Veteran Fuji musician Wasiu Alabi Pasuma has issued a firm caution to a new generation of internet users who thrive on controversy, urging them to stop using entertainers as tools for online battles and personal relevance.
Speaking during an online programme, the Fuji icon expressed concern over what he described as the growing culture of digital disparagement, where self styled online celebrities weaponize opinions to pit artistes against one another. According to Pasuma, such behaviour does more harm than good, not only to the artistes involved but to the creative ecosystem as a whole.
Pasuma directed his message squarely at music lovers and social media users, stressing that genuine fandom should be rooted in support, not sabotage.
“Play artistes’ songs and vibe to it. Don’t use your platform to downplay other artistes,” he said. “If you promote my songs and I come across them online, I’ll surely appreciate it.”
He warned against the tendency to use online popularity as a license to provoke unnecessary rivalries, noting that artistes are not passive spectators in the face of sustained provocation.
“Don’t use your popularity online to drag one artiste against another because the other artiste will not stay idle and look on. Always be a positive change to society,” Pasuma added.
The seasoned performer was also careful to distance himself from the culture he criticized. He emphasized that throughout his long career, he has never built relevance by tearing down colleagues.
“I don’t build houses, I build people,” he said, underscoring a philosophy of mentorship, upliftment, and mutual respect within the entertainment industry.
Pasuma’s remarks come at a time when social media discourse around Nigerian entertainment is increasingly driven by fan wars, hot takes, and algorithm fueled outrage. His intervention stands as a reminder from an industry elder that influence, whether online or offline, carries responsibility and that true fandom is measured by how loudly one supports, not how viciously one attacks.