Nigerian singer Oxlade, whose real name is Ikuforiji Olaitan, has opened up about a disturbing experience of racial abuse he faced in France, revealing it significantly influenced his artistic direction.
In a recent episode of the Datebizz podcast, he shared that this incident inspired the title of his debut album, Oxlade From Africa. “I was racially abused in Monaco,” he recalled, adding, “That was what woke me up to be an African. It made me realize that African stigma exists. In Africa, we see ourselves as normal human beings, but outside, they [foreigners] see us as monkeys, strange beings.”
Oxlade, who holds a degree in History and International Relations, went on to assert that the names Africa and Nigeria are often viewed derogatorily. His comments are bound to ignite conversations around race, identity, and the perceptions of Africans abroad.
