Alhaji Arems
When a voice like Obesere asks FUMAN and bloggers to stop feeding the fights and start promoting fuji, it’s not nostalgia — it’s strategy. The genre’s growth depends far more on spotlighting shows, sales and culture than on social-media skirmishes that make headlines but do little for streaming numbers, ticket sales or sponsorship deals.
Abass Akande “Obesere” has always been one of fuji’s most visible personalities, and his recent call for unity — urging members of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FUMAN), bloggers and fans to promote fuji acts positively — is a timely reminder that reputations and revenues are fragile. Local coverage of his statement frames it as a reaction to incidents that have given the genre negative airtime, and as a push to protect fuji’s public image.
There’s a pattern here many of us recognise: fan bases that once cheered in stadiums now operate as organised online armies, ready to defend their favourites at a moment’s notice. In Nigeria’s broader music ecosystem, these “stan wars” have become visible forces — they amplify releases but also escalate rivalries into persistent noise that can overshadow the music itself. That behaviour has been documented across outlets covering Nigerian fandom trends.
Why this matters for fuji: the genre’s commercial and cultural opportunities — festival slots, brand partnerships, cross-genre collaborations, international bookings — depend on a tidy public narrative. Brands and festival programmers watch headlines and social sentiment. When fuji is framed by feuds rather than artistry and live experiences, the conversation shifts away from what matters: the music, the shows, and the communities that track the genre’s history. Coverage of fuji events and FUMAN-organised showcases shows how constructive promotion lifts the scene — sponsorships, packed venues and renewed media interest follow when the spotlight is on performance and culture.
There’s also a moral case. Promoting artists when they have shows and speaking well about colleagues cultivates a healthier ecosystem. Positive publicity is cumulative: a blogger who features a rising fuji act or a fan who shares a well-shot performance clip helps build the career infrastructure that keeps artists touring and recording. Research into digital music promotion and discussions among practitioners underline the point: targeted promotion — not perpetual online conflict — generates sustainable attention and monetisation.
That said, the reality is nuanced. Rivalries have long been part of music cultures worldwide; they can drive interest when handled as creative competition. But when loyalty morphs into coordinated attacks or sustained trolling, it becomes toxic rather than promotional. For fuji, a genre with deep cultural roots and an older core audience alongside a growing younger listenership, preserving dignity while adapting to online habits is essential.
So what does constructive promotion look like in practice?
• When an artist has a show, amplify dates, ticket links, and highlight set times, not gossip.
• Run short features or interviews that explain why a song matters — context sells.
• Use measured praise: celebrate craft and stagecraft rather than stoke rivalries.
• Bloggers and influencers should prioritise verification and fairness; fact-checked features age better than viral spats.
• FUMAN and its members can continue using public statements to steer tone — leadership matters in setting cultural norms.
Obesere’s message isn’t policing fandom — it’s a reminder that fans and media are partners in an artist’s career arc. The most useful role a fan can play today is to turn engagement into opportunity: attend shows, buy music, share quality content, and speak well enough that industry gatekeepers notice the genre’s market potential.
If fuji’s next chapter is to include bigger stages and wider audiences, it will be powered less by who shouted loudest online and more by who sold out the room.
Obesere’s ask is simple and practical: stop fighting in public; promote fuji in plain sight. The music will do the rest.