Professor Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, has urged Nigerian Afrobeat musician, Davido to disregard calls demanding his apology to muslims over the controversial music video he posted on his social media pages.
Recall that the award-winning singer who is also the boss of Davido Music Worldwide label (DMW), posted a music video of his new signee Olamilekan Taiwo, aka Logos Olori, titled “Jaye Lo” on Friday evening.
The 45-second clip which was shot in front of a Mosque, depicted scenes where some men in white Jalabiya, were observing prayers. After the prayers, the men switched to dancing as they recited some Quranic verses and prayed.
However, the video didn’t sit well with some Muslims community, as they dragged the singer and accused him of disrespecting Islamic beliefs and practices.
Despite deleting the video which had gathered streams on his social media platforms, some Muslims are still demanding a public apology from Davido.
Defending the singer, Wole Soyinka said Davido owes no apology to Muslims, citing how the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai had made derogatory comments against Christians in the past but was never asked to apologize.
The Literary icon said: “It was not Davido’s music that lynched Deborah Yakubu and continues to frustrate the cause of justice. Nor has it contributed to the arbitrary detention of religious dissenters – call them atheists or whatever – such as Mubarak Bala, now languishing in prison for his 38th month. These are the provocations where every citizen should exercise the capacity for revulsion.
“They are the issues deserving of, indeed exercise primary claim on a nation’s capacity for righteous indignation. All else is secondary. Distractive piffle!.
“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.”
