Taye Currency‘s Lyrics Spark Outrage โat Ibadan‘s New Olubadan Coronation
Ibadan, Nigeria -โค The โฃcoronationโข ceremony of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as theโ new Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday was marred โฃby controversyโค after fuji โฃmusician Taye Currency performed a song containingโฃ lyrics widely condemned as inappropriate for the occasion. The phrase “were la โfi n wo were,” translating to โ”we used insanity to cure insanity,” drew immediate โand widespread criticism online.
The backlashโ highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and appropriate artistic expression during โขimportant โฃcustomary events. The incident has ignited aโข debate among Nigerians regarding respect for the Olubadan stool andโค the selection process for performersโ at such ceremonies,โข with many questioning why Currencyโ was chosen over other prominent fuji artists. The โcontroversy unfolded as dignitaries including President Bolaโ Tinubu,โฃ Governor Seyi Makinde, and otherโข prominent traditional rulers attended โthe installation following the death of the late Olubadan, Oba Owolabi olakulehin, โขtwoโข months prior.
DAILY POST reports that the lyrics quickly propelled Taye Currency โขto the top of trending topicsโ on X (formerly โคTwitter),with users expressing shock and disappointment.
“Werey la fi’woโ werey na โsong? โฃNonsense,”โ wrote @Frank24net.
@olatunbosun006 called it a “Total Embarrassment to his family. NOT Ibadan people. On coronation day?”
Other users questioned โthe choiceโฃ of performer.@OluwaferanmiDan stated, “It’s not hisโ fault now;โค it’s the fault ofโข the โorganizers that decidedโค to platform someone whose last musical boom wasโข 17 yearsโข ago. Weyrey la fi nโข wo weyrey ni coronation? Afi weyrey โnaa.”
@babasafeez added,โ “It’s โฃobviously political. Why picking Taye over Osupa orโฃ K1 for coronation, even Paso and Malaika will deliver well. ร sha maโ fi werey ghade lo.”
@fesooyebade described โthe performance as “an historic disappointment, an embarrassment โto Ibadan indigenes โat home and in the diaspora,” โคsuggesting that numerous Ibadan-origin musicians coudl have provided a more fitting performance.
A video โคof โtheโ performance is circulating online: https://x.com/ibcityannouncer/status/1971572432445337922?t=Zy6QvWrQY0AYx6aK5CdyiQ&s=19