According to reports, one of Jimmy Cliff’s greatest hits, “The News,” was born from an unsettling encounter with Nigerian authorities in the mid-1970s, when the reggae icon was briefly detained under unclear circumstances involving promoters and alleged disputes.
The article explains that Cliff’s experience which he later immortalized in lyrics such as “I was in Africa down in Nigeria, Oh they threw me in jail, I had one hell getting bail” became the foundation of the track included in his 1975 album Follow My Mind. Though the exact details of the altercation remain unconfirmed, his detention made international headlines and inspired a song that addressed “propaganda, lies, libel” while placing Nigeria alongside other countries mentioned in his music.
Despite the country’s large fan base for the late musician, the piece notes that it is unclear if Cliff ever returned to Nigeria after the incident.