By Ehi Agbashi, Nirvana Tesfayohannes, Temiloluwa Adeyemi, and Osasenaga Aghayere

Throughout Nigerian history, activism has been a major tool used to eliminate injustice. Although somewhat overlooked by the global community, the rich history of activism in Nigeria has enabled the nation to overcome colonialism, military dictatorship, and governmental oppression. Anti-colonial leaders such as Funmilayo Kuti and the Women of Aba, who passionately fought against British colonialism, laid the firm foundation that drives the culture of activism in Nigeria.[1] Subsequent key leaders include Fela Kuti, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Aisha Yusufu, who took the mantle and cemented the legacies of their ancestors by standing up against unjust leadership.[2]

However, as a result of government incompetence and continued oppression, Nigerians have become less willing to protest. Nigerian artist Fela Kuti captured this feeling in his 1978 song “Shuffering and Shmiling.” He describes a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness manifesting in such a way that Nigerians see no other option, but to be content in a dysfunctional society that only works for elites.[3] A very real reason why Nigerians did not see protest as a viable expression of their frustration was the fact that, except for a brief return to democratic rule from 1979-1983, the country was under different military regimes from 1966-1999. 

Within this context, the 2020 #EndSARS protests are even more remarkable. The hashtag dates back to 2017 and was revived last year after a video surfaced showing a Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officer shooting and killing a young man. SARS was already infamously known as a rogue police unit that brutalizes, murders, extorts, and sexually harasses Nigerian youths. The video led activists to demand for SARS to be disbanded permanently. The protests began on October 8 and continued through October 21.[4] Although it started as a demand to abolish SARS, the protests quickly became a transformative demonstration for improved governance.

The Impact of #EndSARS

#EndSARS was a powerful moment in Nigerian history. Twenty-one years after Nigeria restored democracy on paper, those of us who have suffered the brunt of a failed democratic state took it upon ourselves to rectify the injustices that still persist in the nation. Protesters were standing up against an authoritarian Nigerian government disguised as a democracy to advocate for people-centered governance in the nation. Although the government temporarily disbanded SARS (only to reinstate it under a different name), we have yet to see the transformative changes we called for during the protests.

#EndSARS galvanized a “Soro Soke” (a Yoruba phrase meaning “speak up loud”) generation unwilling to bow to the vices of incompetent leaders and corrupt politicians. The youth of Nigeria have recognized that they have the right to speak up against a system that isn’t working or meeting their needs and aspirations. Building off momentum from the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement’s (YIAGA) “Not Too Young to Run” campaign [5] to encourage more young people to run for political office, the #EndSARS protests ignited a fire for change in every Nigerian who dreams of a thriving nation. These protests activated a new wave of conscious and engaged citizenry demanding accountable leadership. 

Further, the #EndSARS movement revealed a failure in leadership. Most of the leaders who addressed the protesters showed a huge disconnect between those in power and the average Nigerian. Leaders were more focused on trying to end the protests rather than making the necessary changes protesters demanded. Then, on October 20, the government dispatched the Nigerian army and gave orders for them to open fire on protesters at the Lekki Tollgate when protesters refused to back down.[6] This massacre at Lekki left at least a dozen dead, marring two weeks of peaceful protests. 

Where We Go from Here

Nigerians see the 2023 elections as an opportunity to change the course of the nation. With this in mind, grassroots organizations should start working toward ensuring that young people are educated on valuing their vote, running for political office, and fulfilling other civic duties. Grassroots organizations will play an important role in sensitization and mobilization efforts before the 2023 elections. Sensitization and awareness campaigns must extend to marketplaces, villages, and religious institutions; these campaigns should also be tailored to fit each demographic and serve as a learning process for all. Most importantly, grassroots organizations need to collaborate with each other to expand their impact. 

#EndSARS and Global Black Liberation

The 2020 #EndSARS protests, the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and the global call for Black liberation that triumphed in the summer of 2020 are inextricably linked. Through these social movements for racial and social justice, we understand that the voice of the oppressed can only be silenced for so long. For Black people everywhere, the endless hope of an inevitable victory over all forms of subjugation keeps us bound in an unwavering community of solidarity. For the global Black Diaspora, our collective call for freedom embodied within these movements will continue until our hopes are fully realized. We can’t stop and we won’t stop!

About the Authors

Ehi Agbashi is a final year Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Washington D.C.

Nirvana Tesfayohannes was born in Asmara, Eritrea and lived in California most of her life. She came to DC to attend the School of International Service at American University.

Temiloluwa Adeyemi is a political science graduate from the University of South Dakota. She is from Ogun State, Nigeria and starts graduate school in the fall of 2021 to further her interest in foreign policy and economic development.

Osasenaga Aghayere was born in Benin City, Nigeria and moved to Reston, Virginia when he was nine years old. He is a recent graduate of Yale’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs.

Endnotes

1. Adeola, Aderonke. Awani: A Colonial History of Women, 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjyfBOxR9Xw&ab_channel=Awanifilm.

2. Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, “Major Boro,” track 12 on The Classics Vol. 1., Permier Records Limited, 1981.

3. Fela Kuti, “Shuffering and Shmiling,” track 1 on Shuffering and Shmiling, Knitting Factory Records, 1979,.

4. SaharaTV, “Falz And Runtown Leads #EndSARS Protest In Lagos,” YouTube, October 8, 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL88zc7XZHM&ab_channel=SaharaTV.

5. Yiaga Africa: Democracy, Government, and Development, 2020, https://www.yiaga.org/team/.

6. Burna Boy, “20 10 20 ,” 20 10 20, Spaceship Entertainment Ltd., 2020.