By Nigerians on microblogging platform, Twitter have come for popular American beauty YouTuber, Jackie Aina, after she named one of her products, ‘Sòrò Sókè’.
Aina, who is of Nigerian descent, recently launched a line of scented candles from her brand, FORVR Mood. The collection features four fragrances named after Nigerian phrases, which are Soro Soke, No Wahala, Soft Life and Spice of Life.
Sòrò Sókè, which means ‘speak up’ in Yoruba language, is a slogan that became popular among Nigerian youths in the wake of the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. On October 20, 2020, the Nigerian military opened fire at tens of protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
Reacting to the YouTuber’s decision to name her product after the protest slogan, Nigerians took to their Twitter pages on Friday to condemn the move, carpeting Aina for profiting from the pains of innocent citizens who lost their lives during the protests.
@PreciouGNSD wrote, “Jackie Aina is disgusting for that. Her and her fellow Nigerian American celebs were digitally flogged to speak up… constantly using Nigerianess for profit but mute when your own need you. Nasty. The lot of them.”
“Hey @jackieaina. Please leave #Endsars and everything related to it out of your Nigerian cosplay. It’s beyond disrespectful to those we lost and those of us that spent two weeks under the sun protesting for our lives. Thanks and remain blessed,” tweeted @imoteda.
@rachi_archie said, “Imagine using the suffering and deaths of people for commercial purposes. A movement you didn’t even recognize but now you’re using it to push a fucking candle?!! How does Sòrò Sókè candle smell like? Blood and bullets?? Shame on you @jackieaina!”
“How is the “soro soke” candle supposed to smell? Like blood? Like gun powder? Like tear gas? Make it make sense,” @I_Am_Ilemona asked.
@ARotinwa said, “Imagine thinking you can co-opt a transgressive term that drove a protest against police brutality, and the #LekkiMassacre that followed and turn it into a (thoughtless) market opportunity. Actually no, you didn’t think at all, clearly.”
