Reactions Follow Tiwa Savage’s Cultural Greeting of Osinbajo at UNGA
NEW YORK – A video of Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage exchanging a customary Yoruba greeting with former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at teh United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York has sparked widespread discussion online. The encounter, captured on camera, shows Savage respectfully bowing slightly as she greeted Osinbajo, a customary gesture of deference in yoruba culture.
The moment has ignited a conversation about cultural pride and respect for elders, particularly within the Nigerian diaspora. While the interaction itself was brief,its resonance online demonstrates the ongoing importance of cultural identity and its expression on international platforms. The incident underscores a broader debate about the preservation of traditional values amidst globalization and the visibility of Nigerian culture worldwide.
Former presidential aide bashir Ahmad shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), commenting, “Culture is a thing of pride in this part of the world, look at how Tiwa Savage culturally greets Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.”
Social media users largely praised Savage for demonstrating respect for tradition. X user #btunddej wrote, “That’s how we were raised. Bowing or kneeling doesn’t diminish us one bit, it only commands respect from the receiver. As the Yorùbá say: Ìkí kì í ṣe ẹrú, àṣà ló ń jẹ kí a dá orí ṣubú (greeting does not make one a slave, it is indeed culture that makes us bow.)”
Another user, #OMONIGERIA1, highlighted the significance of upbringing, stating, ”This is the training we received…A proper omooluabi will not look at elders in the eyes. You can see the way she is dodging the eye contact.”
#MonwoluwaS responded to potential criticism, questioning, ”Where are the ‘They are using hunger to subdue us being’? Se Tiwa Savage is hungry ni?” The exchange reflects a broader sentiment of defending cultural practices against perceived negative interpretations.
