Nigerian rapper Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as Olamide Baddo, has declared his pride in Yoruba heritage, insisting that the people’s culture and traditions should not be demonised.

The rapper made the remarks during a private screening of a new movie by Nollywood actress and filmmaker Tayo Sobola, popularly known as Sotayo Gaga.

In a video from the gathering circulating on social media, Olamide expressed his support for the actress and challenged negative perceptions of indigenous Yoruba traditions.

“Our culture and tradition is not diabolical and it is not to be demonised. And we’re proud of who we are, where we’re coming from and everything about our heritage, tradition and culture,” he said.

Reaffirming his connection to his roots, the rapper added: “Omo Yoruba lemi, t’eba fun emi gan ni Ose Dudu malo.”

His statement has drawn attention to conversations surrounding the perception of African traditional practices and the tendency to associate indigenous beliefs with diabolism.

The appearance also comes amid renewed interest in Sotayo Gaga’s film project, Osun Dagbonu, which explores themes of African spirituality, destiny and religious beliefs.

Sobola previously organised a four-day private watch party for the film between June 18 and June 21, 2026, at Vintano Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, allowing fans and industry stakeholders to experience the production on a cinema screen.

Speaking about the decision to organise the screenings, the actress said she wanted audiences to experience the film collectively and provide immediate feedback.

“I really wanted to hear people’s opinions, get natural feedback from fans and observe their reactions, and the best way to do that was by bringing them together for this experience,” she said.

The film also features veteran actress Toyin Afolayan, popularly known as Lola Idije, who commended the production for exploring African spirituality and indigenous cultural beliefs.

Olamide’s remarks reflect themes that have remained central to his musical identity. The rapper has consistently incorporated Yoruba language, expressions and cultural references into his music, helping to strengthen the presence of indigenous languages in contemporary Nigerian popular music.

Since his emergence into the music industry, he has become one of Nigeria’s prominent indigenous-language rappers, with songs that draw heavily from Yoruba expressions and everyday experiences.

His appearance at the screening has further brought attention to the conversation about cultural identity, heritage and the representation of traditional African beliefs.