Nigerians are the most funny people in the world.
“Nigerians are happy people” We hear people- mostly outsiders- make such comments all the time.
They make allusions to how we, Nigerians tend to turn even the most serious events into happy almost sing-song moments.
For instance, the impact of the recession that hit Nigeria, in 2016, has since been softened and almost trivialised by the torrent of funny memes, hilarious skits, ridiculous music releases and sarcastic comments on social media.
Despite how happy or unconcerned Nigerians may project themselves to others, the truth remains that we really are suffering. We, however, are just suffering and smiling.
The late Afro legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as far back as the ‘70s hinted at this “Suffering and Smiling” trait Nigerians have in one of his hit songs.
Nigerians basically would rather just sit and endure anything with a smile, even things that they can easily fix with their own hands if they tried.
You hear people say “I have prayed about it, God will do it” “after the sunshine comes to the rain, everything will be okay” and more. Even on the back of danfo buses and keke-na-pepes, you see such phrases as “No Condition is Permanent”, “smile, Jesus loves you”.
Our smiling while suffering, contrary to how people see it, is not that glamorous or easy. We can cause the change and reshapen the future we desire.