Nigerians are expressing their discontent as a trending video surfaces, suggesting that 21-year-old singer Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, may have disrespected the iconic King of Juju music, 77-year-old Sunny Ade, at a recent event.
In the video, Ayra Starr can be seen greeting various personalities at the event. However, when she approaches Sunny Ade, instead of adhering to traditional Yoruba cultural norms by kneeling to greet the elder, she opts to shake hands with him while standing.
This apparent departure from the customary show of respect has stirred anger among Nigerians, particularly as Ayra Starr is a Yoruba girl who, according to cultural expectations, should have demonstrated proper deference to her elder.
Ayra Starr handshaking King Sunny Ade video that has got everyone talking pic.twitter.com/hkyXK0CwDq
— Naija (@Naija_PR) January 27, 2024
Social media users have been quick to highlight a video from previous years, showcasing Wizkid prostrating on stage to greet Sunny Ade. Some users are using this as a reference point, urging Ayra Starr to learn from Wizkid’s example of paying homage to the Juju music legend.