Nigerian singer-songwriter Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has publicly criticised the way humility is treated in entertainment circles, saying that humble artistes are frequently taken for granted.

Speaking in a video that has gone viral on social media, Asake explained that being excessively humble may attract disrespect. He suggested that persons perceived to have an ego are often treated with more value because they are seen as less accessible.

In his words: “To me, humility is like a waste of time. People don’t appreciate it. … As an artiste, if you come to somewhere, if you’re humble, they will take you for granted. But if you have ego, they feel like you’re not accessible so they will like you more.”

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Some netizens have reacted with mixed feelings—some agreeing Asake is stating facts, others warning that ego can be harmful and humility still has value.