DeeOne has accused singer Olu Maintain of helping to damage Nigeria’s reputation abroad through his 2007 hit “Yahooze.”
The comedian said the song glamorized internet fraud, inspired a dance and encouraged young people to see 419 as normal.
Reality TV star and comedian Aderombi Adedayo, popularly known as DeeOne, has accused singer Olu Maintain of playing a role in damaging Nigeria’s image internationally.
Speaking on the Echo Room podcast, DeeOne said he admired Olu Maintain as an artiste but believed the singer was among those who put Nigeria in a bad light and gave the country a negative name.
He went on to explain that, many years ago, 419 was considered shameful in Nigeria and those involved kept it hidden, but Olu Maintain’s hit “Yahooze” made it look fashionable and even inspired a dance, which encouraged many young people to see internet fraud as normal.
“The whole country started celebrating to the extent that, that thing had a dance. We did not understand the effects. Young boys then, babies at that time were inspired, listening to the song, enjoying the vibe.”
He also explained that Yahoo Yahoo eventually became an accepted practice in Nigeria and, because the country has the largest population of black people, the trend spread across the globe.
DeeOne added that Olu Maintain shares in the blame for how Nigerians are now perceived abroad: “If we are complaining about this country now, Olu Maintain will talk and said oh is the government but he contributed to one of the suffering that we are facing today.”
DeeOne added that today, when Nigerians travel abroad, they are often stereotyped as people involved in fraud.
