Was driving to work the day before Independence Day. And by the roadside, I saw a street hawker, waving a few cute-sized Nigerian flags, calling on passersby to buy, in the spirit of the season. It’s Independence Day, baby! (He didn’t quite say those words, but I made it up in my head, as I often do, for my amusement lol). Anyway, the way I hissed ehn. It was long and loud. And I laughed too. And after that laughter was a wave of sadness. This is no doubt one of the most difficult times to be a Nigerian. Times are hard. The economy is tough. And worse still, there’s no sign of recovery in the near term. And of course, that means people are leaving the country in droves. The relocation mania has turned into some sort of competition. And whoever is left behind is a fool of sorts. No be me talk am o. Quoting what I’ve heard people say in different ways. Families and friends are now scattered all over the world, as Nigerians scramble to be “anywhere but here”. How old are we that we are already reminiscing about the good old days?!
Anyway, I’m not here for the gloom and doom of it all, the sour and dour of it all. Today, I’m here for the fun! What’s there to love?
1. Nigerian Twitter – Joined Twitter in 2009 and I’ve seen that place evolve into something else. Nigerian Twitter has become a thing by more or less, carving out its own niche. Nigerian Twitter is top-tier, top two and not number two. You get the drift? From the creativity and pure, unadulterated, undiluted bant when something serious is happening, to breaking and analysing news from all over the world as e dey hot, and of course, the way the country comes in unison against any person (or country even) that comes for any of us. Nigerian Twitter is actually, really GOATED. When I meet someone who isn’t on Twitter and doesn’t understand Twitter lingo, it’s always just stressful. Because how do you explain to someone that whenever you find an old N500 note in your pocket, it’s time to check apartment listings in Banana Island or check the price of Benz? Stress!!!
2. Nigerian food – You know how Nigerians travel miles and miles away from home and once they land abroad, they are already asking for local Nigerian restaurants. Well, I am “Nigerian”! And people are always quick to advise us to “explore more, experience meals from other cultures blah blah, blah”. Yeah yeah yeah. Get you a girl who can do both. But if it comes to it, I will still choose Nigerian food any day anytime. And two times on Sundays!
3. Asake – If you know me, then you know Asake had to get a special shout. Asake is the poster boy of the Nigerian grind. My guy hustled for years and was even getting curved by babes who just weren’t feeling the grind. But as the story goes, all that is ancient history now. Mr. Money no dey waste time! Giving us back to back. Personifying how you should only strive to break your own records. Because how else do you explain Asake overtaking Asake on Apple Music’s top 10 most streamed songs? Over-wise!
4. And so on and so forth – Let’s hear it for Asun. Sungba. Sunday Brunch. Owambe. Aso ebi. I pass my neighbour. Yakoyo. Shawarma. Anikulapo. Bature. Blood Sisters. Wike and the Band. Nigerian women. Asake. Wedding after-parties. Transcorp Hilton. Ebeano. Eko for show. Memes of Aki and Paw Paw. Detty December. TGIF. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Asake. Restaurant hopping. Afropolitan vibes. Palmwine. Instagram vendors. Yam and egg. Terra Kulture. Kemi Adetiba. Big Brother. Ofada rice. Asake.
Happy Independence Day, baby!
