Brymo, a Nigerian singer, has apologized for offensive tweets he sent about the country’s Igbo ethnic group.
Brymo, whose real name is Olawale Ashimi, had retweeted a Twitter post that referred to the Igbos, who hail from the southeast of the country, and are one of its largest ethnic groups, as “cowards”.
He also said in one post that a president from the Igbo ethnic group is a “pipe dream” and used an offensive expletive to refer to the Igbo people.
In February’s presidential election, Peter Obi, an Igbo candidate, is gaining enthusiastic support from many of Nigeria’s youth and on social
media.
On Monday morning, he apologized and said he didn’t mean to offend anyone: “Please forgive my assertions that came across as bigoted rants against the Igbo tribe; I did not intend to cause harm, and I apologize!!”
Forgive my assertions that came across as bigoted spewings against the Igbo tribe, I did not mean to do harm, I am sorry!! ..
— Ọláwálé (Ashimi) Ọlọ́fọ̀ọrọ̀ (@BrymOlawale) January 16, 2023
Tens of thousands of people signed a petition on Change.org to prevent the singer from being nominated for songwriter of the year at the All Africa Music Award (Afrima), which took place this weekend.
Brymo’s comments were labeled “racist” and “xenophobic” by many online.
Brymo, a Yoruba, has told Nigerian media that he will vote for another Yoruba, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the upcoming elections.
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