Kcee declares “Biafran” identity, stirs reactions

Nigerian singer Kingsley Okonkwo, widely known as Kcee, has stirred fresh conversation online after declaring himself “a Biafran”, insisting that the term represents an ethnic identity rather than a separatist agenda.

The Limpopo crooner remarked during a recent interview with Yanga 89.9 FM, Lagos, where he addressed questions about his roots and the meaning of the term ‘Biafra’ in modern discourse.

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Speaking firmly about his cultural origins, Kcee said:

“As far as I am concerned, every Igbo man under the sun today is a Biafran. I am a Biafran. I am an Igbo man and Biafra is where we are from. It is just like the Arewas and Oduduwas.”

The singer stressed that his use of the term has no political undertone, adding that for him, Biafra represents a historical and ethnographical region inhabited by the Igbo people, similar to how Arewa represents the North and Oduduwa represents the Yoruba.

Kcee offered a brief history lesson as he explained the origins of the term:

“Biafra was created in 1967. Frank Opigo from Bayelsa suggested that name for the Igbos, and we adopted it in 1967. Before 1967, who are we? Igbos. Being Igbo means you are still a Biafran.”

By this, the singer argued that the cultural identity remains intact regardless of political interpretations or historical conflicts.

Still, Kcee maintained that his stance was rooted strictly in heritage, not separatism, emphasising that identifying as Biafran is synonymous with identifying as Igbo.