THE COMING OF THE MARLIANS
By Segun Peter
Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, rose to stardom in 2019 when he released the single Japa. He later dropped a hit track in 2018 where he featured Olamide in a song titled ‘Is a goal’. During this time his fame was not on the high side until 2019 when he had clash with a Nigeria female singer Simisola Ogunleye, popularly known as Simi. In April 2019, there had been a controversy on whether internet fraud known as Yahoo Yahoo is a crime or not.
Ironically, Naira Marley drew inspiration from the legendary Jamaica musical icon Bob Marley whose music revolutionized the industry as it served as a source of inspiration for anti-establishment sentiments.
The discussion started when Simi a Nigerian songwriter and producer publicly said that internet fraudsters otherwise known as yahoo boys not to listen to her songs nor promote it. According to Simi the so called yahoo boys bring dishonor to Nigeria as a country.
This comment got to Naira Marley and prompted him to write a post that Yahoo Yahoo is not a crime that anyone who knows the history of slavery would understand. This comment sparked outrage as some took side with Naira Marley while others subscribe to what Simi said, which seemingly led to a track ‘Am I A Yahoo Boy’ dropped by Naira Marley in 2019.
The controversial song ‘Am I a Yahoo Boy’ got him into trouble as he was arrested by Economic Financial Crime Commission alongside Zlatan, Rahma Jango and others. After some days EFCC released Zaltan, Rahma Jango and three others but kept Marley in their custody due to the high level of evidence against him. As a result of this occurrence, he gained sympathy from the public and this increases his fans base. It was this circumstances that increases naira Marley’s fame which gave birth to a fans base called The Marlians.
Marlians as the name suggest is the name given to some set of people who belong to the fan-base of Naira Marley who also doubles has their president, this group in their practice as some people said don’t go to school, don’t wear belt smokes weed among other things. These acts are seen as behaviours that poses great threat to the expected norms of the youth in the society. This act brings dissimilarity between youth and the elders as they were being condemned.
However, contrary to the popular opinion this group actually tries to speak up for themselves and the masses as government has over time fail to deliver the promised dividend of democracy. Initially, before the existence of the fan base called Marlians there have been consistent uproar against the government system of operation while this fan base merely served and provided a platform for the youth to fully expression their burning desire.
Nigeria government has failed in many areas ranging from unemployment, insecurity, police brutality lack of proper education among many other concerns. All of these are what the past generation fails to correct according to the Marlians who now claimed to be on the right track in addressing such issues and at it worse, bringing it to the plain for developmental discourse.



No wonder the president of the fan base has always been criticizing unfavourable government policy before and after his arrest. Naira Marley fans base in Nigeria which is more or less a reflection of Bob Marley’s Ratafarian music which is used for social emancipation. After all, it is said that for a change to take its full place it must take a form and it requires a force. Hence, the youth can lay claim to the aforementioned saying as it is obvious that the youth are using his music as a medium to express their frustration and grievances while furthering a new course for the much anticipated change.

Let every one live their life.
The future always laughs last.