3rd March, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Nigerian missionary priest working in Gambia, Rev Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has slammed Afrobeat sensation, Ahmed Ololade, known as Asake, for “packaging empty songs that could reduce people’s Intelligence Quotient, IQ.”
In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, the cleric was displeased that some artists these days package empty songs like how Asake did in “Only Me”, when the whole world listens to Nigeria and plays Nigeria songs.
Kelvin said people who don’t understand how wack the song is should compare it with 2 Baba’s song of 2010, which has the same title “Only Me”.
According to the cleric, 2 Baba’s ‘Only Me’ has remained evergreen and so deep that even monks will find it worth listening to.
The statement followed criticisms, especially by Christians, over Asake’s latest music video titled “Only Me,” alleging disrespect towards Christianity.
Asake is seen dressed in priestly attire, sparking controversy among viewers.
However, Kelvin said the music video was supposed to depict the song, but in this case, the video is unrelated, saying “that is how you know how empty and wack a song is and also the artist.”
According to him, “The whole theatrics of using the church and things for mass is so that people will watch the nonsense.”
He said: “I just listened to Asaka’s song titled, Only Me – the same song whose video portrayed him dressed in priestly vestments with his “co-priests” as they carry out their form of worship as though they are on a mission to outdo Tinubu who has remained undefeated in the art of arranging fake priests and bishops.
“After listening to the song, what I said immediately was, “Where is the song, has it started?”
“I don’t know about you, but the song is so empty (and this is me, not having the right words to describe how wack it is).
“If you don’t understand how wack the song is, try to compare it with 2 Baba song of 2010 which has the same title “Only Me.”
“It is now 14 years since 2 Baba dropped that song, and even though it is a secular song, not only is the song evergreen with lots of hard work put into it, the song is so deep that even monks will find it worth listening to.
“This is the time when the whole world listens to Nigeria and plays Nigeria songs, but what these artists do these days is package empty songs like how Asake did in “Only Me”, then get ThankGod Omori to give a high-definition video and cinematography with a little touch of controversy so that it will cause traffic to their page.
“This is why I am not surprised about the video. Ask yourself, what really is the connection between the video and the song? Music video is supposed to depict the song, but in this case, the video is unrelated.
“That is how you know how empty and wack a song is and also the artist. This is even someone who was once nominated for a Grammy.
“The whole theatrics of using the church and things for mass is so that people will watch the nonsense. Unfortunately, it works all the time because as of today, the song is approaching 1 million views on YouTube.
“So, while Asake disrespected the church by allowing such mockery, he first disrespected the intelligence of his listeners by packaging empty songs that can reduce people’s IQ.
“All these happen because we allowed it and because we will play and stream it, and because tomorrow, one church minister will even invite him to perform at his or her birthday party.”