By Fawaz Adebisi
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has come to the defense of popular singer David Adeleke, known as Davido, regarding a controversial video posted on his social media handles that appeared to offend the Muslim faith.
In the video titled ‘Jaiye Lo,’ released by Davido’s artiste, Logos Olori, people were seen dressed in white jalabiyas, performing Muslim-like prayers before transitioning into dancing and reciting Quranic verses.
Some Muslims took offense to the depiction and demanded an apology from Davido.
However, Soyinka, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that he had not seen the Davido clip and called for it to be made available for objective debate.
He emphasized that artistic creativity should not be stifled by emotional manipulation.
Soyinka pointed out past instances where individuals were pressured into apologizing for artistic expressions that supposedly offended religious sentiments.
He strongly disagreed with the demand for an apology from Davido, asserting that no apology was necessary.
He therefore urged society to move away from contrived contrition and focus on more pressing issues of justice and closure.
He said, “the following should not be needed, but we appear to inhabit a nation space where memory deficiency has become an accreditation badge of competence in national affairs. I recall my intervention, several years ago, in an attempt to pillory former Governor of Kaduna State, El Rufai over some comment he had made that was considered derogatory to followers of Christianity.
“I forget the reference now but I do distinctly recall another of a bank manager who, at Easter tide, referred to the risen Christ as a metaphor for the risen dough in the bakeries of Oshodi. Something along those lines. Under obvious pressure, he apologized, and I rebuked him for the gesture.
“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.
“No apology is required, None should be offered. Let us stop battening down our heads in the mush of contrived contrition – we know where contrition, apology and restitution remain clamorous in the cause of closure and above all – justice. Such apologies have not been forthcoming. In their place, we have the ascendancy of petulant censorship in the dance and music department. Just where will it end?”
He urged those who found the video offensive to exercise their right to boycott Davido’s products but stressed that it should not lead to negative and divisive reactions.
Instead, he called on society to address the root issues of religion in the nation, particularly the misuse of power to suppress dissent and perpetrate injustice.
Also, Soyinka emphasized that there are more important and urgent matters deserving of the nation’s attention and indignation, and the controversy over the video should not distract from those pressing concerns.
