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‘I was racially abused in France’ – Oxlade
Afrobeats singer Ikuforiji Olaitan, popularly known as Oxlade, recently opened up about a disturbing experience of racial abuse he faced in France, which inspired the title of his debut album, ‘Oxlade From Africa.’
Speaking on ‘The Datebizz‘ podcast, Oxlade revealed that the incident occurred in Monaco and was a pivotal moment in his life.
He explained, “I decided to name my album Oxlade From Africa because I was racially abused in France, precisely Monaco. That was what woke me up to be an African.”
He went on to share how the experience made him more aware of the racial stigma attached to being African abroad. “In Africa, we see ourselves as normal human beings, but outside Africa, they [foreigners] see us as monkeys, strange beings.”
Oxlade, who holds a degree in history and international relations, also touched on the broader implications of how Africa and Nigeria are perceived, asserting that the names themselves are derogatory, reinforcing negative stereotypes about the continent and its people.
His candid reflections have shed light on the challenges Africans face abroad and his decision to use his platform to raise awareness about such issues.
In other news, Oxlade reached a significant milestone in his career by earning his first RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certification with his global hit, “Kulosa.”
Two years after its release, “Kulosa” has been certified gold in the United States after reaching 500,000 units in sales. The hit single, renowned for being one of the most successful performances on Colors Studio, has garnered impressive commercial success, amassing over 400 million streams on Spotify and over 187 million views across two music videos on YouTube.