Showbiz
Rema’s ‘Are You There?’ Demonstrates Growing Anger of Nigerian Youths
By Adedapo Adesanya
There is a trope that isn’t true that many music listeners peddle: they say Nigerian new generation artists don’t make socially conscious music but the reality is that they don’t listen to these songs. New school leader, Rema, might change this narrative with his anger-laced street bop, Are You There?
The track, which is one of the singles from his 2022 album, Raves and Roses, had Rema singing about youthful frustrations, inequality, hedonism, and corruption rife in the Nigerian state.
“People dey talk say na only woman I sabi talk about so leave me make I talk about am,” he starts the three minutes 13 seconds long song drawing a parallel with how Nigeria’s youths are finding solace in hedonistic appeals to subsidise the frustrations of living in a place known for its multidimensional poverty, police brutality, and worrying developmental and social problems.
What compliments a song like this better than a video that breathes life into these messages. A masterclass from arguably Nigeria’s hottest video director, TG Omori; Rema represents a light hidden under a broken bushel.
The video opens with a baby crying in a cot with a motion toy dangling above — a clear answer to the country’s epileptic power supply which has been frustrating most Nigerians alive since their birth. Rema, we see is making himself the voice of change in a shanty town, a Rooster’s Coop that a considerable number of Nigerians are trapped in.
Are you there? Are you there there there? Are you there? Are you there there there? he quips in a frustrating manner into the void with a megaphone.
Rema makes it clear that Nigerian youths are industrious and reminiscent of the courageous protest that they carried out in October 2020, tired Nigerians are seen carrying placards with messages that read every single thing that Nigerians as early as the 1960s generations have clamoured for.
Orchestrating a demonstration, Rema infiltrates a gathering of political elites. We see him stand up to authorities who have made the nation’s wealth their own. He idolizes the passionate revolutionary that we are too cowardly to be. He is also not afraid to stand up to the resulting consequences of his actions.
What does one expect of a politician who turns off the news displaying another bomb blast in a moment of joy? What sympathy do we extend to such a person who gleefully celebrates while the nation is plunged into chaos? One must reflect on this because this is what many Nigerian youths feel if anybody cares to listen.
Wake up, wake up, are you there? are you there? he sings as a politician caught in the melee screaming for his life amid the ruckus. With that action, he emerges as a justified icon and this is how the state keeps creating dubious heroes due to their ineptitude.
There is no telling who the song might have inspired but that is soon quelled as the police — the fixer arm of the Nigerian government — is seen bulldozing the shanty town where our hero emerged from. In the process, innocent people have to bear the brunt but staying true to his beliefs, Rema stays and confronts these men in black but when a police officer promises to bring down his wrath, he flees the scene and probably the country. A story we’ve seen too many times.
The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Nivea and inDrive has been announced as the title sponsors of TikTok’s 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Awards, while Coca-Cola, Dis-Chem and PEP Stores are the category sponsors.
As title sponsors, inDrive and NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will play key roles in amplifying creator recognition, supporting event experiences, and on-the ground activations.
NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will sponsor the Creator of the Year award, while inDrive will present the Storyteller of the Year award, both reflecting a shared passion for innovation, inclusivity and celebrating African voices making a global impact.
In addition, Coca-Cola is sponsoring Food Creator of the Year award, Dis-Chem is for the Social Impact Creator of the Year award, and PEP Stores is for the Entertainment Creator of the Year award.
This year’s event is slated for Saturday, December 6. It would be used to celebrate the continent’s most inspiring and innovative creators who are using the platform to educate, entertain, and empower their communities.
“We are delighted to partner with TikTok, as we share a long-standing relationship across the globe, including in the Sub-Saharan region. TikTok is a unique platform that enables us to engage with young audiences in a language and format that truly resonates with them.
“We extend our gratitude to the company for organizing The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa and congratulate all guests and participants on this remarkable event,” the Marketing Lead of inDrive Africa, Mikita Ponarin, stated.
“TikTok is proud to partner with great local and regional brands that support Africa’s creative economy. What excites us about these partnerships is the shared vision.
“These brands are making a conscious choice to invest in African creativity at a pivotal moment. They see what we see: that when we uplift creators, we strengthen entire communities and economies across the continent,” the Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa,” Boniswa Sidwaba, said.
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