By Alhaji Arems (Baba Fuji)
Last year’s Open Letter to Barry Showkey was written in the spirit of counsel. It was an appeal to restraint, humility, and peace—a reminder that Fuji music, as a living culture, survives on unity and respect rather than constant internal warfare. That letter urged reflection. What followed, sadly, has made silence impossible.
In recent days, a voice note attributed to Barry Showkey and directed at Saheed Osupa has circulated widely within Fuji circles and beyond. By multiple accounts, the message did not emerge from any visible dispute. It followed what was reportedly a routine New Year greeting. Yet, almost immediately, the tone descended into a barrage of curses, insults, and extreme allegations—some extending to Osupa’s family and children, others invoking death, fetish practices, and moral corruption.
This was not artistic rivalry. It was not cultural debate. It was not even provocation. It was an unrestrained outburst that contradicts every claim of peace, legacy, and leadership that Fuji music demands of its representatives.
Legacy Cannot Be Claimed and Destroyed at Once :
Barry Showkey has consistently presented himself as the son and heir of Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, the widely acknowledged architect of Fuji music. That claim has always carried weight—because legacy in Fuji is not just about bloodlines, but about conduct.
If one claims the founder as father, then one must also accept the responsibility of preservation. Barrister’s legacy was built on discipline, structure, and cultural grounding. What we are witnessing now is the opposite: a pattern of verbal violence, repeated hostility, and public disruption aimed at fellow Fuji artists who remain active within the Nigerian ecosystem.
It must be stated clearly: no true custodian of a genre wages war against its own survival. One cannot speak of peace while cursing colleagues. One cannot invoke heritage while dismantling unity. One cannot claim Fuji’s crown while trampling on its values.
A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident :
This is not the first time such conduct has surfaced. Similar attacks were directed at Saheed Osupa last year. This year, the same pattern has re-emerged—louder, harsher, and more alarming. That repetition matters. It reframes the issue from “momentary anger” to behavioural consistency.
The reported content of the voice note includes claims that Osupa’s relationships—with colleagues, associates, and even family—were destroyed by manipulation and financial inducement. It alleges the existence of recordings to “prove” these assertions, while simultaneously raining curses and death wishes. These claims, as of this writing, remain unsubstantiated. What is not in dispute, however, is the tone and intent of the message itself.
Fuji music does not benefit from this. It bleeds from it.
Where Is the Industry’s Moral Compass?
Perhaps the most troubling silence has come from the Fuji Musician Association of Nigeria. This is the institutional body expected to safeguard ethics, discipline, and collective harmony within the genre. When a voice note of this nature circulates publicly—one that undermines peace and sets a dangerous precedent—quiet internal conversations are not enough.
Peace cannot be selective. Discipline cannot be sentimental. If this act goes publicly unaddressed, it becomes permission—for today’s offender and tomorrow’s imitators. Those who currently encourage or excuse such behaviour should remember: a man who curses one colleague today may curse another tomorrow.
An official statement matters. A clear stance matters. Fuji musicians, fans, and stakeholders deserve to know where the association stands when lines are crossed so blatantly.
Frustration Is Not A License For Destruction :
If Barry Showkey is struggling—personally, emotionally, or professionally—then honesty and openness would invite support. Many artists have faced displacement, relevance anxiety, and cultural dislocation, especially in the diaspora. None of these challenges justify public verbal assault.
Help is accessed through humility, not hostility. Healing begins with accountability, not curses. Growth requires introspection, not enemies.
This year should have marked development, reconciliation, and artistic renewal. Instead, it risks becoming another chapter defined by conflict.
Peace Requires Boundaries :
Fuji music has endured because it values elders, order, and collective dignity. Peace does not mean tolerating abuse. Unity does not mean shielding misconduct. Togetherness does not mean silence in the face of harm.
If Barry Showkey truly desires peace, then it must begin with restraint, apology, and reflection. If he claims Barrister’s legacy, then let his actions honour it. And if the Fuji industry truly seeks harmony, then it must be brave enough to condemn what threatens it—openly, fairly, and without fear.
Peace is not declared. It is enforced through values.
Fuji deserves nothing less.
