Nigerian music superstars Wizkid and Ayra Starr are at the center of an online controversy following the release of their new single, *Gimme Dat,” with critics accusing the duo of disrespecting the memory of Amadou Diallo, a Guinean immigrant killed by New York police in 1999.
The backlash erupted shortly after the release of the music video, in which the chorus features the name “Diallo” in a romantic context:
Diallo, Diallo / If I give you my love, oh / Make you no disappoint, oh…”*
The lyrics quickly sparked outrage among social media users who found the reference troubling. The name Amadou Diallo became globally recognized after he was shot 41 times by NYPD officers, a case that fueled international condemnation of police brutality against Black men.
The controversy intensified when Ayra Starr promoted the video on X (formerly Twitter), only for a user identified as @Catchoris to call out the artists in a scathing post that has since garnered more than 2.5 million views.
Ayra Starr & Wizkid are so ignorant. Wyclef sang Diallo about the US police killing an unarmed African in 2000. 25 years later, 2 African stars turn that sad tune about police brutality into a stupid song about sex, repeatedly calling the murdered man’s name in the silly chorus,” the post read.
While a section of fans rallied behind the criticism, accusing the artists of cultural insensitivity, others offered alternative takes.
One user, @menlotanna, disputed the accusations, saying:
I get your point but you’re wrong bro. Ayra’s song samples Wyclef Jean’s ft Mary J. Blige *911 which is actually a love song. And the ‘Diallo’ in Ayra’s chorus doesn’t reference the song you’re referring to.”
Another user, @seanpepisky, expressed emotional discomfort with the track:
I was honestly shocked when I heard the song. It felt off. That name carries pain, history, and a real story that shouldn’t be twisted like that.”
So far, neither Wizkid nor Ayra Starr has issued a public response to the controversy. The incident has reignited discussions around artistic freedom, cultural memory, and the responsibilities of public figures when invoking historically significant names.
