A new political campaign song by popular Hausa musician Dauda Kahutu, better known as Rarara, has sparked controversy in northern Nigeria, with politicians, religious leaders, lawyers, civil society actors, and social media users debating whether the singer crossed the line between political criticism and personal attack.
Released on Thursday, the song praises Jamilu Gwamna, the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, while containing lyrics widely interpreted as targeting Isa Pantami, the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and governorship candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Although Mr Rarara never mentions Mr Pantami by name, the song’s references leave little doubt among political observers about its target.
The lyrics include allegations that critics say are defamatory and unsupported by publicly available evidence.
Within hours of its release, the song had spread across Facebook, X, TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube, generating millions of views and becoming one of the most discussed political subjects in northern Nigeria.
