Koroba by Tiwa Savage is the best musical depiction of the concave, convoluted and warped mindset of most Nigerians.

At its release, there was a lot of postulation that the song was an open lauding, endorsement, and encouragement of prostitution. After repeated listening for fun, I eventually decided to listen to it critically for appraisal, and see if the argument had merit.

Upon listening to it, going through its lyrics, watching the video, and playing through repeatedly, I have come to a conclusion.
My conclusion is one that is not new to Nigerians but is one we ascribe to others, but never ourselves.

Nigerians are hypocritical. We judge anyone who sins, but when we are beneficiaries of said sin, our mouth is too busy either eating the benefit, kissing the ass of the sinful benefactor, or saying a word of prayer for God to understand their sin and let this one slide.

We like to judge others who sin differently from us, but what we love more than that is for them to exit that sinful seat so we can take it over. Especially when said sin is lucrative.
Remember how every national assembly inaugurated soon implodes over sharing of “juicy committee?

Tiwa Savage is not even talking about exchanging sex for cash. She is talking about dating someone wealthy. Automatically, she is tagged a prostitute.

As much as young middle-class Nigerians want the billionaires and their children to date and marry outside of the exclusive one-percent, they want to be the person the billionaire dates or marry. Not someone else.
Anyone else is definitely doing it for the money and other perks.

They are the only ones with a pure heart who can marry an Otedola, Dangote, Alakija, or Adenuga out of love.
But then, who doesn’t like enjoyment. If a middle-class girl dates a billionaire kid, are you expecting her to turn down any cash and gift because she is not a prostitute?
Would you honestly turn it down if you were in her shoes?

And if Florence Otedola takes an interest in you tomorrow morning, you want to assure us that you would never ask her for cash? Or will you offer to pay the equivalent of a first-class ticket whenever she borrows her dad jet for you two to go to Monaco?

When two adults date, it is inevitable that cash and gifts will exchange hands. This is not a payment for goods and services. It is just what adults do.

This is not to say that there aren’t people engaging in prostitution. As someone who grew up close to a brothel, I can say authoritatively that the poor and middle class patronize prostitutes more than the rich.
The cash exchanging hands is definitely lower, but the frequency and scale of the practice are higher.

At the end of the day, if you know being on the beneficial end of said relationship, prostitution or sin would make you respond differently to the whole situation, you should sit out these conversations.

Koroba Lyrics

I no come this life to suffer
If I follow politician
You go hear am for paper
Them go call am prostitution

Who no like enjoyment?
If money dey for pocket
Shebi na national budget o?
We go blow am like trumpet e (okay)

Koroba koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, ay
Koroba Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koroba koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba Koroba
Oya everybody carry your something

He say, “Darling I’m watching you”
Small thing you turn mugu
You come dey shout ole
The money you no work for
Bad commando (hey)
You carry overload
Yawa dey, igboro
Sho wole, ko wole

Koroba Koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, ay
Koroba Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koroba Koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba
Koroba, oya everybody carry your something

I no mean to bother you, at all
Monkey dey wan kill baboon dey chop
Calamity tell me say you talk and do oga
Tell me wetin you fi do

I no mean to bother you, at all
Monkey dey wan kill bamboo dey chop
Calamity tell me say you talk and do oga
Tell me wetin you fi do, ay

Koroba Koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, ay
Koroba Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koroba Koroba Koroba Koroba
Koro, oya carry your, yeah
Koro Kuru Koroba Koroba
Koroba, oya everybody carry your something

I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to
I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to