Ojude Oba: Alibaba Raises Cultural Issues as Woman in Viral Smoking Video Responds

What started as a brief moment at the 2026 Ojude Oba festival has turned into one of the most talked-about topics after the festival.

The focus is on a woman whose video went viral after she was seen holding and smoking what many thought was a cigar during the colorful cultural event in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

The video quickly spread on social media, gathering thousands of reactions and sparking discussions about culture, modern lifestyles, and how women are viewed in public.

As the conversation grew, veteran comedian and actor Alibaba shared his thoughts, asking if these moments show changing social values and where society is heading.

His comments added to an already divided discussion, with social media users split between those who thought the moment was harmless and those who saw it as a sign of changing cultural norms.

Known for his social commentary, Alibaba said the viral clip left him with more questions than answers.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, the comedian thought about whether changing social attitudes were slowly changing long-held cultural expectations.

He asked, "Is there a watering down of acceptable norms as cultures evolve? Anything a man can do, a woman can do as well? Is this about Feminism or rebellious positioning?"

Alibaba also wondered if a time would come when women would start paying the groom price.

Moreover, he questioned if a woman smoking a cigar hints at a future where he would introduce an Otunba Mrs Kemi Adegbola and her four husbands.

"Does this mean, one day, a guy would be at home, and a girl and her mum will come knock on the door to ask for his hand in marriage?"

"Would guys start bearing the surnames of their wives? Are we going to see a time when a woman says she wants a man’s hand in marriage, and the parents will ask her, what do you do for a living to take care of our son?" the filmmaker asked.

Among other worries, he expressed concern that couples might one day be introduced as Mrs and Mr at events, and young women might propose to men while the crowd cheers for them to "say yes."

He acknowledged, though, that culture and values are always changing.

Before Alibaba joined in, the woman at the center of the issue had already tried to clarify things.

Responding to increasing online criticism, the lady, who identified herself as Oluwatoyin Olushile, said she lives in New York City and works as a manager at the post office for the US government.

"Honestly, I’ve never smoked in my life. What I held that day is called an electric cigar. And what is inside is vapour. No smell. No nothing. So people don’t understand what it is. That electric cigar is made in the USA by my friend.

I’m not a smoker. I know people are criticizing me. They are judging a book by its cover. I’m a very good person. I’m very intelligent, and I’m a very educated woman," she explained.

Now known as the ‘Queen of Steeze’ online, she added that her goal was to do something unique.

The debate has also brought back memories of the 2024 Ojude Oba festival, where finance executive Farooq Oreagba became an online sensation after photos of him riding a horse with a cigar went viral.

Those images made him one of the festival’s biggest attractions and earned him the nickname “King of Steeze” on social media.

As reactions to the latest viral video came in, some users compared the two moments, saying that Mr Oreagba’s cigar got praise while the woman in this case faced criticism.

Others, however, disagreed with the comparison, saying the discussion was not about gender but about the meaning behind the act and the cultural values linked to Ojude Oba.