Nigeria’s music superstar Tuface (real name Innocent Idibia) may have made a big mistake by holding his wedding party in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Rather than abate, the negative reactions that greeted the wedding party have continued to wax stronger, with even important showbiz personalities campaigning for a boycott of Tuface’s music.

One of those leading the campaign is Azuka Jebose, a veteran entertainment writer who later went music promotion. In a post on his Facebook page that has attracted much attention, Jebose, formerly Entertainment Editor of Nigeria’s large circulating Punch newspaper, branded Tuface “unpatriotic,” arguing that he bled the country’s economy by taking his wedding party to Dubai. Jebose wrote:

“2Face Idibia, One of Nigeria’s most successful musician has planned a mega wedding in Durban. After making his millions from Nigeria, he has moved his economic potentials for d hospitality industry on perhaps, a slowest weekend here in Nigeria, to d emirate: d emirate that did not in any way contribute to his financial and creative successes: think about what his wedding would have done that weekend to the nation’s economy: from d hospitality to the service industries onto transportation industry: d petroleum industry too because guests would travel and or buy gasolines or petrols to fuel their travels, d street hawkers, tailors, all aspects of small businesses! Sadly he is taking all these to a country that doesn’t need them. That’s unpatriotic. That’s insulting our culture and tourism. That’s being ungrateful to millions of his fans whose parents may be engaged in any and or all of these industries. Hence we should boycott his music.”

In what could be an indication of more trouble ahead for Tuface, Punch this morning reported: “Fans angry at Tuface, Annie’s Dubai wedding”. According to the story, ‘Tuface and Annie Idibia’s fairy-tale Dubai wedding has come and gone but obviously, some of his fans are not happy that the artiste and his wife chose a foreign land as venue for their nuptials.

‘In a broadcast message that has been going round on Blackberry smartphones and on Facebook and Twitter, the bitter fans expressed their displeasure that though they had supported the artiste’s musical career over the years by buying his CDs in Nigeria, he took his wedding ceremony to a place that was accessible to only invited guests and family members.

‘The message reads, “We bought your compact discs then you went to get married in Dubai where we can’t eat your rice. How many Arabs have brought their weddings down to Nigeria? Well, if you sing your next song, get ready to go and sell it in Dubai – Angry Lagosians.’

‘More angry fans wrote, “I never knew or comprehended that Mr. 2face Innocent Idibia had this spirit of wickedness in him. We have been encouraging him even when he was nothing till now that he felt that he has arrived. 2Face, we all bought every CD you have ever played, paid for all the shows your attended, devoted our time to listen to all your songs. Even when the songs may not meet our expectations, as an encouragement, we continued to listen to them. Yet you didn’t show us appreciation. 2Face, let’s ask you a question. How many Arabs have bought your CDs or listened to any of your songs? Annie Macaulay’s parents are not Arabs to say your chose Arab-land because of proximity to her parents. With your spirit of wickedness, you carry your wedding to Dubai so that Nigerian fans will not eat rice or cake or drink your mineral (non-alcoholic drinks) or even our local beer. You know for sure that most of your fans can’t afford tickets to Dubai. You denied your fans who bought and paid for your CDs and shows the generational opportunity to see a glimpse of your wedding, because you are sure that we fans are not important. Nigeria is not good enough to host a celebrity wedding. Tomorrow, your friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry who are natural copy-cats will join the trend of wasting our foreign exchange in countries that see Nigerians as nobodies. Well, let’s tell you, get ready to sell your next album in Dubai, perform all your new shows in Arab, with new found Arab fans. As for us, we will not buy or patronise your music ever, again.” ’

News Express reports that Tuface is yet to respond to the campaign to boycott his music even though some social media activists have contrived an answer attribute to the music superstar and the mythical Akpors, a comical character recently invented by some creative Nigerians and now generally accepted as a symbol of foolishness.

•Photo shows the Dubai wedding that has attracted unexpected backlash.

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