There is no doubt that controversial singer , Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley , has a lot of fans and their numbers seem to be growing by the day . Despite his vulgar lyrics , the Opotoyi singer ’ s admirers are drawn from various walks of life .
However , many were surprised when a 56 -year - old actor , Jude Chukwuka , became an Internet sensation after posting video clips of himself singing along to one of Marley’ s songs titled , Mafo .
In an interview with Sunday Scoop , Chukwuka , who speaks Yoruba fluently , said , “ I enjoy singing and in recent times , Naira Marley has become my favourite artiste . It ’ s like I help my contemporaries to hear and understand what these young boys are doing. I don’ t know why the video of Mafo that I posted went viral . I had actually wanted to do another song but I changed my mind and that one went viral . I didn ’ t know it was going to spark such an interest globally and I’ m glad it did . I cannot say how long it took me to learn the lines because I must have heard the song over a hundred times . Every time I heard it , I picked one or two lines and in a short while , I started to sing along. ”
Recalling how he felt when he was informed that Naira Marley was ‘ looking ’ for him . He said , “ I really cannot explain how I felt when I was told that Naira Marley was looking for me online . I got over 500 calls . When I eventually answered a colleague ’ s call , he told me to go on Instagram that Naira Marley was looking for me. I then went online and saw so many messages. I didn ’ t even know how to feel at first . But to keep my sanity , I switched off my phone , so no one could reach me till I got home . ’’
Chukwuka also disagreed with people who believed that Marley ’ s lyrics encouraged wayward lifestyles . He said , “ Naira Marley’ s songs glorify the rot that our leaders allowed to fester . If as a result of ineptitude and nepotism , our leaders have turned society upside- down and somebody earns a living from glorifying the rot that their stupidity caused ; of course , they would fight that individual because that person shows their incompetence and inefficiencies . Some people think that ‘ Marlians’ are irresponsible but that is what the press has made people believe . If you connect the Marlian slogan with irresponsibility, what about our political parties? Are we saying that everybody in suits and ties are saint. All political parties have irresponsible followers too . It all depends on where one stands . Not all Malians are irresponsible . It is only those who are in government and those who do not want to accept the realities of society that consider Malians to represent irresponsibility. ”
Chukwuka also insisted that the lyrics of Naira Marley’ s songs were not too vulgar for an elderly actor like him to promote . He added , “ It depends on where one is standing . If you have your head in the clouds, you would say the lyrics are vulgar . But if you have your feet on the ground , you would realise that he sings about the realities of our society. I chose to disregard the messenger and listen to the message . In the process , I found that his lyrics are not vulgar . They are the realities we are struggling with in society. I believe those running the affairs of this nation should listen to what he ( Marley ) is saying .
“ The president of the country does not command as much following as Naira Marley does . As far as I’ m concerned , Marley has become a mouthpiece for pointing out the realities of society. But those in leadership don’ t want to hear those truths , so they would rather give the young man a bad name so his ‘ products ’ wouldn ’ t sell . ’’
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