James Brown

James Chukwueze Obialor, popularly known as James Brown or the “Princess of Africa,” is a Nigerian internet personality, cross-dresser, dancer, and content creator who gained prominence in 2018. Born on February 22, 1999, in Lagos State, Nigeria, James has become a significant figure in Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, known for his flamboyant style, outspoken nature, and resilience in the face of controversy.

Early Life and Background

James Chukwueze Obialor, popularly known as James Brown or the Princess of Africa, was born on February 22, 1999, in Lagos State, Nigeria. Though he hails from the Igbo ethnic group in southeastern Nigeria, James spent his formative years growing up in the Mushin area of Lagos, a bustling and densely populated part of the city known for its vibrancy and tough living conditions.

Details about his immediate family remain relatively sparse. However, James has openly spoken about his difficult childhood in various interviews and social media posts. He described having a strained and distant relationship with his biological mother, alleging that she abandoned him when he was very young. This lack of maternal presence profoundly shaped his early emotional development and sense of self-worth.

Following his estrangement from his mother, James went to live with an aunt in Lagos. Unfortunately, instead of finding comfort, he experienced years of maltreatment and abuse at her hands. He recounted in an interview that his aunt subjected him to constant verbal abuse, physical punishment, and emotional neglect. She often made derogatory remarks about him, humiliated him publicly, and treated him as an outcast within the household.

James revealed that:

“My aunt treated me like I was worthless. I grew up with insults and constant beatings. I was made to feel like I was a mistake.”

Living in such a toxic environment forced James to become emotionally resilient at an early age, learning how to survive hostility and isolation. He often found solace in dancing, acting out characters, and entertaining himself, small acts that would later blossom into his career as a performer and content creator.

By his teenage years, James Brown had begun fending for himself, navigating the harsh realities of Lagos life without stable family support. Despite these challenges, he remained determined to carve out a better future, driven by an inner conviction that he was destined for more than his circumstances allowed.

James later credited his difficult upbringing — the absence of parental affection and his aunt’s maltreatment — as key factors that hardened him mentally and shaped his fierce independence, traits that would become central to his public persona.

Today, James Brown’s story stands as a testament to resilience, demonstrating how a boy once dismissed and mistreated in the harsh streets of Mushin transformed into one of Nigeria’s most recognizable — and defiant — internet personalities.

Education

In 2022, James announced that he had enrolled in a university in the United Kingdom to study Business Management. However, he later revealed that he had to drop out due to financial constraints.

Career and Rise to Fame

James Brown’s rise to fame began in 2018 when he was arrested alongside others at a party in Lagos, accused of being part of a gay gathering. During a televised interview following his arrest, he uttered the phrase “They didn’t caught me,” which went viral and became a meme across Nigerian social media platforms.

Capitalizing on his newfound fame, James ventured into content creation, dance, and cross-dressing, branding himself as the “Princess of Africa.” His bold fashion choices and unapologetic personality quickly garnered a massive following on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Controversies and Public Image

James Brown, popularly known as the “Princess of Africa,” has built a public persona that is as controversial as it is captivating. His rise to fame has been marked by bold self-expression, headline-making feuds, and unfiltered commentary that often divides public opinion. While celebrated for challenging societal norms, James is also one of Nigeria’s most polarizing internet personalities.

1. 2018 Arrest for Alleged Homosexual Activity

James Brown’s initial encounter with nationwide attention was far from glamorous. In August 2018, he was among 57 young men arrested by the Nigerian Police Force at a party in Egbeda, Lagos, which authorities alleged was a “gay initiation party.” This was during a period of heightened crackdowns under Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2014), which criminalizes same-sex relationships and gatherings.

During a now-viral televised interview following his arrest, James made the famous grammatical blunder, “They didn’t caught me,” which went viral and transformed him overnight into a meme sensation.

To deflect public backlash and legal consequences, James claimed he was HIV positive, stating that he had contracted the virus at birth from his mother. However, in later interviews, he admitted that the claim was fabricated to gain public sympathy and avoid further persecution:

“I said I had HIV because I was scared. I needed a way out. I didn’t know what else to say,” he told NewsWireNGR in 2022.

Despite the controversy, many Nigerians admired his courage in the face of state prosecution. The charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence, but the incident cemented James Brown as a figure of resistance and vulnerability within the LGBTQ+ community, even though he has never publicly confirmed his sexual orientation

Following the arrest, James was paraded in front of the media, during which he made his now-viral statement:

“They didn’t caught me.”

This phrase turned into a national meme and earned him widespread social media attention. He later revealed during interviews that he was detained at Ikoyi Prison for nearly a month before being granted bail.

In a surprising twist, James initially claimed he was HIV positive, stating he contracted it at birth. However, years later, he admitted he fabricated the claim to avoid further persecution and to elicit public sympathy.

The case was ultimately dismissed due to lack of evidence. Nonetheless, it marked the beginning of his fame and established him as a controversial figure in the Nigerian public eye.

2. Feud with Bobrisky

Perhaps the most enduring and explosive chapter in James Brown’s public image has been his long-running feud with fellow Nigerian cross-dresser, Bobrisky (Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju). Once perceived as a protégé-turned-rival, James and Bobrisky were frequently compared by fans and the media as Nigeria’s two most prominent cross-dressers.

Tensions escalated in 2020, when James Brown alleged that Bobrisky was threatened by his growing popularity and accused him of attempting to sabotage his brand. In a widely shared Instagram post and interview, James claimed:

“Bobrisky told me to stop using the title ‘Princess of Africa.’ He said I was stealing his shine and even threatened to kill me if I didn’t stop.”

Bobrisky denied the accusation but acknowledged that he had confronted James privately, stating that he only intended to “advise him” and that James was being “disrespectful and ungrateful.”

The feud evolved into a media spectacle, with both parties exchanging indirect jabs, subtweets, and even dragging each other in live sessions. It also divided fans into camps: those loyal to Bobrisky, who had long dominated the cross-dressing scene, and those rallying behind James Brown, the younger and increasingly vocal challenger.

James used the rivalry as a branding opportunity, further embracing the moniker “Princess of Africa” and doubling down on his message of individuality, authenticity, and visibility.

James accused Bobrisky of feeling threatened by his rising popularity. In multiple interviews and social media posts, he claimed Bobrisky:

• Attempted to intimidate him via private messages,
• Told him to “stay in his lane”, and
• Allegedly threatened to kill him if he continued calling himself the “Princess of Africa.”

In 2021, Bobrisky confirmed in an Instagram rant that he had indeed reached out to James, but claimed it was to advise him, not to threaten. The feud escalated with public insults, subtweets, and fan-driven drama across platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

This rivalry helped propel James Brown’s brand further, as he began using the title “Princess of Africa” to distinguish himself from Bobrisky’s “Queen of Snapchat” persona.

3. Leaked Explicit Video (2022)

In October 2022, a private and explicit video allegedly showing James Brown and an unidentified female partner went viral on Nigerian Twitter and WhatsApp groups. The video, which spread rapidly, caused a major uproar across the internet.

Public reaction was mixed:

• Some criticized him harshly, questioning his morality and consistency given his public persona.
• Others expressed sympathy, seeing it as a violation of his privacy.

James responded emotionally via his social media platforms, expressing sadness and disappointment. He wrote:

“This is heartbreaking. Why do people judge me so easily?”

The incident led to discussions around digital privacy, consent, and the double standards in how LGBTQ+ and non-conforming individuals are treated online.

The controversy momentarily affected his mental health, according to his later statements. However, James used the opportunity to reflect and rebrand, emerging stronger and more determined to control his narrative.

4. A Complex Public Image

While James Brown is often celebrated for his flamboyance, humor, and resilience, he has also faced backlash. Critics have accused him of:

• Inconsistency in storytelling (e.g., recanting his HIV status),
• Using controversy as a publicity tool, and
• Clout-chasing through online drama.

Nonetheless, his fearless approach to fame and his refusal to conform to societal expectations have earned him a loyal fan base, particularly among Nigerian youth and online communities seeking self-expression and defiance of conservative norms.

James often responds to criticism with wit or silence, reinforcing his brand as a rebellious icon who thrives on being misunderstood yet admired. Whether he’s wearing a gown, releasing a provocative dance video, or clapping back at trolls, James Brown continues to blur the lines between performance and identity, making him one of the most intriguing figures in Nigerian pop culture.

Personal Life

James Brown has been open about his struggles with identity and acceptance. In interviews, he has described himself as a drag queen and performer, distinguishing his persona from his personal identity. He has also mentioned having a girlfriend, emphasizing that his cross-dressing is a form of artistic expression rather than a reflection of his sexual orientation.

References

• James Brown (internet personality) – Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown_(internet_personality)
• I wrote a book to tell my life’s story –James Brown. (n.d.). Punch Newspapers. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/i-wrote-a-book-to-tell-my-lifes-story-james-brown/
• James Brown: Biography, Education, Girlfriend, and Net Worth. (2022, October 11). NewsWireNGR. Retrieved from https://newswirengr.com/2022/10/11/cross-dresser-james-brown-biography-education-career-girlfriend-net-worth-and-controversies/
• James Brown Drops Out of University in the UK Due to High Fees. (n.d.). The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/life/james-brown-drops-out-of-university-in-the-uk-due-to-high-fees/
• James Brown: Why Bobrisky and I became enemies. (2022, June 24). TheCable Lifestyle. Retrieved from https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/james-brown-why-bobrisky-and-i-became-enemies/
• Who is James Brown? Man? Woman? Trans? Drag queen? or Crossdresser? (2022, October 28). Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved from https://www.pulse.ng/articles/entertainment/celebrities/who-is-james-brown-man-woman-trans-drag-queen-or-crossdresser-2024072600443964188

Views: 4