Public outrage trailed the open celebration and promotion of the violent and corrupt Black Axe cultist group by two Nigerian musicians, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke and Omoniyi ‘Zlatan’ Raphael.

Black Axe, also known as Neo-Black Movement, is a cult group notorious for violent killings, drugs, rape and other crimes, across Nigerian university campuses. The group secretly have its annual celebration on July 7.

The Nigerian Police Force annually warns against the celebration of 7/7, also called Aiye Day or Founder’s Day, with police chiefs ordering clampdowns on unlawful gatherings.

However, the duo of Davido and Zlatan took to their social media pages to celebrate the cult group on July 7, sparking reactions from their fans and supporters.

“Happy Metal,” Davido posted on X Monday, a cryptic message celebrating and promoting the violent cult group.

Similarly, Zlatan posted “7/7 🖤💛”  in solidarity with the Black Axe confraternity on his X page, sparking reactions from his followers.

Davido’s post has garnered thousands of reposts, as many condemned his promotion of a cult group in his cryptic post.

An X user, @Osagie_jnr, condemned Davido’s post, saying, “Smh, what/who you choose to associate with is of no one’s business, but you should know you are a celebrity, an influential one at that, posts like these reinvigorate these people. Come to my city and see the damage their activities have caused in just over a week. Please, do better.”

Another X user, @sir_Jordan, said, “Happy Metal Day? 🪓 So we’re just openly celebrating Black Axe now? Ok, After a careful consideration, I, Jordan, hereby declare my official vacation from supporting Davido until further notice. 

“Due to recent Metal Day revelations, I must step back for my spiritual safety and playlist integrity. All Davido songs have been temporarily removed from my library. I remove my hands from Davido’s matter.”

Also, @Emmasonn said, “As a public figure, it’s wrong to promote cultism. Davido, do better. You have many young people looking up to you; don’t mislead them. Gambling, scamming, rug pulls, cultism………. You mustn’t always be on the wrong side of the divide.”

The reactions were not different on Zlatan’s page, where the majority of his followers condemned his support and promotion of the violent cult group.

Condemning Zlatan’s post, @DareHardy09 said: “Just imagine what a celebrity and a supposed good role model is promoting smh.”

Another X user, OSCL_special said, “See Watin all of una Dey promote?? How is this reasonable to you?? Cultism has taken a lot of young guys out there, but you still here promoting it💔. I’m disappointed in you about this, Zlatan.”

“Cultism is not a flex or an achievement, rest brother. Una go put una son for best school in Yankee, kon Dey spoil other people son life here by promoting cultism,” another user, @OyinTGSPE said.