Davido ignites controversy over Muslim worship mimicry (see video)
Music superstar, Davido, has sparked a controversy following the release of a song, Jaiye Lo,produced by his signee, Logos Olori. The signee, Olamilekan Emeka Taiwo, recently joined Davido’s new music record label, DMW.
The song, which mimics Islamic worship, has attracted condemnation from Muslims who see it as provocative and disrespectful to their faith. The song’s promotional video has the cast, dressed in white Jalabiya,aping the Muslim act of worship before suddenly bursting into a dance on their praying mats.
Responding to the video, Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide, said Muslims find the song “absolutely disrespectful”, “hurtful”, and “offensive”. Tweeting directly at Davido, through his handle @BashirAhmad, he said: “I assume you all know that we Muslims don’t mix our religion with jokes in any way, especially Salah (prayer), which is sacred and the second of the five pillars of Islam.”
Another critic, Engr Yasir Arafat Jubril, stated a similar concern. “As a seasoned musician you should know best to guide your signee on lines not to cross. Take this down immediately and tender an unreserved apology to the Muslim Ummah,” he said.
Similarly, Abiodun Bello, tweeting under the handle @Abdul_A_Bello, accused Davido of always “finding a way to deride Islamic religious practice.”
But it is not all condemnation for the afro-beat singer as some fans rose to his defence. Joseph Onuorah (@JosephOnuorah) expressed his ‘disappointment’ with the critics of the song.
He said, “Can we get an explanation of what exactly is the insult to the religion. The singer is a Muslim from what I gather and he is praising his God in the song. The dance is a little awkward (that’s the only anomaly I see) but it’s not done with any single lady but very decently dressed Muslims.”
Another respondent, @amudaDewale, shared Onuorah’s point of view. Dewale said, “The song was glorifying Allah That building doesn’t look like a mosque, there’s no inscription on it and a masjid would never allow it if it was …The Dance Part was after praying.”
TheCornet reports that religion is a sensitive issue to many Nigerians, especially Islamic faithful who are abhorrent of any act that tend to debase their faith. Despite, few musicians and comedians are known to have crossed the line of religious insensitivity.
A notable instance is fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, who in his 2011 track, Ta lo pa Jesu (who killed Jesus Christ), sang about Jesus’ death in a rather bawdy way. Christians regard Jesus as their saviour, who by dying and resurrecting redeemed them from eternal sins.
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