Tobias Sylvester
Nigerian singer, Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni, has come under fire on social media after referring to disqualified Big Brother Naija housemate, Erica Nweledim as ‘Omo Igbo’ in a now viral video.
![BBNaija: Teni Dragged For Referring Erica As ‘Omo Igbo’ While Praying For Laycon [Video] 1](https://media.kanyidaily.com/2020/09/24041011/Teni-Laycon-Erica.jpeg "BBNaija: Teni Dragged For Referring Erica As ‘Omo Igbo’ While Praying For Laycon [Video] 1")
Teni had shared a video of herself referring Erica as ‘Omo Igbo’ while praying in a sarcastic manner for another BBNaija housemate, Laycon, to win the reality TV Show.
Some Nigerians from the Igbo tribe were not pleased with the video as they described the phrase ‘Omo Igbo’ as a tribalistic statement.
As they took to Twitter to drag Teni, some other Nigerians tried defending her as some stated that there’s nothing wrong with referring to an Igbo girl as ‘Omo Igbo’.
One of the people that turned this year's #Bbnaija into a tribal event is @TeniEntertainer.
She was praying for Laycon and referred to Erica as "Omo Igbo".
Imagine if it was an Igbo artist that referred Laycon as "Onye ofe mmanụ"
😊😊😊😊pic.twitter.com/Z0z2bZoAZN
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) September 23, 2020
Nevertheless, the critics debated with her defenders, stating that it is not the phrase that is wrong but the context in which it was used. See the reactions below:
Nobody will see anything wrong in Teni addressing Erica as "Omo Igbo" but if an Igbo celeb like Genevieve Nnaji addresses Laycon as "Onye ofe mmanụ" in a solidarity video for Erica just like Teni did, there will be outrage everywhere. Hypocritical lots.!
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) September 23, 2020
Everyday in 9ja, we call each other names like; e.g, omo igbo, yoruba boy, aboki, even any girl named kafayat is automatically an Alhaja. So because Teni said "omo igbo" now una wan rush am because na celeb. Go and fight iya biliki calling you omo igbo in your street! #BBNaijia pic.twitter.com/mzU59atW2Z
— I am JULIA (@drip_jules) September 23, 2020
Teni, this is poor damage control. Your bigotry jumped out in your Laycon solidarity video..
You don't address Erica as "Omo Igbo". Same way I don't expect Rita Dominic or any Igbo celeb to address Laycon as "Onye ofe mmanụ".
Don't be divisive in your quest for votes.
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) September 23, 2020
Teni called Erica “omo Igbo,” you are getting angry because this is Twitter.
Offline, people call people “Omo igbo” “Aboki” “Alhaja” etc and we all live in peace but once it’s Twitter, you all be moving mad and stupidly sensitive because you have 10mb data. Oshisco
— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) September 23, 2020
If you can’t call this man “Aboki” don’t call any other person Aboki, Omo Igbo, Inyamiri or Onye ofe mmanu. pic.twitter.com/0yQkPlsyYi
— Hadiza Isma El-Rufai (@hadizel) September 23, 2020
You're angry that teni called someone "Omo igbo", but meanwhile you call foreigners "Oyibo people"… mtcheww, rest jare…
— LANKY 👑 💡 (@ThatLankyBoi) September 23, 2020
Teni said "Omo igbo "and everywhere is on fire? 😂 😂
I even saw some people saying they deleted all Teni's song and they also unfollowed her? 😂
Just to clear the air, I b Omo Yoruba, in fact ijesa ni me re 🙄
Shout out to all my Ore Omo igbo 💡💡 #BBNXLiptonIceTea pic.twitter.com/zF5miE1KCF
— Ayomi ❤ (@Ayotomiwa55) September 23, 2020
I stayed in Anambra for over a year and they call me "Omo Yoruba" "Onye Yoruba".
Y'all call Hausa People "Aboki".
But now calling an igbo person "Omo igbo" is now an insult all of a sudden.You people really need to rest with seeking unnecessary attention & fight on this app.
— ❤🕊KIKELOMO 🕊❤ (@KikesX) September 23, 2020
Yoruba calling igbo people "omo igbo" is like hausa calling igbo people "nyamiri". It's never for a good intentions. Know this and know peace
— The Tech Guy🇳🇬💸🌟 (@felixdeco91) September 23, 2020
Omo Igbo doesn't translate to "onye ofe mmanu" ogbeni, that would be "Onye Yoruba" and there's nothing derogatory about that. If you want to compare then use the direct translation and stop all these petty tribal pity party. pic.twitter.com/9raU5PkyIq
— BBN2020 Updates (@TifesClothing) September 23, 2020
I understand Yoruba language and I try not to speak much so I could know those who peddle mockery.
I grew up at Ikotun and Mushin, if someone says Omo Igbo in a friendly or in a mocking tone, I will know.
Teni said it in a mocking tone, that's tribal bigotry playing out.
— Obinna Omoyiibo 🇳🇬🏐 (@ObinnaOmoyiibo) September 24, 2020
Basically, Erica has a lot of female Yoruba fans imo, and there’s no need to erase them because some people are doing the most. We all know what the root cause of this matter was, and it isn’t ethnicity. That was just pulled into the issue as things progressed.
— Tides (@Tidera5) September 23, 2020
Hypocrites everywhere, looking for something to hang on as an excuse to justify their stanship for Erica, the fact is just find something reasonable to say.even the video Teni did he abused laycon like mad but no one talk about that but its only "omo Igbo " you hear. Mtchew tf!
— PUREPEN (ICON) (@purepen1376) September 23, 2020
Father Lord may tribalism in Nigeria not lead to the downfall of this great country rather that we might grow together in unity and peace as one great nation.
No more "Omo Igbo" Teni please. pic.twitter.com/6vlRZQThPJ— Chrisa (@Iam_ChrisAustin) September 24, 2020
The way yorubans sees "onye ofe mmanu" as an insult that how Igbos sees "omo igbo" too. And seeing the relationship between Laycon and Erica currently, "omo igbo" is derogatory. Make una dey reason abeg
— The Tech Guy🇳🇬💸🌟 (@felixdeco91) September 23, 2020
If you think Teni saying omo igbo is demeaning, abeg stop calling foreigners ‘Onyibo people’
— Betty Butter 😍 (@Sefiat01) September 23, 2020
Omo Igbo 😌😌😌
The language just too sweet for my boy mouth— BELLA❣️❣️🏇🏽🏇🏽 (@bee4bellaa) September 23, 2020
You are attacking Teni for calling Erica Omo igbo but yet you call every man from the North aboki😏
— Thomgold💡 (@sardauna_e) September 23, 2020
Na we dey always shout proudly igbo, na we still dey complain say person call us "omo igbo".
Or are you not proud to be igbo again?
Me i be omo igbo, a proud one at that. #bbnaija teni— Dannyoung (@DannyoungUmahi) September 23, 2020
This is coming just a few hours after Popular crossdresser, Bobrisky, clashed with a car dealer, Chidi Mike, over the sum of N2 million and Mercedes-Benz car he promised to give Erica Ngozi Nweledim.
