By Halima Imam
I’ve been obsessed with Nasty Blaq’s trending challenge, “If I get money.” Every time I see one of those videos, I think, “This is it! I’m going to do it! Then reality hits, where am I supposed to find enough cars to show “say I get money”? The closest I’ve come to a convoy is when my neighbor’s turkeys chase me down the street. But a girl can dream, right? If only Instagram could accept turkeys as valid entries for the challenge.
Nigerian comedy has come a long way from the days when we all crowded around our TV screens to watch the likes of Basketmouth, Ali Baba, and Okey Bakassi. Those were the days when comedians had to command the stage with nothing but a microphone, sharp wit, and enough jokes to make even the grumpiest Nigerian crack a smile. But now? Now we have skit makers who have taken the art of comedy to a whole new level short, hilarious, and often downright absurd videos that go viral faster than you can say “Gbas gbos!”
Let’s be honest, skit makers like Nasty Blaq, Sabinus, Sydney Talker, Taoma, Mr. Macaroni, and Broda Shaggi are the true heroes of the digital age. These guys have mastered the art of turning everyday Nigerian struggles into something so funny that you almost forget your bank balance is in shambles. Nasty Blaq’s “If I get money” challenge is a perfect example. It’s so relatable, so absurd, and so accurate that you can’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Because let’s face it, we all have that fantasy of “balling,” but life keeps showing us “shege” on the regular.
Remember when Broda Shaggi hit us with “Oya hit me!” and we couldn’t stop saying it? Or how Mr. Macaroni’s “You’re doing well!” became a national catchphrase? These guys aren’t just making us laugh; they’re creating cultural moments that stick with us longer than the last season of Big Brother Naija.
And then there’s Taaooma, whose skits make you laugh and rethink all your life choices at the same time. How she manages to play every character in a typical Nigerian family so perfectly is beyond me. From the overbearing mother to the nosy neighbor, she’s got them all down to a T. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to argue with yourself and lose, just watch one of her videos.
The evolution of Nigerian comedy isn’t just about the switch from stage to screen; it’s about how these skit makers have tapped into the soul of Nigeria. They understand that humor isn’t just a distraction from our problems, it’s a way to cope with them. Whether it’s the struggles of “if I get money,” the hilarious chaos of Lagos traffic, or the endless war with NEPA, these comedians are turning our daily grind into something worth laughing about.
But let’s not forget where it all started. The legends of the stage paved the way for this new wave of comedy. Without them, we might not have had the foundation of wit and satire that today’s skit makers are building on. So here’s to the evolution of Nigerian comedy, from the grand stages to our small screens, from microphones to smartphones, and from “If I get money” to “Omo, I go do am!”
Now, if anyone knows where I can rent a fleet of cars for a few minutes, just to prove I get money, even if it’s only for the ‘gram, holla at your girl. Because one day, one day, monkey go go market, and me too, I go blow!
Until that day when I finally “blow” and can participate in these challenges without borrowing a Range Rover from my neighbor, I’ll be here, enjoying the endless stream of creativity that Nigerian comedians keep blessing us with.
Think about it: not too long ago, if you wanted to enjoy a good laugh, you had to wait for a live comedy show, buy a ticket, and brace Lagos traffic just to get there. Now? All you need is a smartphone and an internet connection. You can be on your way to work, stuck in that infamous Nyanya-Maraba traffic, and boom, a new skit drops, and your day just got a whole lot better. The laughter doesn’t stop, even when you’re stuck in the gridlock of life.
It’s amazing how these skit makers have turned social media into their stage. Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok are the new arenas where they perform, and we, the audience, can’t get enough. Whether it’s Lasisi Elenu’s exaggerated rants that perfectly capture the frustration we all feel, these comedians have found a way to make us laugh at ourselves and our everyday struggles.
And let’s talk about the speed at which they create content. It’s like these guys have a direct line to the pulse of Nigeria. Something happens today, and by tomorrow, there’s a skit about it that’s already trending. It’s almost as if they’ve become the unofficial news broadcasters of the country, except instead of reporting the news, they’re making us laugh about it. From political blunders to celebrity mishaps, nothing escapes their radar.
But beyond the jokes and the laughs, there’s something deeper going on here. These skit makers are not just comedians; they’re storytellers. They’re capturing the essence of what it means to be Nigerian in the 21st century, with all its highs and lows, its dreams and disappointments. They’re holding up a mirror to society and saying, “Look at us, this is who we are, and despite everything, we’re still laughing.”
In a country where the challenges can sometimes seem overwhelming, that’s no small feat. It’s easy to forget how powerful laughter can be, how it can bring people together, ease tension, and provide a momentary escape from the realities of life. But these skit makers remind us every day. They remind us that even when things aren’t going our way, like when you can’t find enough cars to do Nasty Blaq’s challenge, we can still find something to laugh about.
So here’s to the evolution of Nigerian comedy, from the pioneers who graced the stage to the digital wizards who are taking over our screens. May they continue to make us laugh, think, and sometimes even cry from laughing too hard. And who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll get enough cars for that challenge. Until then, I’ll keep enjoying the comedy gold that our skit makers keep delivering. After all, laughter is the best medicine, even when the price of fuel has given us all hypertension.
