By peterside Rejoice
Fuji music legend, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, has stirred fresh public debate over the stainless flask he is rarely seen without.
The bottle, which has now earned the tag “controversial,” became the centre of attention after an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 5.
KWAM 1 was scheduled to board a ValueJet flight when the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, reportedly asked him to surrender the flask or open it for inspection. The pilot allegedly suspected it contained alcohol, which is prohibited on domestic flights.
Eyewitnesses said the singer refused, leading to a heated exchange. The situation escalated when he allegedly poured the contents on the pilot, a security officer, and some passengers before standing in front of the aircraft to stop it from moving.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) later suspended two ValueJet pilots for taxiing while the singer was still on the tarmac. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) condemned the disruption, describing it as a breach of aviation safety rules.
In a statement on Friday, KWAM 1 denied the alcohol claims, insisting the flask contained only water. He said he always carries it due to a medical condition that causes chronic dehydration.
“It is not for show. My doctors advised me to always stay hydrated,” the singer explained.
The stainless steel flask has become a signature accessory for the Fuji star. At concerts, media appearances, and even social events, it is always within reach, sometimes in his hand, sometimes placed beside him on stage.
Associates say he started carrying it regularly several years ago after suffering repeated dehydration during long performances. Over time, it has become so linked to his public image that fans now joke it is “the 14th member” of his band.
Social media users have since flooded timelines with old photos showing the bottle in different settings, further fuelling debate about whether it is simply a personal item or a deliberate part of his public persona.
The airport episode has now turned the once ordinary flask into one of the most talked-about objects in Nigerian entertainment this year.
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