Falz’s 2019 album, “Moral Instruction”, is a nine-track manifesto that uses music as a classroom for socio-political commentary. Following the viral success of his protest single “This Is Nigeria,” Falz embraced the role of the national conscience by delivering a powerful critique of endemic corruption, institutional brutality, collective hypocrisy and civic decay that pervade all layers of Nigeria.
The album’s sound pays homage to the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti who had also critiqued the then socio-political environment. On tracks like “Talk” and “Johnny”, Falz narrates the tragedies of police brutality, while “Hypocrite” featuring Demmie Vee exposed the double standards that plague our society, targeting everyone from corrupt politicians to supposedly pious citizens. “Amen” tackles religious exploitation, questioning the massive wealth of preachers while their congregations suffer.
As part of the album rollout, Falz released a short film titled “Moral Instruction: The Curriculum” which brought his message to life through storytelling and imagery. The project earned widespread acclaim for its courage, relevance, and authenticity winning the Album of the Year at the 2019 Headies. It remains one of the most daring Nigerian rap projects of its time.
