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Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Stands with Davido, Rejects Apology Demands Over Controversial Music Video
Renowned Nigerian Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has expressed his support for Afrobeat sensation, Davido, amid calls for an apology regarding a contentious music video shared on the artist’s social media platforms.
The recent release of Davido Music Worldwide label boss and artist, Olamilekan Taiwo, aka Logos Olori’s new record, ‘Jaye Lo,’ caused a significant online uproar, eliciting diverse reactions from netizens.
The controversy was further fueled when a 45-second excerpt of the video was posted on Instagram by Davido on Friday, attracting criticism, particularly from Muslim devotees who found the content offensive.
As a result, they are now demanding a retraction from the artists and even considering legal action. Nevertheless, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has come forward urging Davido not to yield to the pressure for an apology.
The controversial scene featured some men depicting praying mallams seen dancing in front of a mosque instead of praying. This dancing act has since been deemed offensive by some Muslim devotees.
Despite deleting the video forty-eight hours after it was posted, some Muslims are still demanding a public apology from Davido.
However, Soyinka in a statement released on Tuesday, said Davido did not owe Muslims an apology.
The Literary icon said former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai had made offensive comments against Christians in the past but was never asked to tender an apology.
He said, “There was nothing to apologize about, and that applied equally to El Rufai’s comments at the time. It should come as no surprise that I equally absolutely disagree with Shehu Sani if indeed, as reported, he has demanded an apology from Davido on behalf of the Moslem community.”
“It wasn’t Davido’s music that lynched Deborah Yakubu, a second-year Christian college student who was killed by a mob of Muslim students in Sokoto last year over alleged blasphemy,” he added.
