Femi Branch: Bobrisky asking Oba of Benin to marry him shows our culture is dying

Femi Branch, the Nollywood actor, has reacted to a recent comment by Bobrisky, the controversial crossdresser, that Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, should marry him.

Bobrisky had recently visited Benin in Edo state for an event organised by Ehi Ogbebor, an interior designer.

In a video which surfaced online, Bobrisky had said: “The queen’s are in Benin. We are here to disturb Benin. This one no be ‘shere shere’ o! We are here to disturb Benin. Oba of Benin, Bob don enter o! Come and marry me, Oba.”

His comment had stirred a wave of backlash on social media, with many users accusing him of “undermining the traditional institution.”

Following the criticism, Bobrisky had apologised over his comment, claiming he was only joking.

“And guys, I have been seeing some little little gist about what I said about our honourable and wonderful Oba,” he had said.

“I am sorry, I was just joking. I was just cruising, like just chilling. I never knew you people will take it personal.

“So, this is a video to apologise that I am sorry. Please, you guys should not take it personal. And I love you guys so much. Thank you!”

Weighing into the matter in an Instagram live session, the actor said the self-acclaimed transgender’s comment is indicative of the fact that culture and tradition are dying in the society.

“A lot of people meet me and say, ‘I don’t really watch Nigerian movies but I watch your own movies’. With due apologies, that is one of the dumbest things people say,” he said.

“Is my own movie a Togolese one? That is one of the reasons I respect Benin culture. Look at what happened recently. Bobrisky made a joke. But, there are some institutions you don’t joke with.

“Bobrisky could say he is a Yoruba guy (or babe); however ‘she’ wants to be addressed. He must have been seeing how some Yoruba obas have been behaving in recent times. That must have made him feel he could make such a comment about the revered Oba of Benin.

“It was when he made that statement he realised the Oba of Benin isn’t just any king. Some people thought the reactions were a bit too much but Benin people don’t joke with their culture. And that is because the Oba of Benin does not ‘carry himself’ anyhow.

“Our culture and tradition are dying by the minute and people don’t even seem to be concerned. There was an uproar by the indigenes of Benin because they don’t joke with their king and their king also doesn’t joke with their tradition.

“Do you think if Bobrisky had made such a statement about a Yoruba oba, people would have talked? Let us tell ourselves the truth. Is it normal to see our kings on Instagram frolicking with ‘commoners’?”