Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has issued a public apology to legendary musician King Sunny Ade after a video of her greeting him at an event sparked outrage online.
The video, which went viral on social media, showed the 21-year-old shaking hands with the 77-year-old juju icon at the Afrozons-Heineken Pre-Grammy party in Lagos instead of kneeling or curtsying as a sign of respect in Yoruba culture.
Many Nigerians criticized Ayra Starr for being rude and uncultured, especially as she is also a Yoruba girl.
Some also accused her of snubbing Burna Boy’s mother, Bose Ogulu, who was sitting next to King Sunny Ade.
The Grammy-nominated singer, however, took to her X page on Saturday to explain herself and apologize to the legend. She wrote:
“I’m so sorry, I had just walked in and all the lights and nerves didn’t let me see but i came back around to greet everyone properly. I have never been that girl to be disrespectful; I’m a proper Yoruba girlllll and the video didn’t start until after I’d greeted Burna’s mom! I’m very sorry to the legend, uncle and King Sunny Ade.”
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Ayra Starr is one of the rising stars of the Nigerian music scene and was nominated for her first Grammy Award in the category of Best African Music Performance for her song “Rush.”