British rapper Dave has faced criticism over a lyric in his new album that mocked Nigerian footballers.
Many Nigerians accused him of disrespecting his heritage and unfairly stereotyping their players.
British rapper Dave has stirred up online controversy after taking a swipe at Nigerian footballers in one of the songs from his latest album, The Boy Who Plays the Harp.
In the track titled Chapter 16, the award-winning artist made a provocative comparison between women who lie about their age and Nigerian strikers, rapping, “H*es lying about their age like Nigerian strikers.”
The lyric quickly drew backlash across social media, with many Nigerians accusing the rapper of stereotyping and disrespecting the country’s football community. Critics argued that while age-cheating has been a recurring issue in African football, singling out Nigerians was unfair.
Interestingly, Dave himself has Nigerian roots, his parents are from Edo State and he has frequently celebrated his heritage in his music. He has also collaborated with several Nigerian stars, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and most recently Tems, who features on his new album.
Age falsification scandals have long plagued Nigerian football, particularly at the youth level, where several players have been disqualified in the past. Nonetheless, many fans felt Dave’s lyric crossed the line.
