British rapper Dave has come under fire after taking a swipe at Nigerian strikers in one of the songs from his new album, The Boy Who Play The Harp.
In the track titled “Chapter 16,” the rapper compared women who lie about their age to Nigerian footballers, referencing a long-standing stereotype about age falsification in African football.
“H*es lying about their age like Nigerian strikers,” he raps.
The line quickly went viral on social media, with many Nigerians and football fans accusing the rapper of mocking the country’s athletes and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Critics described the lyrics as insensitive, noting that while age fraud has been an issue in Nigerian football, using it as a punchline in global entertainment was disrespectful.
Dave, whose full name is David Orobosa Omoregie, was born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents from Edo State. Despite his roots, many online users expressed disappointment, arguing that the rapper should have chosen a more thoughtful way to address the subject.
The 26-year-old has previously collaborated with several Nigerian artists, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and most recently Tems, who appears on his latest album.
Age-cheating scandals have long plagued Nigerian football, particularly in youth competitions. In 2019, the Nigerian Football Federation disbanded its Under-17 team after widespread age irregularities were uncovered.
As debate continues online, Dave has yet to respond to the backlash surrounding his controversial lyric.
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