The month of February didn’t pass by without its fair share of drama. It was a month that was filled with continuous surprises and events. In addition to being known as the month of love and Black History Month, this leap month has seen a multitude of news stories that have captured widespread attention in Nigerian space. We have compiled the most viral ones that have been circulating online throughout the past 29 days.
NIGERIANS GET WATERED AT THE GRAMMYS
The 66th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony took place on February 4, 2024, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, United States. Nigerian musicians including Davido, Burna Boy, Asake, Olamide, and Ayra Starr were among the nominees for the prestigious awards.
Davido and Burna Boy stood out with the most nominations from the African continent. They were nominated for “Best Global Music Album” for their respective albums, Burna Boy’s “I Told Them” and Davido’s “Timeless.” They were also nominated in the categories of “Best Global Music Performance” and “Best African Music Performance.” Additionally, Burna Boy received a separate nomination for “Best Melodic Rap.”
In addition to the Nigerian artists, South African artist Tyla (Water) was also nominated for “Best African Music Performance.” Overall, five Nigerians received nominations in this category. Burna Boy (City Boys), Davido (Unavailable), Asake and Olamide (Amapiano), and Ayra Starr (Rush) were all recognized for their outstanding contributions.
Unfortunately, it was not Nigeria’s night as all the Nigerian artists lost to their international counterparts. The “Best Global Music Album” award was won by Shakti for their album “This Moment,” while “Best Global Music Performance” was awarded to Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia for their song “Pashto.” The “Best Melodic Rap” category was won by Lil Durk featuring J. Cole for their song “All My Life.” Perhaps the most disappointing loss for Nigeria was Tyla winning “Best African Music Performance” for her song “Water,” beating out all five Nigerian artists.
Nigerians took to social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), expressing disbelief and calling on the national football team, the Super Eagles, to avenge their disappointment in the upcoming semi-final clash against Bafana Bafana that week. Nigeria ultimately won that match in a penalty shootout, but little did they know at the time that it would be their only victory in February.
ELEPHANT TRAMPLES EAGLE
With an air of arrogance and self-importance, Nigerian supporters fervently backed their national team, the Super Eagles, to clinch victory in AFCON 2023. In their minds, it was a foregone conclusion, especially considering the Super Eagles’ previous triumph over the host nation, Ivory Coast, during the group stages. It seemed as if defeating South Africa’s Bafana Bafana guaranteed the AFCON trophy would be brought home to Nigeria. This ostentatious belief was further solidified when Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong scored in the 38th minute of the final match.
However, Nigerians watching from all corners of the globe were in for a harsh reality check. In the 62nd and 81st minutes of the second half, not only did the Ivorians equalize, but they also took the lead. The once “super” Super Eagles struggled to overcome the one-goal deficit and failed to respond before the final whistle. The Ivorians emerged as the new African champions, humbling the loud bird by clipping its wings. The Nigerians had underestimated their opponents and paid the ultimate price. Regrettably, they failed to recognize the elephants’ remarkable track record of comebacks throughout the tournament, rightfully earning them the title of comeback kings.
This loss marked the second significant blow to the country, coming just days after missing out on the Grammy Awards.
BABY STEPS OF PAIN
Continuing its relentless climb, temperatures remained at record highs, a weather phenomenon inherited from January 2024. Nigerians had previously joked that it seemed as though the gates of hell had been left open in the country, but the heatwave was no laughing matter. With no Grammy or AFCON trophy to uplift their spirits, Nigeria caught the next best thing – inflation. In a predictable twist, the Naira weakened by 1800 against the dollar, reaching an all-time low. This placed a heavy burden on the economy, resulting in a staggering 30% increase in the inflation rate.
This significant change did not go unnoticed, and many Nigerians lamented the escalating hardships in the country. The prices of commodities, particularly food, skyrocketed, leaving many frustrated that they could never return to find the cost of goods and services the same as the previous week. While the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offered some observations on the matter, solutions were lacking. The country’s presidency urged citizens to brace themselves for harsh realities, prompting many to resurface videos of the current Nigerian president, who had mentioned nearly a year ago that Nigeria would face “baby steps of pain” before things improved. This evoked a sense of dread as Nigerians contemplated what these “baby steps of pain” would feel like as adults.
Numerous projections suggested that the Naira could weaken even further, potentially reaching 2000 against the dollar before year’s end. This realization has left many wondering how they would provide for themselves and their families when the inevitable comes knocking.
OMAH LAY BEND OVER
Moving on to what can only be described as the most dramatic event of the month, as temperatures soared and prices inexplicably increased, the Nigerian masses were in need of entertainment, and none other than Omah Lay provided just that. A video featuring TikTok user Jesssani, also known as Jessica Ani, went viral on social media, capturing the attention of many users. It was during Nigerian singer Omah Lay’s recent “Boy Alone Tour” at the Eventim Apollo in London on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
From the numerous shares of the video, it was apparent that Jesssani attended the concert with her boyfriend of 7 years, known as sr.iso. Omah Lay, while performing, singled her out from the crowd and invited her to join him on stage to dance. Initially, everything seemed to be going as planned, with both the singer and Jesssani dancing. However, things took an unexpected turn when Omah Lay beckoned Jesssani to the inner stage, behind drawn curtains, creating a silhouette effect similar to the notorious TikTok challenge. The singer proceeded to remove his shirt and danced in a suggestive and seductive manner with Jesssani, including bending her over, all to the astonishment of millions of viewers, including Jesssani’s boyfriend. His expression upon witnessing his girlfriend being engaged by Omah Lay in such a manner quickly went viral, with many sharing their thoughts online.
The majority of blame was placed on Jesssani, primarily by other women who criticized her actions as wrong and argued that if the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t be happy if a female star like Ayra Starr called her boyfriend on stage and engaged in such suggestive behavior. However, this writer acknowledges that many of the women speaking out against Jesssani would likely do the same if their favorite singer, such as Davido or Burna Boy, were involved, which renders their criticisms somewhat hypocritical. Additionally, Omah Lay’s actions went too far and he should also shoulder a significant portion of the blame. There are professional stage dancers available to perform any desired moves without causing collateral damage to others’ relationships.
Unsurprisingly, Jesssani’s boyfriend ended their relationship, and she has since released an apology video (of sorts), explaining the entire situation, which we won’t delve into at this moment. Contrary to various online reports, Omah Lay has not directly responded to the viral video. The “bend over” video has now become an internet meme and sticker, but more importantly, it serves as a cautionary tale for all men to be cautious about the type of women they date, especially those who exhibit extreme fandom and are willing to do anything for their favorite celebrities.
Still on the topic of provocative dancing, there was also a video that surfaced featuring Kunle Afoloyan engaging in a highly suggestive dance with his own daughter. The video raised concerns and accusations of inappropriate behavior, with some even suggesting it bordered on pedophilia. However, due to the recent Omah Lay incident still garnering significant attention, the video involving Kunle Afoloyan did not receive as much immediate focus.
Have we missed any significant viral or trending news items during the month of February that caught your attention? Share your thoughts below on what you believe was newsworthy. Don’t forget to engage with our social media handles to stay updated on the latest news bites as they happen each day.
