Davido Bows to Pressure and Removes Controversial Music Video Following Muslim Faithful’s Criticism

Nigerian Afrobeat sensation, David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has taken down a contentious music video after facing backlash from the Muslim community.

The music video in question, titled ‘Jaye Lo,’ was a joint project between Davido Music Worldwide label boss and artist Olamilekan Taiwo, aka Logos Olori. Upon its release, the video caused a stir online, eliciting diverse reactions from netizens.

A 45-second excerpt from the video, which Davido shared on Instagram last Friday, triggered significant controversy. Several members of the Muslim faith found the content offensive and have called for a retraction while even threatening legal action against the artists.

At the heart of the controversy lies a scene featuring men portraying praying mallams who were shown dancing in front of a mosque instead of engaging in prayer. This depiction deeply offended some Muslim devotees, leading to a chorus of disapproval.

Reacting to the growing outcry, former President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Bashir Ahmad, praised Davido for taking down the video. On Twitter, he expressed hope that the offending scene would also be entirely removed from the final version before its release to the public. He also urged everyone, including Davido, to avoid such grave mistakes in the future, emphasizing the importance of embracing Nigeria’s diverse culture while celebrating unity and harmony.

Meanwhile, on social media, users applauded Davido and his team for handling the situation with maturity. One Twitter user with the handle @PoojaMedia lauded the artist’s public relations team for redirecting the energy towards a positive outcome. Mentioning a charitable gesture made by Davido, where he gifted a lady 10,000 Naira, the user highlighted how the artist deleted the controversial video and instead posted the video of the gift-giving act. The move managed to turn the narrative in a more favorable direction, showcasing a learning opportunity for those in the public relations industry.

In a somewhat humorous response, Twitter user @lollypeezle humorously commented on the complex family ties in Nigerian culture, making light of the video controversy’s association with Peter Obi, a prominent Nigerian figure.

Davido’s decision to remove the contentious video reflects his willingness to listen to feedback from his audience and shows the significance of considering cultural sensitivities in artistic expressions. As the situation unfolds, fans and critics alike will be keeping a close eye on how the artist and his team respond to ensure a more inclusive and respectful representation in their future works.