Damini Ogulu, AKA Burna Boy, Nigeria’s Grammy award-winning singer, staged a homecoming concert in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, March 27. Burna Boy made history on Sunday, March, 14 when he won his first-ever Grammy award. His ‘Twice As Tall’ 2020 album won the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category in the 63rd Grammy Awards.
The homecoming ceremony held in honour of Nigerian singer, Burna Boy by the governor of his state of origin, Nyesom Wike has become a trending topic on Twitter. The gifts showered on the recent Grammy award winner has also generated a lot of buzzes.
The highlight of the concert, however, was Governor Nyesom Wike’s promise to give all the artists who performed at the event N10 million each.
According to the media, other artists who performed alongside the Grammy-winning singer at the concert which took place at EUI Event Centre, Sani Abacha Road GRA, Port Harcourt, include Duncan Mighty, Timaya, Omah Lay, and Nissi.
The footage where the Rivers state governor made the promise has gone viral on social media as many Nigerians criticise him for spending such a huge amount on the musicians while he allegedly owes teachers’ salaries.
Nigerian Twitter users have shared their different opinions. One of such is that the ‘Odogwu’ crooner has been paying lip service to his activism by accepting the gifts showered on him after making songs criticizing the government for corruption and police brutality.
Another is that the singer has failed to live up to the legacy of his alleged mentor, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti by fraternizing with politicians. It was also gathered that Governor Wike gifted the Grammy-winning artiste a piece of land and money to develop it.
See some of the tweets below
ULOMA @ulxma – “Burna Boy’s politics starts and ends with his songs. In reality, he neither has the depth nor the guts to challenge the system he’s always criticising But thanks for the music tho. At least it makes us feel good”.
Bruce Bateman Esq @demigo – “Burna made a song about colonialism and imperialism, where he features a coloniser and was grateful to receive an award from the imperialists the following year Love his music, but its nothing more than that. Music”.
Tife @Tife fabunmi – “It’s not the gift that Wike gave Burna and other artists that is making people complain, it’s the fact that there are so many workers/pensioners who are yet to be paid their salary/pension for months in the same state and he was still able to gift such huge amount”
Samuel Mbah @Mbahdeyforyou – “So because burna boy sings against bad governance, he should reject a gift from wike?
Abeg, Make una dey think before una talk atimes”.
FS Yusuf @FS Yusuf – “Wike gifting 10 million Naira to Burna boy who is already a millionaire is very wrong. Now safe me that defence that he could possibly do it from his personal pocket. Fuck it! We know our politicians. If at this stage we can’t call black, black then we are deceiving ourselves”.
However, a reality TV show Star, Tacha Akide defended Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers state for giving a plot of land and cash to Burna Boy as an appreciation for winning the Grammy Awards.
In a video on her social media page on Sunday, Tacha slammed those condemning the governor for the gifts and Buena Boy for accepting the gifts. She said that the singer deserves to have a town in the state named after him; as well as a public holiday for his heroic win.
She added that while she is not a fan of Wike for not doing enough for the people of the state; the criticisms were unnecessary.
“I’m not exactly a fan of Wike because he hasn’t done much for the people of the state. But you’re mad to think what the governor did for Burna Boy is unnecessary or shouldn’t be a priority. You must be crazy to think that way. You all don’t know my state. Entertainment in my state is dead. Nightlife, carnivals and all that no longer exist literally,” she said.
“So, for him to have asked Burna Boy to come down to the state and consequently gave him land and N10 million…those thinking it’s too much must be losing it. Burna Boy should have a whole town named after him.
“He won a whole Grammy, not an inter-state or local award. He should even have public holidays dedicated to him. So, those criticising Wike for honouring him must be mad because he has won something…let me not shade your favourites. Let’s just move.”