Discursive representation of the Nigeria police in selected Afrobeats

Abstract

Abstract Studies have examined the important role the Nigeria Police plays in the Nigerian security system. However, the investigation of the discursive representation of the Nigeria Police and its personnel in Afrobeats (hip hop) is yet to be largely explored. This study, thus, within the ambit of the Foucauldian Discourse Analytic approach and Halliday’s Transitivity, investigates the representation of the Nigeria Police in selected songs of Nigerian Afrobeats artistes. These songs were selected for their discursive portrayal of the Nigeria Police, informed by personal experiences, community interactions, and the broader lived experiences of Nigerian citizens. The analysis reveals a pervasive narrative of police brutality, extortion, corruption, and oppression, the perpetuation of a culture of fear, mistrust, and powerlessness among citizens. It further foregrounds the police as champions of brutality and harassment, who blur the lines between law enforcement and criminality, and often serve as an oppressive tool for political leaders to suppress dissenting voices. Through the lyrics of their songs, Nigerian Afrobeats artistes have revealed that the Nigeria Police Force and its personnel have largely been unprofessional in their conducts, as evident in their engagements with the ‘ordinary’ citizens of the country.