Nigerian rapper and YBNL record label boss, Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Badoo, has urged Nigerians to embrace their cultural heritage, insisting that African traditions should not be demonised or treated as something to be ashamed of.

The music star made the remarks while expressing pride in his Yoruba roots and calling for greater appreciation of Nigerian culture, traditions and indigenous practices.

Speaking at an event on Tuesday, November 3, at The Pod by Nile Luxury Cinemas, Olamide said African cultural practices should not automatically be associated with evil or superstition.

“Our culture and tradition are not diabolical, and they are not to be demonised. We’re proud of who we are, where we’re coming from and everything about our heritage, tradition and culture,” he said.

Switching to Yoruba, the rapper used black soap, locally known as ose dudu, to illustrate his point about cultural identity and acceptance.

“I’m a Yoruba boy,” he said. “If you give me black soap, I’ll gladly collect it and use it.”

Dressed in a colourful adire outfit, Olamide spoke about the need for Africans to appreciate their cultural backgrounds rather than allow negative perceptions to shape how they view their traditions.

A video of his remarks was shared on Sotayo’s Instagram page on Wednesday, drawing attention to his comments on the relationship between African identity, traditional practices and spirituality.

Olamide has consistently incorporated Yoruba language, expressions and indigenous sounds into his music, blending traditional storytelling with contemporary hip-hop and Afrobeats.

Through his music and influence in the Nigerian entertainment industry, the rapper has contributed to the visibility of indigenous-language music among younger audiences.

Other Nigerian entertainers associated with his YBNL music label, including Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh and Asake, have also incorporated indigenous languages, traditional sounds and cultural expressions into their musical styles.

His remarks have further highlighted broader conversations about how African traditions are perceived, particularly where indigenous cultural practices are sometimes viewed through the lens of superstition or spirituality.

Black soap, known among the Yoruba as ose dudu, is a traditional skincare product commonly made from ingredients such as plantain skins, cocoa pods and palm kernel oil.

Although widely used for skincare, the product is also associated with certain traditional beliefs and practices in some communities.

Olamide’s comments underscore the importance of cultural identity and the need to appreciate indigenous heritage without automatically attaching negative meanings to traditional African practices.

Tochi Wigwe, the eldest surviving daughter of late former Access Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, has held her traditional wedding ceremony with her partner, Wilson Aikhomu, in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The private ceremony, attended by family members and close friends, featured traditional marriage rites, including the payment of the bride price, signing of family documents and the formal handing over of the bride to her husband’s family.

Videos and photographs from the ceremony surfaced on social media on Thursday, attracting congratulatory messages and goodwill wishes from friends, associates and well-wishers.

Tochi, who studied at New York University and obtained a master’s degree from Imperial College London, previously worked as an analyst at Access Bank. She also gained professional experience through an internship at Coronation Merchant Bank.

She currently serves as a director at the HOW Foundation, an organisation established in memory of her late father.

Her husband, Wilson Aikhomu, is a Lagos-based investment professional and the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Zoya Admiralty.

The crash also claimed the lives of former Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.

Wigwe, who was 57 at the time of his death, was widely recognised as one of Nigeria’s prominent banking executives.

He served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings and played a significant role in the growth and expansion of Access Bank into one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions.

His death attracted widespread tributes from Nigeria’s banking, business and political communities.

The Anambra State Government has dismissed allegations that roads constructed under Governor Chukwuma Soludo are substandard, describing criticisms circulating on social media as politically motivated.

The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Okey Ezeobi, said the administration’s road construction projects remained largely intact, with more than 95 per cent of completed roads reportedly in good condition.

Ezeobi stated this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Awka, where he addressed public concerns over the quality and condition of roads constructed across the state under the Soludo administration.He added that some Federal Government road projects had equally experienced similar challenges due to the impact of the rainfall.

The commissioner said the state government would remove damaged asphalt from affected sections and introduce cement-based stabilisation to address underground water problems and prevent further deterioration.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving road infrastructure, while also noting that the South-East had benefited from Federal Government interventions in road construction and infrastructure investment.