Kemi Badenoch And The Over-Sabi Paradox

BY OLABODE OPESEITAN

I had tried to refrain from commenting further on Kemi Badenoch’s relentless takedown of Nigeria—until I saw a poignant post by my UK-based brother, Ayopo Apesin , who drew a striking contrast between Badenoch’s disavowal of Nigeria and the British government’s invitation to Burna Boy, one of Nigeria’s most iconic Afrofusion stars, to perform for their Europe-conquering Lionesses.

What an iconic allegory. It’s a textbook case of what Nigerians would call over sabi — trying so hard to prove yourself that you end up missing the point entirely. You’re desperate to disown your roots, only for the country you’re trying to impress to turn around and honour someone who proudly embraces the very heritage you’re discrediting. The irony is rich. And the timing? Impeccable.

Burna Boy didn’t just perform—he was embraced by the Lionesses’ manager as though he were a national treasure.

Meanwhile, Badenoch’s distancing act feels less like strategy and more like self-sabotage. Politics is a game of numbers. Why alienate the sizable Nigerian voting bloc in the UK, along with other Black communities who may feel wounded by your repeated disparagement of your roots and respond with their votes? Why give white Britons further cause for concern—not just about your political extremism, but your apparent inability to draw necessary lines?

Rishi Sunak didn’t denigrate India. Barack Obama didn’t deride Kenya. Was it because their ancestral stories were flawless? Certainly not. They simply understood the futility—and danger—of publicly desecrating one’s heritage, no matter how imperfect.

Interestingly, both Badenoch and Burna Boy share Nigerian and Yoruba heritage. But while Kemi is busy cutting ties, Burna is out there tying cultures together through music. That is legacy.