In a strongly worded statement released today, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho, the Olu of Kemta Orile in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, decried the performance of Fuji musician Taye Currency at the just-concluded coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, describing the act as disrespectful, unbecoming, and injurious to the dignity of Yoruba tradition and royal protocol.
In the viral video footage of the ceremony, Taye Currency was heard singing the Yoruba line “Were la fi n wo were” (loosely translated, “we cure madness with madness”). Oba Tejuosho criticized the lyric as “classless,” “uncultured,” and wholly inappropriate for a sacred occasion such as a sovereign’s coronation.
“The throne of our ancestors is not a stage for mockery, nor the coronation of a great monarch a subject for careless entertainment,” the monarch declared in his release.
He emphasized that coronations are “momentous occasions” steeped in spiritual, cultural, and historical significance, and insisted that every elaborate ritual and performance therein should reflect reverence, dignity, and deep respect for royal mystique.
Oba Tejuosho further questioned the judgment of the organizers in selecting an artist whose lyrical content he deemed unfit for such an event, especially in the presence of national dignitaries including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He contrasted Taye Currency’s lyrics with what he believes would have been more appropriate performances, citing legends such as King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, or K1 De Ultimate as examples of artists whose presence would blend sophistication with cultural depth.