Nigerian celebrities join #BlackOutTuesday to protest rape, police brutality

D73163B7-FCBD-44BA-9A12-9E33E18C85C7

Davido, Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi, Toyin Abraham

Davido, Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi, Toyin Abraham
Davido, Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi, Toyin Abraham

By Taiwo Okanlawon

Afro-pop singers, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Mr Eazi, and Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham are among Nigerian celebrities who have gone dark on social media for Blackout Tuesday to protest against racism, police brutality and sexual violence against women.

The trend started in the United States music industry as an anti-racism protest with record labels, musicians, and other celebrities taking a break from their social media to acknowledge George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest.

The social media movement is “meant to intentionally “disconnect from work and reconnect with our community.

The initiative was started by Jamila Thomas, Senior Director of Marketing at Atlantic, and Brianna Agyemang, a former Atlantic Executive who is now Senior Artist Campaign Manager at Platoon.

“We will not continue to conduct business as usual without regard for Black lives,” Jamila Thomas posted on TheShowMustBePaused.com.

Several music artists such as Drake, Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Quincy Jones, Massive Attack, and Third Man Records are leading the movement.

However, Nigerian celebrities have also joined the movement to show their support while also protesting against police brutality and sexual violence against women in Nigeria.

This is coming after the death of Tina Ezekwe, the 16-year-old girl who was shot by a policeman in Lagos, and the brutal killing of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) who was raped and murdered in a church in Benin City, Edo State Capital.

“Blackout 147 💪🏽#blacklivesmatter #Saynotorape #saynotoracism #saynotowar,” Davido wrote on his Instagram page.

Tiwa Savage explaining why she joined the movement in solidarity with the American black community wrote; “The narrative has been that it doesn’t affect us because it happens so far away, but I am my brothers/sisters keeper whether far or near 🖤✊🏾 #blackouttuesday #wearetired.”

Toyin Abraham also posted with the hashtags, “#blackouttuesday #justicefortina #justiceforuwa #justiceforjennifer #wearetired #stoprapingwomen #stopkillingus”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7Hr2ksGss/

Mr Eazi who had deleted all his Instagram post in honour of Vera also wrote; “you can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom” #theshowmustbepaused”

See other celebrities posts below;

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7iQ-zAAgI/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7Vzq6JyND/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7LF8ZAaWL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7HfB_j6le/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7QlkqgtMc/

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Regina Daniels (@regina.daniels)

Load more