Renowned literary icon, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has come to the defense of musician Davido amidst the controversy surrounding a video he shared on his social media platforms.
The video featured a segment from his signee, Logos Olori’s new single “Jaye Lo,” which depicted people worshipping and dancing in front of a mosque.
In the wake of its release, Davido faced severe criticism, leading him to remove the video from his Twitter account. However, he refused to issue an apology.
Despite the video being taken down, certain members of the Muslim community continue to demand a public apology from Davido.
Recently, a group of Muslim youths staged a protest in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, where they set fire to a large banner bearing the artist’s image.
In response to the controversy, Prof. Wole Soyinka released a statement on Tuesday, asserting that Davido need not apologize to Muslims.
Soyinka cited a previous incident involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai, who made offensive remarks about Christians in the past but was never compelled to apologize.
According to Soyinka, there is nothing for Davido to apologize for, echoing his disagreement with Shehu Sani, who reportedly demanded an apology from Davido on behalf of the Muslim community.
Soyinka also dispelled any connection between Davido’s music and the tragic lynching of Deborah Yakubu, a second-year Christian college student who was killed by a mob of Muslim students in Sokoto last year over suspected blasphemy.
In conclusion, the literary luminary, Prof. Wole Soyinka, firmly stands by Davido, urging him not to offer any apologies for the controversial video, while rejecting calls for such an apology from the Muslim community.
The debate continues as both supporters and critics of Davido’s actions remain divided over the matter.
