Real Warri Pikin Cancels Warri Show Over Tribal And Political Divisions In Delta
Popular Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, widely known by her stage name Real Warri Pikin, has cancelled her forthcoming comedy show scheduled to hold in Warri, Delta State, citing what she described as “unfortunate divisions” rooted in tribal and political tensions within the state.
The comedian announced the cancellation in an emotional statement and accompanying video shared on her official Instagram account on Saturday, August 8, 2026, expressing deep disappointment that division had emerged in a situation where she believed unity should have prevailed. “It is deeply disappointing that, at this stage in our society, we are still confronted with division where there should be unity,” she said. “It is therefore with a heavy heart that I announce the cancellation of my Warri show, which was scheduled to take place in a few weeks, due to circumstances arising from the unfortunate divisions currently at play.”
In the video accompanying her announcement, Real Warri Pikin described being an entertainer from Delta State as “very exhausting” due to persistent tensions among ethnic groups in the region, specifically naming the Ijaws, Urhobos and Itsekiris. “The disunity in my state is very tiring, especially amongst the Ijaws, the Urhobos, the Itsekiris. I am not saying don’t fight for what is right, but does it have to always be violent? Does it have to be oppression?” she said, adding that she had been a victim of bullying and oppression in Delta State for the past eight years.
The comedian, whose show had originally been scheduled for September 20, 2026, revealed that opposition to the event had escalated significantly in the weeks leading up to her decision. According to her, some critics argued that the event should instead have been promoted as taking place in Uvwie rather than Warri, insisting the two locations are distinct. She alleged that objectors demanded the removal of promotional materials associated with the show, including billboards, radio jingles, social media posts and roll-up banners, and that a petition was written against the event. “They said the show will never hold and that the day of the show they will come and scatter everything,” she alleged. She further revealed that some critics had gone as far as demanding she remove the word “Warri” from her stage name entirely.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the cancellation, Real Warri Pikin was firm in stating that the setback would not diminish how she views herself or the reach of her brand. “The Real Warri Pikin brand is bigger than where I was born. I am not limited by my local government. I am not defined only by where my father comes from or where my mother comes from. I represent every local government in Delta State. I represent Delta State. I represent Nigeria. I represent Africa. And as a woman, I represent women across tribes, races and borders,” she said, adding that she would not allow her calling to be reduced to “geography, tribe or politics.”
The comedian went on to thank those who had supported her throughout the controversy, including people who reached out with calls, counsel and encouragement, stressing that she held no bitterness toward those whose actions contributed to the situation. She closed her statement with a call for greater unity and wisdom among Deltans. “My prayer is simply that God gives us all the wisdom to understand that we achieve far more when we build together than when we divide ourselves,” she said. As of the time of filing, Real Warri Pikin had not indicated whether the cancelled show would be rescheduled for a later date.
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