Ten Afrobeats songs reference Femi Otedola, the Nigerian billionaire businessman, using his name to signal wealth, deliver wordplay and shout out prominent figures.
The ten references, by artist, are:
- Dice Ailes, who pairs Otedola with money
- Mayorkun, who builds wordplay around his surname
- Tekno, who invites him to a party alongside two former Nigerian governors
- Burna Boy, who uses him to describe a financially independent woman, and who also names him among three wealthy business figures
- Wizkid, who lists him among prominent Nigerians
- Olamide, who names him with fellow businessman Tony Elumelu
- Davido, who uses a close-association phrase
- Teni, who cites him as a model of wealth
- Cuppy and Zlatan, who build a song around Otedola as Cuppy’s father
Wordplay and everyday pairings#
Dice Ailes places Otedola alongside Jim Iyke and Okocha, each linked to something they are widely known for. Jim Iyke stands for love, Okocha for football and Otedola for money, a playful nod to his billionaire status.
“Otedola with the money, Jim Iyke with the love, Okocha with the ball, Maggi with the sauce.”
Mayorkun plays on the pronunciation of Otedola’s surname in a romantic line. Turning the billionaire’s name into a cheeky expression, he adds wordplay to a declaration of affection.
“Oya come be my angeli o, O te dollar to be Femi o, Fall for you like the wall of Jericho.”
Shout-outs to prominent Nigerians#
Tekno names Otedola in the outro alongside Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, all of whom receive an invitation to his party. The line amounts to a guest list of high-profile figures.
“Otedola o, baby, Fashola o, baby, Ambode o, baby, Say dem go come my party o.”
Wizkid lists Otedola among several prominent Nigerians, using the Yoruba expression “eleniyan” to describe people of influence and significance. The line recognises him as one of the country’s most familiar names.
“Agbaje eleniyan, Fashola eleniyan, Tinubu eleniyan, Otedola eleniyan, Ah Wizzy eleniyan.”
Olamide names two of Nigeria’s best-known businessmen, Tony Elumelu and Otedola, before asking to be given dollars. The appeal, built on two figures associated with wealth, suits the song’s money theme.
“Tony Elumelu, Wá ba mi jó sílú, Femi Otedola, È̩ ná mí ní dollar.”
Wealth as a benchmark#
Burna Boy pairs Otedola’s wealth with the beauty of Omotola to describe a financially independent woman who is not looking for anyone to control her.
“Fine like Omotola, She get money like Otedola, She wan get more dollar, She no dey find anybody wey go control am.”
Teni declares that she wants to be a billionaire and cites Otedola as a familiar example of the wealth she hopes for.
“Iyalaya anybody o, anybody o, Otedola o l’ori meji o, I wanna be a billionaire (mo fe l’owo).”
In another Burna Boy line, Alakija, Dangote and Otedola are named as three of Nigeria’s wealthiest business figures. The lyric argues that if they are still chasing money, others have no reason to stop working for it.
“Alakija dey find money, Dangote dey find money o, Otedola dey find money, Why me no go find money o.”
Personal and family ties#
Davido’s reference goes further than the usual billionaire label. By saying they will “gum body”, he hints at a close association with the businessman, a playful nod to a real-life connection.
Cuppy and Zlatan build one of the song’s central exchanges around Otedola’s identity as Cuppy’s billionaire father. The record was inspired by a gelato experience during a family trip to Italy.
“Cuppy, who is your daddy? (Otedola), Baba temi, Babalola.”
