By Ghazali Ibrahim 
Popular Yorùbá comedian, Hussein Mubarak Kehinde, also known as Ozain, has been summoned by the Ìjọ Ọjẹ Parapọ̀ Welfare Association, a prominent Yorùbá masquerade cult, over a recent skit involving a Yorùbá masquerade.
The video, which has gone viral, has sparked widespread controversy and drawn the ire of traditionalists who claim it disrespects Yorùbá cultural and spiritual practices.
In the skit, Ozain portrays a wealthy man who insults and disrespects a masquerade, which is considered a sacred and revered figure in Yorùbá culture.
The masquerade’s entourage solicits money from the wealthy man, but he refuses to give any to the masquerade itself, instead hurling insults and daring the person behind the mask to reveal their face.
The Ìjọ Ọjẹ Parapọ̀ Welfare Association has condemned the skit as a blatant disrespect to Yorùbá traditions and spirituality.
The association’s president, Ọmọ’ba Adéọlá Ayoola, has issued a stern ultimatum, demanding that Ozain and his team appear before the head of masquerades in Ibadan to explain the intention behind the video.
The incident has reignited discussions about the responsibility of content creators to balance creative expression with cultural sensitivity.
While comedy and satire are important forms of entertainment, they must be approached with caution when dealing with deeply rooted cultural and spiritual practices.
