Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has expressed doubt over the effectiveness of social media activism, arguing that online campaigns alone are not strong enough to drive meaningful social or political change in society.
Speaking in a video message, Kuti referenced past advocacy efforts in Nigeria, including the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign that followed the abduction of schoolgirls. He noted that despite years of sustained public outcry across different administrations, the situation remained unresolved.
He recalled that the campaign continued from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan into that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, yet the abducted girls were still not fully returned at the time. According to him, repeated public demonstrations did not produce the expected outcome.
Kuti also observed that raising such issues often attracts backlash. He said people who continue to speak about unresolved cases are sometimes attacked or insulted for doing so, making public discourse increasingly hostile.
The musician argued that Nigeria repeatedly uses the same approach to address national issues while expecting different results. He questioned the belief that visibility on social media automatically translates into real-world impact.
He further stated that social media is not as powerful as many people assume, adding that platforms are regulated and controlled. According to him, algorithms can suppress content, citing his own experience where a video’s audio was removed and another post was restricted. He concluded that relying solely on online activism is not enough to achieve meaningful change.
Elijah Adeyemi
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment