The state of affairs in our country, Nigeria, is a pertinent conversation attached to different parts of our everyday life. As the country announces a new President-elect of the Federation, there are still touchy conversations that need to be had, especially as it relates to the basic living conditions of its citizens. Falz has created a name for himself with his politically charged discography which calls out various personalities in Nigeria’s political space. His legal and political background gives him access to some perspectives that others might not possess.

He taps up Tekno for a new record, “O Wa”. This is a colloquial term used by passengers to alert bus drivers of their next stop. He depicts a danfo bus on the cover and it ties in with Falz’s message of putting a stop to bad governance and “getting off” the rickety bus that is Nigeria. The song’s visuals open with a scene of Falz on a danfo bus clad in an all-black ensemble and a red beret, giving him an edgy, vigilante-esque look. In scenes depicting transferred aggression, we are the current state of Lagos: agitated bus passengers, frustrated citizens in a static queue for cash at an ATM, and a series of fights breaking out in the background.

Tekno brings a flavor of dance to the record. Sometimes all we need to take in a message is a bouncy beat and a nice rhythm. Tekno’s knack for constructing infectious choruses comes in handy on “O Wa”, dipping into the bag that produced hits like “Pana” and “PuTTin”. He speaks, as a matter of fact, on the tendencies of everyday Nigerian citizens as they react to the situations in that they find themselves.

Falz describes these situations clearly. He sings, “all the tax wey we generate, why the cash no dey circulate/ and when we start dey calculate, everybody come dey agitate.” Tekno goes further to create more mental images. He says, “I say dem mama, dem papa dem dey cry/dem no know how pikin dey kpai/money no dey he dey drink kai kai”. The combination of both these artists create an interesting dynamic on the record. In this current climate, “O Wa” properly depicts what it’s like to be an ordinary Nigerian in this current climate.