SAN FRANCISCO, December 02, (THEWILL) – Popular Nigerian musician, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has stated that it is mostly the masses that encounter police brutality in Nigeria and not wealthy guys like him.
The ‘Fem’ crooner disclosed this in a recent chat with UK Guardian as he spoke about the role of his recent hit singles ‘Fem’ in the nationwide protest against the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS).
THEWILL recalls that #EndSARS protesters shushed Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, with ‘Fem’(which means “shut up” in Pidgin English) as he begged them to get off the streets.
Reacting to this, Davido said: “It was crazy watching it. I never expected it would turn out as it did, but the song has an energy that spoke to people.”
Speaking on if police brutality also affects the wealthy in Nigeria, he said: “It’s not something we experience — it’s not the rich they’re doing this to. The masses, they’re the ones bearing it. It has to stop.
“Why should police be abusing people when they should be protecting them? It doesn’t make sense. You hear the atrocities these guys commit, it’s crazy. They should get justice, but look at what is happening.”
He also spoke about how African musicians used to be ridiculed before are now globally accepted for their unique sounds.
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Davido continued: “When we were kids, Africans were made fun of. When I was going to Nigeria for holidays people would joke, like ‘Africa, how are you getting there, by boat? But now, they’re the ones coming here.
“Everyone wants what we bring to the table. When I first signed to Sony in 2016 that was kind of my aim, to get validation from the western world. I wanted plaques, and to go No 1 all over.
“Sometimes, this pressure to make music that will be popular elsewhere makes you do things differently, but really you have to make the world come to you.
“My biggest single in the US is Fall, which I did by myself, not with all the features with US artistes. It’s local, it’s Nigeria. You realise that’s what people in different parts of the world appreciate: being yourself.”
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