The Nigerian Twittersphere has been flooded with mixed reactions after Burna Boy, an Afrofusion singer, rejected a call to protest against “bad government” in the country.
Sowore, convener of the RevolutionNow protest, had invited the ‘African Giant’ crooner to join the group in its planned march on October 1, which is Nigeria’s 60th Independence Day anniversary.
The self-acclaimed African Giant, however, rejected the offer, stating that the country’s politicians cannot be trusted.
The development has since opened the floodgates of mixed reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
While a segment of users criticised Burna Boy’s political conviction, saying that the ‘Ye’ crooner makes music about bad governance yet refused to protest against it, others jumped to the singer’s defence.
“Never outsource your fight for a better future to people whose job is simply to make music. Forget branding, we know say this Fela thing na wash. Truth is, we no even like Fela like that. If you feel the need to protest, march yourself and your household into the streets,” Joey Akan wrote.
“Burna boy claims fella blood flows in his veins but Yet he hates politicians. I see that he’s only carry fela for business gains. Fela was a politician too like Sowore and even contested for president,” another user wrote.
“Burna Boy doesn’t want DSS wahala. Man wants to drop hits, fly to London on private jet and give interviews about revolution, being an African giant & how we are cowards who can’t face govt. Sowore likes DSS wahala. Sowore says Burna (Fela Jnr) come and join us. Burna says no,” Dipo Awojide wrote.
Burna Boy doesn’t want DSS wahala. Man wants to drop hits, fly to London on private jet and give interviews about revolution, being an African giant & how we are cowards who can’t face govt.
Sowore likes DSS wahala.
Sowore says Burna (Fela Jnr) come and join us. Burna says no😂
Advertisement— Dr. Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) September 29, 2020
Never outsource your fight for a better future to people whose job is simply to make music.
Forget branding, we all know say this Fela thing na wash. Truth is, we no even like Fela like that.
AdvertisementIf you feel the need to protest, march yourself and your household into the streets.
— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) September 30, 2020
Burna boy claims fella blood flows in his veins but Yet he hates politicians.
I see that he's only carry fela for business gains.AdvertisementFela was a politician too like sowore and even contested for president .#Thread pic.twitter.com/prtaZjk1H1
— MOONSHINE ⏲ (@ill_nojie) September 30, 2020
Re: Burna Boy vs Sowore
Are street protests the only valid form of protests?— Mark Amaza (@amasonic) September 30, 2020
activism for the sake of Nigerians who called him dumb and stupid for trying to fight the government.
Yll look so stupid trying to force this Burna and Sowore agenda. Leave Burna boy alone you cowards. Direct your energy towards the government making us suffer instead— SAKS™ 🏅 (@Sinning_Saint_) September 30, 2020
When you were bromancing with General @MBuhari and celebrating his victory like a love struck teenager, you did not call @BurnaBoy. Now that you have been used and dumped by the @OfficialAPCNg , you want to break coconut on his head. Carry your coffin alone! #RenosMasterClass pic.twitter.com/GMwUuXjGqA
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 29, 2020
The only protests Fela participated in were protests he himself orchestrated ab initio – he was never used.
The only party he identified with was his own and the only presidential aspiration he supported was his own.
For the Black President, Abami Eda – music was the weapon.
— Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) September 30, 2020
I see a lot of people saying trash about burner because he refused to lead a protest..people that cant tell their bosses to give them a day off
Any blood shed during the protest is just gonna be a waste for this country whether sowore or burna leads it pic.twitter.com/5yOEkGoD8v
— Mykel💛 (@_TheThirdEstate) September 30, 2020
Burna Boy alluded to Nigerians being cowards in a song when it comes to standing up for themselves & I guess his refusal to take a stand when called out by Sowore hit a nerve. He claims to walk in the footsteps of Fela but it’s only in songs we hear this.pic.twitter.com/81bT1Ktp0k
— ✨👑 DaddyMO👑✨ (@therealdaddymo1) September 30, 2020
But every quarter, Burna, whose only contribution to societal issues is condescending remarks about how Nigerians are too stupid or lazy to fight for our rights wants to form Fela 2.0.
Fela did the damn work. He should do the work too or shut the entire fuck up.— Ẹ̀gbọ́n (@Olumuyiwa__) September 30, 2020
Fela did NOT just sing activism songs.
He was jailed over 200 times.
At a point, in jail for 2years.Pls let us not disrespect Fela by comparing with cowards who just want to smoke weed but they are Twice as Scared.
Fela was ready to die.
He’s not one of the chickens you made.— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) September 30, 2020
Things I learnt from this Fela trend
1. Burna boy is not as brave as he claims…just weed inspired lyrics and Insha Allah
2. Sowore’s desperation is suspicious..it appears he’s more concerned about his very own agenda than making Nigeria better
Drops mic 👩🏾🦯👩🏾🦯
— timi 🦅 (@kvng__timmy) September 30, 2020
I’m a very big fan of fela & I can tell you he was not a coward.
His style of activism was through music, Fela won’t say “ our leaders “ did xyz. He’ll call your full government name.
Soldiers went and threw his mum out a 2nd storey window because of one of his songs “zombie”
— Pastor Ola ✨ (@Biisi96) September 30, 2020
Nigeria is not Worth's dying for, Burna Boy please stay with Stefflon Don in London
— Uncle Deji (@Blackshadie) September 30, 2020
People might say Sowore is trying to make Burna Boy an instrument to actualize his agenda, but the point for me is that if you can talk the talk, you should be able to walk the talk. No be by calling people cowards in your song. I'm sure Fela won't be proud right now.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 30, 2020
One thing Burna Boy didn't realise is that the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was also a politician. He contested the 1979 presidential elections under his own Party, Movement of People (MOP). It's so easy for everyone to pick what part of Fela they want to identify with
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 30, 2020
Burna Boy"s statement that "everybody is a Fela fan & supporter now that Fela is dead" perfectly describes him. Burna Boy samples Fela music, uses Fela's lyrics & acts "low budget Fela" to make money & rise to fame, but the guy lacks the discipline & courage of Fela. What a shame
— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) September 30, 2020
Until you’ve your mother thrown out from a storey building , then your wives raped and beaten just because you spoke up against the government with your music then you’ve no right to slander fela from the comfort of your home.
— 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙅𝙣𝙧 (@kusssman) September 30, 2020
Sowore wey sabi protest don go all expense paid trip go cell pass 2Times. Na come Burna boy wey dey find Grammy you won use do roommate. You say, I thought you were Yung Fela 2, Original dangbana choko. No vex boss, that “monsters you made” song na for award, he no deep like that
— SUN🌝 (@shank_comics) September 30, 2020
Burna once made a video on Instagram mocking us when fire broke out during one of the Abuja Money heist episodes in the Accountant General’s office, he is so quick to call the us lazy but he isn’t even ready to lead any movement😂
Baba just dey use Fela get streams & cash out
— Tife🌚 (@tifefabunmi) September 30, 2020
While you all are dragging Burna boy for denying being Fela, remember that Sowore & Co was part of the movement that removed a Ph.D. holder as the president, replacing him with someone who we aren’t sure of his level of education and has past bad records. Buhari has ruled
— Duke of Africa (@Allezamani) September 30, 2020
It’s okay for Burna Boy to sample Fela songs. it’s okay for him to not want to associate with Sowore or any other politician.
What is not okay is calling us Cowards when you can’t even walk the talk.
Falz is right after all, everybody is motherfvcking hypocrite! pic.twitter.com/eaLc4ki2Zu
— Elvis Tunde ➐ (@Tunnykvng) September 30, 2020
Sowore was right about what he said to Burna, Burna replied to sowore concerning how the people mocked Fela Kuti & his mother was also true.
Nigerians will rather watch BBN than fighting for their future. Until they wake up. If you like fight for them. They'll later mock you.
— IFA FUNSHO (@funshographix) September 29, 2020
My only pain with this whole thing is that some of these useless drags will soon extend to Fela.
Please I beg you people should limit it to Burna and Sowore.
Don't disrespect a global legacy biko.
— UG (@UgwunnaEjikem) September 30, 2020
Still baffled that anyone even thinks of Burna Boy as 'a revolutionary musician'.
The only thing he revolves is samples from classic songs.
— Ayo Sogunro – #Transformist (@ayosogunro) September 30, 2020
Burna Boy: Nigerian youths are cowards, scared to fight etc etc. (from his album)
Yele Sowore: Burna Boy, join us in a protest against the government.
Burna Boy: I don’t trust Nigerian politicians, they are all the same.
So you didn’t know this when you were calling us names?
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) September 30, 2020
The highlight of the Burna/Sowore altercation is that Nigerians (most Nigerians) are not ready to fight for a better country. We've not suffered enough. Those talking about 2015 are just masking their complacency. You can't support Atiku, Saraki and co and still rant about 2015.
— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) September 30, 2020
Sowore and co should leave Burna boy and other musical artists who don't want to protest alone, you can not force people against their wish. We saw how that one chickened out the last time after calling for the protest. Protests are not for chickens.
— Olúyẹmí Fásípè 🇳🇬 (@YemieFASH) September 30, 2020
All of us including Burna Boy are not in the wrong for being skeptical, infact history shows that we must not sleep with two eyes close. The decision to protest is also very personal.
But he referred to us as cowards for our skepticism, now he’s a coward for his too.
Simple.
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) September 30, 2020
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