Popular Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, known professionally as Real Warri Pikin, has officially cancelled her upcoming comedy show in Delta State, scheduled for September 20 at Monarchy's Vencenta et Font Ouvier. The decision follows threats from local indigenes who objected to the event being promoted as taking place in Warri, insisting instead that the venue is in Uvwie, a distinct community.
Promotional Materials Targeted
According to the comedian, promoters were ordered to remove all promotional materials—including billboards, radio jingles, social media posts, and roll-up banners—after a petition was filed. The petitioners argued that the show should have been advertised as being held in Uvwie, not Warri, and threatened to disrupt the event if it proceeded.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Real Warri Pikin recounted the threats: "They said I should take down the billboards, social media posts, the radio jingles, take down the rollup banners, they wrote a petition. They said the show will never hold and that the day of the show they will come and scatter everything."
Eight Years of Ethnic Bullying
Beyond the immediate cancellation, Real Warri Pikin opened up about a pattern of ethnic-based hostility she has faced for nearly a decade. She revealed that she was once dropped from a wedding MC gig shortly before the event because some Ijaw guests disapproved of her presence. She also faced backlash after promoting a fashion campaign involving someone from the Itsekiri community.
She further disclosed that a separate group is now pressuring her to remove the word "Warri" from her stage name entirely. Expressing frustration, she said: "Being an entertainer from Delta State is very exhausting. The disunity in my state is tiring, especially amongst the Ijaws, the Urhobos, the Itsekiris."
Call for Unity Amid Tribal Divisions
While acknowledging legitimate land reclamation movements and the desire of communities to assert their identities, Real Warri Pikin condemned the violence and personal targeting that often accompanies these disputes. She stated: "I'm not saying don't fight for what is right. But does it always have to be violence? Does it have to be oppression? I have been a victim of bullying and oppression in Delta State for the past eight years."
She admitted to lacking detailed geographical knowledge about the region's shifting sensitivities, noting: "I need to study Delta State Geography so that I will know." Concluding her statement, she said: "At this point, I'm done. I do not want to make mistakes anymore."
Background and Previous Headlines
Real Warri Pikin, who is currently pregnant, has previously made headlines for sharing a humorous video about pregnancy-safe bedroom activities, which sparked mixed reactions online. The latest controversy adds to her ongoing struggles with ethnic tensions in her home state.
