Comedian DeeOne Accuses Olu Maintain of Promoting Yahoo Yahoo Culture With Hit Song ‘Yahooze’

Nigerian comedian and reality star Aderombi Adedayo, popularly known as DeeOne, has stirred controversy after claiming that singer Olu Maintain contributed to Nigeria’s poor global reputation through his 2007 hit track Yahooze.

Speaking during an interview on the Echo Room podcast, DeeOne said that before the release of the song, internet fraud — popularly called Yahoo Yahoo or 419 — was a shameful act in Nigeria. According to him, fraudsters kept a low profile because society frowned upon the practice, despite the wealth it generated for them.

DeeOne explained that things changed when Olu Maintain released Yahooze. The song quickly became a national anthem, complete with a popular dance that was widely accepted by both young people and adults. He said this sudden celebration of fraud culture shifted how Nigerians viewed the crime, making it look glamorous and even acceptable.

“Many years ago in Nigeria, Yahoo Yahoo was something people were ashamed of,” DeeOne said. “Nobody wanted to openly claim it. But after Yahooze, the whole country started celebrating it. Babies and young boys were dancing to it, not realizing the effects it would have on the future.”

The comedian argued that Yahooze inspired a generation of young Nigerians who saw fraud not as a crime but as a cool and profitable lifestyle. With the song’s mainstream success, internet fraud began to lose its stigma and instead became normalized in Nigerian society.

DeeOne added that because Nigeria is the most populous Black nation in the world, the glorification of fraud spread beyond its borders. He claimed that today, many Nigerians are stereotyped as scammers abroad, and the culture celebrated in music is partly to blame.

He went further to say that while Olu Maintain may blame Nigeria’s government for the country’s challenges, he also shares responsibility for shaping a culture that hurts Nigeria’s international image. DeeOne stressed that Yahooze was not just entertainment but an influence that left lasting consequences.

His comments have sparked intense debate online. Some Nigerians agree with DeeOne, saying the song indeed glamorized fraud and changed how youths viewed illegal activities. Others, however, defended Olu Maintain, arguing that the track was only a reflection of what was already happening in society and should not be blamed for the actions of fraudsters.

Regardless of differing opinions, the discussion highlights the ongoing concern about the role of music in shaping societal values. DeeOne’s remarks have reignited conversations about how Nigerian pop culture has influenced perceptions of crime, wealth, and success, both locally and globally.