 |
| Image:X |
Nigerian comedian and reality show star, Aderombi Adedayo, popularly known as DeeOne, has sparked debate after claiming that singer Olu Maintain contributed to tarnishing Nigeria’s image globally.
The revelation came during DeeOne’s appearance on the Echo Room podcast, where he discussed the influence of certain cultural phenomena on Nigeria’s reputation.
DeeOne argued that the rise of internet fraud, commonly referred to as “Yahoo Yahoo,” gained acceptance in Nigeria following the release of Olu Maintain’s hit song Yahooze. He explained that before the song, involvement in fraud was widely considered shameful, despite the financial benefits.
“Do you know that Olu Maintain, great artiste, I love his work, but do you know that Olu Maintain is among the people that put this country in a bad light, gave us a bad name?” DeeOne said.
He added, “Many years ago in Nigeria, Yahoo Yahoo – 419 – was something that everybody that was involved in it was ashamed.
They could not come out to say, ‘I’m a 419.’ Na you go dey tell person say this guy ee be like say na 419. It was a shameful thing even though they were making a lot of money. And then, Olu Maintain came with that hit (song) Yahoo.
The whole country started celebrating to the extent that that thing had a dance. We did not understand the effects.”
According to DeeOne, the song influenced young Nigerians who were “babies at that time” to see internet fraud as a glamorous or acceptable path. “So, Yahoo Yahoo now became an accepted profession in Nigeria. And you know that Nigeria has the largest population of black people.
Now, it has spread all over the globe,” he added, emphasizing the international consequences of glorifying fraudulent activities.
DeeOne also criticized the perceived lack of accountability among prominent figures. He noted that when Nigerians complain about the country’s reputation, some artists like Olu Maintain attribute it solely to governmental failures, ignoring their role in shaping public perception.
“If we are complaining about this country now, Olu Maintain will talk and say, ‘oh, it is the government,’ but he contributed to one of the suffering that we are facing today,” DeeOne asserted. “Today, if you travel out of Nigeria, they will look at you and say, ‘oh, these people are into fraud.’”
The comedian’s statements have ignited discussions on social media, with some agreeing that popular culture influences societal behavior, while others argue that placing blame on artists oversimplifies deeper systemic issues.
Experts on youth culture and cybercrime note that while songs and media content can glamorize certain behaviors, socioeconomic factors also drive the prevalence of fraud in Nigeria.
DeeOne’s comments follow a growing discourse around the impact of entertainment on societal values, as authorities and civil society groups continue to address the rise of cybercrime among Nigerian youths.
His perspective highlights the intersection of pop culture, morality, and national reputation in a global context.
#ExclusiveUpdate
#ViralContent
No comments:
Post a Comment