Burna Boy: Very loud and very wrong, but we know why

By now, the name Burna Boy is almost synonymous with everything over-the-top; especially in speech. That is if you are looking at the mega star’s antiques from a positive viewpoint. Not that he cares what your viewpoint is. Certainly, when it does not align with his, you may as well choke on that opinion, at least that is what his outburst in a now-viral Instagram live session in response to the fire outbreak in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation implied.

The very popular self-styled African Giant, whose controversial outbursts can be argued make up the bulk of his star power, took to Instagram to berate social media warriors  who he said should, “use that same energy you used to Tweet NCDC to arrest Funke Akindele to tackle your politicians.”

The specific mention of tweets and Twitter was of course not lost on Nigeria Twitter users, @tomyyO_ tweeted in response:

The video which has already come off the artist’s IG story has remained a conversation fueler and continues, unless Nigeria’s brand of forgetfulness erases it from the social consciousness, follow the popular musician’s history like a wine stain on stellar whites.

Funke Akindele was arrested, prosecuted, found guilty, and sentenced to pay a 100, 000 naira fine and perform community service for 14 days, in addition to other sentencing requirements. The actress was arrested for hosting a birthday party for her husband, Abdurasheed Bello (@JJCSKILLZ) who is also equally sentenced, essentially breaking the Lagos State Government directive against a gathering of 20 or more people. In so doing, a directive aimed to reduce the spread of coronavirus and flatten the curve.

Whether Burna Boy realizes it or not, the video is ill-timed and misplaced, and the very platform he was gunning for did not shy away from reminding him of that truth. The fire in the Accountant General’s office is yet to be classified as arson by relevant authorities and the implication in his videos that it may very well be, is thus misleading. Funke herself has made a video prior to her arrest, apologising for what she did, which she admitted was wrong, even if all attendees have been in the estate for the lockdown. Making Burna Boy’s assertion of innocence both wrong and very misplaced.

The idea that Twitter NG has not put its fingers where its mouth is very loudly wrong. Deji Adeyanju was very rightly admonished for tweeting in support of the singer’s recent outburst:

Burna Boy has sang about bad governance, what have you ever done aside begging for money? Don’t open your dirty mouth to insult Burna Boy.” He was swiftly replied by @mstifey, alluding to when the activist was jailed for months, and the unrelenting pressure from Twitter NG, at least if it did not lead to his release, significantly contributed to it.

 

Whether his recent outburst leads to a waxing star power or a waning one, the singular take away from this exchange might be to think before you go live.

Human memory is prone to forgetfulness, and maybe the African Giant’s own appetite for ‘being on the high’ might have contributed to his forgetfulness over how the online community both on Twitter and IG has remained the single unfailingly consistent critic of the country’s fledgling government, which has kept it on its toes, if only wobblingly.

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