Burna Bashing: Should Celebrities Owe Fans Political Allegiance?
Nigerian celebrities have constantly come under fire for not taking a side when it comes to political parties and candidates. Is it a crime to be apathetic?
Nigerians have voted and heard the results of their electoral exercise. But the results of the presidential election haven’t gone down well with many.
Anger and vituperation have been vented and as the Nigerian social media space boils over allegations of rigging, some music stars have found themselves right in the middle of the boiling pot, with netizens bashing them for their political neutrality.
Nigerian Grammy winners, Wizkid and Burna Boy, have been the top victims of social media ‘dragging’ since the general elections began and it has mainly been because of their political apathy.
Ghanaians told Wizkid pointedly, ‘Borga, go vote first’ while ‘I dey Port Harcourt when them kill Soboma’ was alleged to have run to California.
The dragging didn’t stop there.
A netizen, Shade Ladipo, poked Burna by calling him a “clown and opportunist” who exploits political issues to promote his music.
And many more:
Wizkid FC jumped to the defence of their lord, saying that he never sings nor profits from political, conscious music while the 30BGs also leapt to the defence of their favourite by saying he was active during the EndSARS and was instrumental in the emergence of his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, as the governor of Osun State. In other words, he has more than enough to show for his efforts in the political space.
The six-time Grammy nominee is then left out alone in the cold, with blows from critics denting his African Giant ‘Fela-activism’ reputation - at least in Nigeria’s media space.
The Last last crooner would, however, not let it slide without giving his critics a response.
“I dunno why it’s such a big deal to some Nigerians that I’ve not been vocal about the elections.
“Personally I don’t ‘have a candidate I believe in. I’ve never supported any political party or candidate in my life because I don’t want to make you vote and then blame me when the person fucks up as usual.
“That being said, I hope all votes count and the best man wins.”
On his decision to sing about his country’s woes, the superstar singer cheekily responds, “I go dey sing about China now, no para.”
Many may not have been satisfied with his response but it throws up an important question, are celebrities not free to dissociate themselves from politics?
One can see beyond the verbal attack on Damini Ogulu that his main offence is not joining the #OBIdient movement and if he had supported any other candidate, he would have been cancelled.
Celebrities are not more human than regular fans and should not be denied their right to associate, to be (non-)partisan and to sit out issues, no matter the seeming gravity or the number of people involved. Not everyone will be like Falz, P-Square, Mr Macaroni et al.
We have guys around who don’t follow the soccer game and Nigerians who are apathetic. If we won’t crucify those non-celeb people around us, these celebs deserve to be spared as well.
Stardom comes at a cost but do you think celebrities should always bow to the demands of their fans and join the bandwagon?
The poll is closed, ouch.
Celebrities should not ALWAYS be expected to interfere in politics or other public matters. Many of us want our 'role models' or other significant celebrities/people to live on our terms.
I know citizens were/are pained because Burna Boy was neutral or didn't interfere in the past election because of how he sings about Nigeria and Her woes. He was expected to interfere because is that not what his songs are mostly centred on? Does Wizkid even interfere in any matter? 😂