Nigerian dance choreographer, Kaffy, has revealed the shoddy manner dancers are treated by Nigerian musicians. The outburst is a fallout of an unpleasant incident that occurred at the recently held Three Thrones concert.
According to the dancer who is married to Psquare’s official drummer, Joseph Ameh, several dancers trained and rehearsed with Davido for the concert, only for him to say he no longer wanted them to perform with him at the last minute.
She added that it is unfair of him to treat dancers disrespectfully after receiving millions of Naira for a show while they are paid pittance.
She said, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! It’s all right if artistes don’t need us. We are artistes ourselves. It is very disrespectful for you to look down at and trample on people whom in one way or the other contribute to where you are today. Dance is our widow’s mite to a lot of your careers. All you need to do is respect us. Even other people under you suffer as a result of your arrogance from stylist to band members.
“This message is for those of you that disrespectfully disregard us dancers especially @davidoofficial if u don’t want dancers express it way before you agree to allow them dance. Rather than waiting until you mount the stage before you decide that you don’t need us again. You can also tell dancers not to come near you while you perform. It’s not your fault we have learnt our lesson and we thank arrogant artiste like you, as this will not continue for long.
Speaking further, she singled out the likes of Psquare, Flavor, Seyi Shay, Darey, Jidenna and Tiwa Savage.
“People pay a lot of money to see you come out and give a good show. This requires more than you jumping all over the place with no content. Even some artistes in other countries who perform alone still plan their craft. They practice they rehearse and are never tired of doing better than their last. But here most don’t care only few like @peterpsquare and @rudeboypsquare @2niteflavour @tiwasavage @efya_nokturnal @iamseyishay @dareydarey even @jidenna a one-man performer plans his craft for his fans. (This is to mention a few out of the few) to those who still respect our craft,”she noted.
She then went further to apologise for using profanity by saying;
“I want to start by apologizing profusely for my profanity. It’s not how I roll .i am one person who promote discipline and respect among dancers towards their clients and one another.
However this isssue is REAL. We MATTER and deserve respect as we have become part of the building block of the entertainment world.
We communicate with our bodies what words and sound can’t express. We paint a picture that defies laws of nature ND produce masterpieces beyond mere imaginations.
It requires a lot of brain power to begin to be a dancer not to talk of the ability to command muscles people can’t imagine using and that is still underrating the Power of the Art of Dance.
From youth empowerment to mind empowerment it is the least looked into form of psychological, physical and spiritual reformation.
And I can categorically tell u alot of lives have been changed for the better because we danced.
So WE MATTER. beyond the dance floor we matter against all odds of societal definition of success we matter,thrive and we rule.
So it is time we take control and have a voice. Create structure that will protect us from further disrespect and I will do all in my power to continue to protect dancers.I know great minds out there in our world that will rise up too. It’s been years and I have been quiet for too long.
And this is not just in Africa it’s everywhere.
Davido was just the last straw.it didn’t start with him but we can put a stop.
Thank you to all who support this fight. God bless #Dancers #Dancetrepenuers #Danceteachers #Dancelovers #Dancemoms #Dancedads
#RESPECTHEDANCE”
