American rapper Wale is a big deal in Nigeria where he is from, especially among the young entertainers including Olamide, Nigeria’s biggest rapper, who draws a lot of inspiration from mainstream hip hop and mixes it with his Yoruba dialect and sound.
Wale turned up in Lagos, Nigeria over the weekend to join his friends as they celebrated the wedding of one of Nigeria’s youngest entertainment moguls who is also a pilot, Tunde Demuren.
At the wedding, Wale took photos of himself hanging out with Ciroc ambassador, Olamide amongst other top Nigerian celebrities. Now the trouble started when Wale posted the photos on his Instagram. Having broken out with his career in America, after being discovered by Jay Z, Wale’s music attracts a huge black American audience as well as other demographics.
However the intolerance black Americans have for anything that is not text book hip hop or which does not conform to their standards of masculinity is huge. They came for Nigerian rapper Olamide who has a very strong fan base across the world.
The social media commentary that followed reveals a huge but hidden problem in the black American community. The lack of knowledge about their home and their roots. Many African Americans do no even want to associate with Africa, despite the high level of racism and victimization they face in America, including lack of access to economic opportunities amongst others.
Several Nigerian commentators were happy to demonstrate how ignorant the black Americans who questioned Olamide’s sexuality are but more importantly there needs to be a bridge built across this cultural divide so that there can be a rediscovery of the culture, and a rebirth of an African Renaissance that can possibly save the black man.
Hatred within the black community is as real as the racism that comes from outside it. The same black activist that is quick to point out how black lives matter will not tell you how many black people are killed by other black people in inner city communities in America.
Perhaps there need to be cultural ambassadors that showcase to Nigerians and black Americans that there is a benefit in a reconnection, and that there is hope for economic prosperity with partnership. The richest black man and woman alive are Nigerians, and there is much we can teach each other as we all inherently share the same ideals.
Wale and Olamide can start off this new movement.
Here is some of the commentary from online:
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