Nigerian artist Naira Marley is in the news again with his recent Tweet on Twitter where the artist referenced his relationship with drugs.
“I don’t do drugs I just smoke weed” says Naira Marley
Twitter
As a response to his Tweet which many online seem as hypocritical because many think weed is the same thing as drugs, disapponted fans in Cameroon are wondering if the weed he smokes is the reason why his show was cancelled in Cameroon on February 14, 2021.
There are so many unconfirmed rumors that have not yet been confirmed to the media as to the real reason why Nigerian star Naira Marley’s Valentine’s Day concert was shut down hours before his performance. Fans are blaming Cameroonian artists for this due to the rise of the 80/20 campaign, a campaign fans think is silently supported by Cameroonian artists.
Understanding what the 80/20 campaign stands will provide you better insight on why artists might be supportive of it (in hiding).
The 80/20 campaign is an unofficial campaign that challenges Cameroonian media outlets, DJs, and Cameroonians to support more Cameroonian music or music played by Cameroonian artists and less foreign music with a particular interest in banning Nigerian music.
The people behind the campaign believe Nigerian artists (Afrobeats music in particular) have taken over the Cameroonian entertainment industry resulting in Nigerian artists and artists from other African countries getting paid more for concerts and getting invitations to perform at events in Cameroon than Cameroonian artists. Those behind the campaign believe Cameroonians value foreign music more than music from local artists.
It makes sense why Cameroonian artists would want to support a campaign that supports their music more and that could propel local radio and TV stations, DJs, bloggers and Cameroonians in general to increase their support of artists music.
However, many artists are of the impression that openly expressing their support of this campaign might prevent future collaborations with the same foreign artists the campaign is pushing against and who Cameroonian artists so desperately want to be like in terms or status and recognition.
In reference to this Naira Marley fiasco, a Twitter user had a message to Cameroonian artists when he posted,
Cameroonian artists, pick your poison wisely!
A official statement is yet to be released by Clique Empire, the concert’s organizers, on the reason behind the cancellation of Naira Marley’s concert in Cameroon.
