Nigerians have risen to the defence of content creator, Tiago Ishola popularly known as Unique Tiago, over his recent skit mimicking the late legendary comic actor, Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe.
Unique Tiago, born in Portugal to a Portuguese mother, is reportedly the son of a prominent Yoruba man from Oyo State.
Popular on TikTok and Instagram, the light-skinned content creator first caught the attention of many Nigerians for his fluency in the Yoruba language.
In his skit that has now gone viral, Unique Tiago recreated a movie scene between Baba Suwe and another popular actor, Bolaji Amusan popularly known as Mr Latin.
To make his recreation more believable, the content creator painted his face black, as Baba Suwe did in numerous movie appearances.
However, that singular action pitched him against some netizens, who accused him of cultural appropriation.
Is the black face necessary?? 🤔
Does he not realise how racist this is?? pic.twitter.com/bltgvHHFzs
— NaijaTequila✨ (@abbienaija) January 13, 2024
However, many Nigerians on X, formerly known as Twitter, took to the social media platform to defend the Nigerian-Portuguese content creator.
A Nigerian , who is from Oyo in Oyo State mimicking Baba Suwe is being called racist . https://t.co/OU3hXSpfR0
— : (@borie_nla) January 13, 2024
For the sake of Americans who will jump on this, let me quickly remind you that, this boy is cosplaying a popular comedian.
By the way, we don't have the same history so we don't attach the same meanings to certain issues.
This isn't "racist". It's a homage to Baba Suwe https://t.co/4mdMznzEDC pic.twitter.com/uDek39JWoY
— FOLA FOLAYAN (@TheFavoredWoman) January 13, 2024
I hate when people try to bring American culture wars here. This is a boy that grew up in Oyo town making Baba Suwe content. https://t.co/ELHnPUozaI
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) January 13, 2024
Thiago Isola does skits speaking Yoruba all the time, he grew up at the Palace in Oyo town and understands the language and culture more than most of you, now that he wants to depict baba suwe you want to remind him that he’s white. That’s the actual racism
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) January 13, 2024
Context is important. American talking points are not the universal template.
Blackface is not a thing (by which to be offended) in (majority black) Nigeria, particularly considering he was mimicking Baba Suwe, for whom blackening the face is an important prop. https://t.co/SizbEEIZLU
— Nigeria's army committed mass murder on 20-10-2020 (@OtunbaOdogwu) January 13, 2024
You even added article on why the black face painting is racist. What you didn't know is that the character (Baba Suwe) being imitated painted his face. So, this is a perfect artistic depiction.
You people should take it easy with these sensitive adjectives so that it would… https://t.co/0BwWbU1dQS
— Arojinle (@arojinle1) January 13, 2024
Seriously don’t understand the outrage because even as a black person, to play Baba Suwe, you will still need to paint your face with charcoal. Even Baba Suwe painted his face. https://t.co/SvLqIsGvbN pic.twitter.com/rg7gkv59hM
— olohita 🪬 (@EfuaIsEnuf) January 13, 2024
The lines have been blurred that we are doing away with context. There is no way cosplaying Baba suwe is a blackface racial issue. https://t.co/b07ybTgzl8
— Elizabeth Gaskell stan account (@Ms_Ojo) January 13, 2024
It’s a very dangerous sort of self hate and lack of esteem for you to prioritize others’ worldview over your own experience.
How exactly are you going to explain “blackface” to an Ibadan man that grew up watching Baba Suwe paint his face black on screen?
How?
— Smish (@UncleSmish) January 13, 2024
This is just a boy looking to make name for himself through comical content. The video was just a harmless skit misinterpreted for racism because of the costume. Why then didn't you challenge Baba Suwe for the same thing. pic.twitter.com/Kaf85KIgcI
— Hexemty (@Hexemty1) January 13, 2024
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