Singer Ikuforiji Olaitan, widely known as Oxlade, has shared his experience of facing racial abuse in France.
Speaking on a recent episode of ‘The Datebizz’ podcast, the artist explained that this incident influenced the title of his debut album, Oxlade From Africa.
He recalled, “I chose the title Oxlade from Africa because I was racially abused in France, specifically in Monaco.”
Oxlade explained that the experience opened his eyes to his identity as an African and made him aware of the stigma associated with being African. “In Africa, we see ourselves as regular human beings, but outside Africa, foreigners view us as monkeys, as something strange,” he said.
The singer, who holds a degree in History and International Relations, also argued that both the names “Africa” and “Nigeria” carry derogatory meanings.
