A video from the 2026 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has sparked widespread debate after a woman was seen holding what appeared to be a cigar during the celebrations. The footage quickly circulated online, drawing thousands of reactions and reigniting discussions about cultural norms, gender expectations and public behaviour. Veteran comedian and actor Alibaba responded on Instagram, raising questions about evolving social values, asking if cultural shifts could lead to women paying bride price or men taking their wives' surnames. He speculated whether a time would come when a woman would propose to a man with a ring and the crowd would cheer for him to say yes.
Alibaba questioned if the moment signaled a broader redefinition of tradition, referencing a possible future where an event's Mcee introduces "Otunba Mrs Kemi Adegbola and her four husbands." He described the clip as leaving him with more questions than answers, while acknowledging that culture and values are dynamic. Before his comments, the woman in the video, Oluwatoyin Olushile, responded to criticism, stating she is based in New York City and works as a manager at the US post office. She clarified that she has never smoked and that the item she held was an electric cigar containing vapour, made in the USA by a friend. "People don't understand what it is," she said. "I'm not a smoker. I'm a very good person. I'm very intelligent, and I'm a very educated woman."
The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, when finance executive Farooq Oreagba gained viral fame for riding a horse while holding a cigar, earning him the nickname "King of Steeze" online.
Alibaba questions shifting cultural norms while overlooking that he once celebrated a man doing the same act without scrutiny. Farooq Oreagba was praised for his cigar moment in 2024, but a woman doing something similar in 2026 faces judgment and demands for explanation. The double standard reveals how gender shapes public perception, even when the action is nearly identical. If culture is dynamic, then its critique must also confront whose behaviour is policed and whose is glorified.
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