Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido is facing backlash after sharing a video that some Muslims found offensive.
The video, which was shared by Davido on his Instagram account, showed men dancing outside a mosque.
The video quickly went viral, and many Muslims were outraged. Some people even tore down Davido posters in protest. Davido has since deleted the video, but the damage has been done.
Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka has defended Davido, saying that he has the right to deploy dance in a religious setting. However, other high-profile figures have condemned the video, including former lawmaker Shehu Sani and adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad.
Ahmad wrote that the content of the video was “absolutely disrespectful, hurtful and offensive.” He said that Muslims do not mix their religion with jokes, especially anything to do with prayers.
Davido’s manager, Israel Afeare, apologized for the video on Instagram, but the apology has since been deleted. Neither Davido nor the other artist in the video, Logos Olori, have commented on the controversy.
The backlash against Davido is a reminder of the sensitivity of religious matters in Nigeria. The country is home to a large Muslim population, and many Muslims are deeply devout. Any perceived offense to Islam can spark a backlash.
It remains to be seen how the controversy will affect Davido’s career.
