specific political song
03 April 2006
Femi Kuti
Interview with afrobeat king Femi Kuti from Nigeria
01 August 2005
Damon Albarn: Music is destroyed by censorship
The record industry exerts a covert censorship, which makes it difficult for musicians to express themselves freely, was the message from Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Ty at the Roskilde Festival 2003
01 July 2003
Nigeria report launched in Paris
Photos from the launch. Interviews with Tony Allen and Ray Lema
04 June 2003
Tony Allen
Exlusive video interview with Tony Allen on music censorship in Nigeria
27 May 2003
Freemuse report on censorship in Nigeria: "Which way Nigeria?"
Music under Threat: A Question of Money, Morality, Self-Censorship and the Sharia.
Read or purchase the Freemuse report on music censorship in Nigeria. French and English version available
30 April 2003
Press release: Nigeria Report
Nigeria report launched in Paris
29 April 2003
Music and Fundamentalism in Nigeria
Article by Freemuse report writer Jean-Christophe Servant on music and Shariah law
01 January 2003
Nigeria: 'Leash on Their Tongues'
Article on how music has been censored in Nigeria. Including the story of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti and their struggle against political and religious censorship
01 March 2001
1910 - 1959
Freemusepedia timeline: Africa: 1910 - 1959:
Nigeria. Yoruba drummers.
01 January 2001
1970s
Freemusepedia timeline: Africa: 1970s:
Zaire: Franco Luambo Makiadi. Nigeria: Fela Kuti
01 January 2001