As the curtains drew to a close on the enthralling Nigerian Idol Season 8, the seasons’s winner, Victory Gbakara and the 1st runner-up Precious Mac’s triumphant visit to the TECNO Store at Ikeja City Mall (ICM) illuminated a profound connection between the brand and the hearts of Nigerians. Beyond being a leading mobile technology company, TECNO has etched an indelible mark in the nation’s soul through strategic sponsorships like Nigerian Idol, where it passionately supports the dreams of young Nigerians.
TECNO’s strategic sponsorship of Nigerian Idol for the third-year running has paved the way for aspiring singers to showcase their talents on a grand stage, embarking on self-discovery and growth. With each season, the show unearths gems like the Season 8 winner, whose extraordinary vocal prowess captivated the nation and rekindled the magic of music in the hearts of millions. By providing a platform that elevates the dreams of young talents, TECNO has become a beacon of empowerment, inspiring young Nigerians to reach for the stars.
Coming from a trailblazing journey that took all by storm, the Nigerian Idol Season 8 winner was welcomed with heartwarming cheers as he stepped into the TECNO Store at Ikeja City. There, he interacted with fans and customers and also presented gifts to customers who bought CAMON 20 and the PHANTOM V FOLD. The exuberant atmosphere was a testament to the indelible mark he left during his time on the show.
Indeed, his soul-stirring performances, magnetic stage presence, and powerful vocal prowess had struck a chord with millions of viewers, who saw his story and journey as a beacon of light in dark times.
During his stint in the Nigerian Idol house, Victory proved to be a force to be reckoned with. His breathtaking renditions of popular hits and soulful originals set the stage on fire week after week, leaving the judges and audience in awe of his talent. He effortlessly conveyed raw emotions with each performance, deeply connecting nationwide viewers.
TECNO’s commitment to engaging with its customers shone through as the Nigerian Idol winner engaged in delightful activities, interacted with fans, signed autographs, and posed for pictures, thus stopping at nothing to provide a sense of camaraderie that transcends business boundaries. TECNO’s dedication to the growth and success of past winners remains unwavering.
L-R, Winner of Nigerian Idol Season 8, Victory Gbakara and Ist Runner-up, Precious Mac receiving their prizes
In the past, the brand has taken winners on exhilarating trips to places like Kenya, providing them with unforgettable experiences. For the latest winner, Victory, TECNO has planned an exciting trip to South Africa, a testament to the brand’s commitment to nurturing talent and broadening horizons.
Additionally, TECNO has always celebrated the accomplishments of its winners through cash gifts and engaging product experiences. The brand’s support doesn’t end with the show’s conclusion but continues as the winners embark on their musical journey. In an ever-evolving world, TECNO’s impact on the lives of young Nigerians goes beyond the realm of mobile technology. Through initiatives like Nigerian Idol, the brand becomes a driving force in shaping dreams and destinies, illuminating a path of limitless possibilities for the future.
With each season, TECNO reaffirms its position as a brand that provides innovative technology and serves as a catalyst for empowering dreams, elevating talents, and touching the hearts of millions of Nigerians. To learn more, follow TECNO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Questions
This is a question
You got #{score}/#{total}
Say the truth. Are you Big Brother?
You got #{score}/#{total}
With a score like this, why are you not in the Big Brother house?
You got #{score}/#{total}
Hmmm, not bad. Flexing that Big Brother knowledge.
You got #{score}/#{total}
Were you guessing?
You got #{score}/#{total}
It’s like you don’t know anything about the show. You just hear of it.
As the 2023-24 season approaches, football clubs around the world are collaborating with major sporting brands to create their team jerseys. Zikoko presents 10 of the hottest new jerseys released.
The simple white design is the trademark of all Real Madrid home jerseys, and the gold stripes on the collar, shoulder and sleeves give it an extra pop. You can wear this jersey on your wedding day.
Adidas went all out on this one. It’s clean, simple and easily identifiable. The three-stripe Adidas trademark makes an appearance on the v-neck, elevating the look even further.
You might ask, what can you do with just black and white? Juventus knows how to make these simple colours iconic every time. Now, they look like Zebra stripes. And the gold accent is everything.
The invincible team of 2004 jersey inspired this 20th anniversary version. It features vertical zigzag lines that make it stand out. But what’s with the gold stripes on everyone’s jersey this season? Anyway, Arsenal may have lost the league last season, but they can at least look good as they make another title charge.
Ajax’s Bob Marley-inspired jersey was a big online sensation in 2022, but this is the first time in over 30 years that they’ll have a white away jersey, and they made sure not to miss. The light pink and green pattern subtly plastered across the jersey is just too brilliant a touch.
This catchy design is the result of a contest organised to appreciate their fans across the world. The jersey features a silhouette of the home stadium across the front. Not many designs can make black and yellow look better than Lagos danfos, but Dortmund fans understood the assignment.
What makes this kit special is the absence of a sponsor name on the front, leaving the focus on the timeless design. It’s a nostalgic nod to the 90s, paying tribute to the club’s iconic 1997-98 season. The reflective gold logos add to that vintage feel.
This jersey draws inspiration from the Monte Rosa mountain in Turin, Italy. Departing from their traditional black away kits of recent years, Juventus’s new jersey looks fresh and vibrant in white and Barbie pastel.
The jersey pays homage to the vibrant energy of the city of Milan, and the enduring legacy of the club, with mesmerising tonal graphics. The real showstopper lies in the black and red stripes that ingeniously form an ‘M’ at the center of the jersey, seamlessly blending with the tonal stripes.
There isn’t much going on here, but that’s exactly what this jersey has going for it. The white collar and sleeve cuffs highlight the cherry-red body of the jersey perfectly.
At 6.03 p.m. on July 3rd, 2023, the referee took one last look at his watch, and in three quick breaths, blew his whistle. Sporting Lagos, the team in the blue jersey, had won by 2 goals to nil against Abeokuta Stormers.
Sporting Lagos had gotten an important job done. Their win meant they’d successfully completed what they set out to do at the beginning of the season. In less than two years, they’d become a top-flight team with a social media following of over 35,000 and would play in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) the next season.
How did they do it?
Sporting Lagos players celebrate as their promotion is confirmed
Let’s Go Sporting: The Beginning
On February 3, 2022, Sporting Lagos was introduced to the world and started its race to play first-division Nigerian football.
When a new football club is created in Nigeria, they start in the lower tiers of club football and work their way up to the first division. Sporting Lagos started their journey in the Nigerian National League (NNL), and like any ambitious club, wanted promotion into the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) in their first season. But such a feat doesn’t come easily. For context, Remo Stars FC, also a privately-owned club, played in the NNL for six years before their promotion into the first division in 2016.
On February 13, 2022, The Sporting Lagos team filed out at Teslim Balogun Stadium for their debut match against Go Round FC of Rivers State. That match ended in a 1-1 draw. Sporting Lagos would endure a tough first season, winning only eight out of 24 matches played, and finishing in the bottom half of the table.
Although Sporting Lagos didn’t gain promotion, they were building something they could be proud of — a community of supporters.
Let’s Go Sporting: A Community of Young Football Fans
Sporting Fans
Every football club is made of directors, players, coaching and non-coaching staff, but the supporters bring it all together. Any team that has a strong fan base plays with an extra sense of confidence. The supporters are the driving force, the engine.
The most successful football clubs and tournaments are well known because of the effort they put into fan engagement. The clubs regarded as the biggest aren’t always the richest, but those with the most fans. Even the World Cup is driven by building a community of fans. With a global audience of over 1.5 billion viewers, it’s one of the most commercially viable ventures in the world.
Sporting Lagos’ understanding of the fan community is clear in the way it engaged them.
Rector, an event management consultant, has worked with Sporting Lagos since 2022 and helped the club build a fan base of match-goers in Lagos State tertiary institutions, especially the Lagos State University of Technology (LASUTECH). He’s part of the club’s strategy to attract fans to match venues and provide the best match-day experience.
“Many people aren’t interested in watching local live matches. We have to find a way to convince them. After enjoying themselves at one Sporting Lagos match, it’s a lot easier to convince them to come for another one,” he said.
“Sporting Lagos targets the student community in higher institutions in Lagos — University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Federal College of Education, Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State University of Technology (LASUTECH).”
Rector, a LASUTECH alumnus himself, had been organising parties in and around Ikorodu since 2021, which made him the ideal candidate to preach the gospel of Sporting Lagos to young people in the area.
To build a true football-loving community, Sporting Lagos understood that universities are hotspots for young passionate people, so they invested in consultants like Rector with networks in Lagos-based higher institutions.
Sporting Lagos provided the students with transportation to and from the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, the club’s current home stadium and this made the persuasion process easier. By their second season in the NNL, about 1,000 students attended Sporting Lagos games.
These days, a convincing indication of Sporting’s appeal to the public is the array of fans that come out to watch their games. A staggering number of Gen Zs and millennials troop in on every match day. The spectators are not short of older folks either, but a bulk of the fans are young people.
Sporting Fans
Matchdays at Sporting Lagos’ home stadium feature celebrity appearances and performances. There are also several halftime games. One that’s particularly attention-grabbing is a raffle draw to pick fans who are given a chance to play penalty kicks and win cash prizes of up to ₦100k if they score.
With ticket prices ranging from ₦50k for VIPs to as low as ₦1k, everyone is guaranteed their money’s worth.
Sporting Lagos’ commitment to creating the best matchday experience works so well that people who were passive football followers have been converted into passionate fans and now have an incentive to go to these matches.
“I don’t even like football like that, but I love going to these games. It’s like a party where you just come to have fun. You meet and vibe with other fans,” Aminat, a LASUTECH student and Sporting Lagos fan said.
Sporting Lagos’ Second Season and How Big Dreams Are Sponsored
While the Nigerian League isn’t on the same level as its European counterparts, there’s been a conscious effort to boost its reputation. A major problem the league faces is most of the clubs are government-owned, and most administrations see sports as a secondary venture, preferring to focus the budget on other sectors. Where medical doctors are often owed salaries, for example, the renovation of a football team’s training ground is an expense that can wait.
Private football clubs take the burden of sports administration off the government while giving the fans what they want — a strong, well-established team they can rally behind. Private clubs need money, and for Sporting Lagos, this meant they needed sponsors.
March 2023 was a turning point in Sporting Lagos’ NPFL ambitions, chronicled by two announcements. Sporting Lagos had bagged multiple partnerships with big brands, but none bigger than an e-commerce tech company, Klasha, its official sponsor. They also appointed a new coach, Paul Offor, to lead the team to first-division glory.
An animated Paul Offor on the touchline.
The NNL also had some news, announcing changes to the league structure. The league was divided into two conferences: Northern and Southern. There’d be four groups of six teams in each conference, and the teams that led their respective groups would qualify for the promotion round of games, called the playoffs.
NNL League Structure
Subsequently, the eight teams that made the playoffs would be split into two groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group would gain promotion to the top division — The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Playoffs Structure
And the race started again.
Perhaps due to the world-class equipment accessed through the Klasha deal or the appointment of the new team coach — Sporting Lagos ended the new season with a spot in the NPFL playoff. By their final game for the season, Sporting only needed to top Ijebu United’s result as they were tied on points to advance to the playoffs. Their 4-0 victory over Smart City FC at home on June 13, 2023, was enough to do this. Although Ijebu United beat Joy Cometh FC 3-1, it wasn’t enough to guarantee a playoff spot for them.
Sporting Lagos advanced to the playoffs on goal difference.
In the three-game-long group stage of the playoff round, they won their first game, earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over FC One Rocket, before storming past Abeokuta Stormers Sports Club in a 2-0 victory. They lost the last game of the group 2-1 against Heartland — the eventual NNL champions. But they finished second in the group, and it was all they needed to book their spot in the NPFL next season.
Winning the NNL would’ve been great. However, if you had told them at the start of the season that they would gain promotion into the NPFL, they probably would’ve missed a heartbeat.
Sporting Fans
Let’s Go Sporting, Let’s Go!
We’re witnessing the fastest organic growth a Nigerian football club has seen in decades. But regardless of how well Sporting Lagos does in the NPFL, the story of a club that prides itself in fan-focused entertainment is one that will interest people for a long time to come.
“Sporting’s mix of football and the Lagos fun culture is a glimpse into what is possible if grassroots football is taken seriously in Nigeria. Hopefully, many well-run football clubs in the NPFL will spring up from the Sporting example and make Nigerian football fun again,” Ayoola, a writer at Pulse Sports, told Zikoko.
Coach Paul Offor, barking orders at Ozaveshe Balogun.
Perhaps the culture of Sporting Lagos — one that builds a fanbase from the ground up, makes tough decisions like hiring a new coach, and closes deals that propel dreams — is efficiency. According to Rector, the event consultant, one of the reasons why he enjoys working with Sporting is the efficiency of salary payment.
“If it was one government club now, they’d say the head of financial affairs or something hasn’t signed off on our payment yet,” he said, laughing at the idea of carrying out the same job for a government-owned club.
Apart from the money, he stressed how organised the whole setup is. “This team will gain promotion soon. I can feel it,” he said.
He was right.
Rector is not the only believer in the Sporting Lagos project. Jidechi, a journalist, told Zikoko that he’s been impressed by Sporting Lagos’ growth in the past year.
“I’ve been at most of their home matches, and they understand how to run a football club like real professionals. When you’re fan-centric as a football business, the results will show. Not many clubs in Nigeria understand this, but Sporting — despite being just barely over a year old — are hacking it already,” he said.
The 2022/2023 season was an unprecedented fairytale campaign for Sporting Lagos, but two years of work, growth and courage from everyone involved with the football club got them here. The good thing is that the story isn’t over, and as this chapter of Sporting Lagos in the NNL ends, the one that tells the story of their journey in the NPFL is set to begin.
LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, the unscripted African Original on Prime Video, is not just a hilarious comedy competition but also a platform for making a positive impact on society. In addition to the fierce battle for laughter supremacy, the show highlights the philanthropic endeavours of its talented cast. Each comedian participating in this six-part series has the opportunity to donate a staggering 40 million NGN to a local charity of their choice. Join us as we delve into the charitable causes supported by the comedians of LOL: Last One Laughing Naija and discover how they are spreading smiles and giving back.
Mr. Funny aka Sabinus – Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice
Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice aspires to provide a safe haven filled with love and attention for special children. Mr. Funny’s support for this organization aims to enhance the quality service delivery and care provided to these children in a relaxed and serene environment. By championing this cause, Mr. Funny showcases the importance of creating a nurturing space for children with special needs.
I Go Save – The Irede Foundation
The Irede Foundation focuses on empowering children who live with congenital and/or acquired limb loss. Through his participation in LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, I Go Save aims to make every child amputee a champion who lives a life without the limitations of a missing limb. By supporting this foundation, I Go Save strives to end discrimination against amputees and provide equal opportunities for all.
Dat Warri Girl – The Royal Charity for Widows and Orphans
Dat Warri Girl’s involvement in LOL: Last One Laughing Naija extends beyond comedy as she sheds light on The Royal Charity for Widows and Orphans. Founded by Mrs. Elizabeth Ojuromu Dortie, this organisation collaborates with aligned NGOs, agencies, and the government to meet the needs of widows and their children. Dat Warri Girl’s support aims to uplift and provide for these vulnerable individuals and their families.
Senator – Child Love Advocacy and Protection Initiative
Senator’s comedic timing and satirical insights take on a deeper meaning as he supports the Child Love Advocacy and Protection Initiative (CLAPAI) orphanage. CLAPAI was created as an intervention tool to care for children orphaned by or infected with HIV/AIDS. Senator’s contribution helps provide quality education and care for vulnerable children affected by the scourge of poverty.
Buchi – Optimal Children’s Home
Buchi’s lively performances and witty punchlines extend beyond the stage as he supports Optimal Children’s Home. This establishment serves as a haven for abandoned children, orphans, and the homeless. Buchi’s involvement aims to provide these children with the benefits of a loving home, access to education, clothing, and a chance at a brighter future.
Kie Kie – The Purple Girl Foundation
The Purple Girl Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the education of underprivileged female children in Nigeria. Kie Kie’s support focuses on empowering girls at every level, from primary to tertiary education. By providing opportunities and support, Kie Kie aims to create a positive change in the lives of these girls and their communities.
McAcCapella – The Sickle Cell Foundation
The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria is dedicated to proper care and control of sickle cell disorder in the country. Through his participation in LOL: Last One Laughing Naija, McAcCapella aims to evaluate the disorder and raise awareness, ultimately working towards finding possible cures. His support helps alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with sickle cell disorder.
Taaooma – Little Saints Orphanage
Taaooma’s involvement in LOL: Last One Laughing Naija aligns with her commitment to providing opportunities and support for orphans and abused children. Little Saints Orphanage offers rehabilitation, education, and activities to ensure a brighter future for these vulnerable children. Taaooma’s contribution emphasises the importance of investing in education and the holistic well-being of children.
Okey Bakassi – The Pacelli School for the Blind
Okey Bakassi’s support extends to The Pacelli School, Nigeria’s foremost institution for blind and partially sighted children. The school, established in 1962, provides education, facilities, and welfare support to visually impaired students. Okey Bakassi’s involvement helps create an inclusive environment and ensures that visually impaired individuals receive the necessary support to thrive.
Gandoki – The Centre for Destitute Empowerment
Gandoki’s participation in LOL: Last One Laughing Naija aligns with his commitment to empowering disabled children. The Centre for Destitute Empowerment uses education and support to unlock the abilities within every disabled child. Gandoki’s support helps create an inclusive space where disabled individuals can thrive and showcase their unique talents.
LOL: Last One Laughing Naija is not only a laughter-filled entertainment extravaganza but also a platform that highlights the charitable endeavours of its talented comedians. From Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice to The Centre for Destitute Empowerment, each comedian has chosen a cause close to their heart. Through their participation in this show, they are using their humour and popularity to make a positive impact on society. The smiles they bring on the show are not just for laughs, but also for the lives they touch and the charitable organisations they support. Together, they are spreading smiles, giving back, and creating a brighter future for those in need.
Tick all the bus stops you know
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Don’t lie, you’ve worked as a conductor before abi?
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You spend your days touring Lagos?
You got #{score}/#{total}
You hardly even leave our bed. You can’t survive as a conductor
You got #{score}/#{total}
Do you even live in Lagos at all or you’re pretending?
You got #{score}/#{total}
You dubbed, dubn’t you?
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I knew I could count on you to deliver.
You got #{score}/#{total}
And I had high hopes for you.
You got #{score}/#{total}
Please, tell me this is a joke.
You got #{score}/#{total}
You did very well.
Losing your hard-earned money is always a bitter pill to swallow. I had a chat with some Nigerians who’d either been scammed outrightly or had relationships breakdown because of money.
“She said I was disturbing her because of ₦5k” — I.I., 27
A friend reached out to me in 2019 that she needed ₦5k, talking about how urgent it was. That was the only money I had at the time. I was just waiting for my salary to save me. But I decided to take her word for it and give it to her. She said she needed it in cash, so she sent someone to get it from me. I had to leave my house and trek to give the person she sent.
After a few days, I didn’t hear from her; a week after, still nothing. Almost a month after, I called her and was like, “Babe, you promised you were going to send this money back the next day. I’m still waiting o.” This girl switched up on me and started shouting that I was disturbing her because of ₦5k.
I was shocked. I just told her not to worry about it. It was a learning curve for me. Since that time, if it’s not money I can part with without suffering, I’m not lending.
“He had the audacity to tell us we’d been scammed” — Dipo, 18
When I was about 16, me and my guys were testing the waters of sports betting. Somehow, I linked up with this dude who said he sold fixed games. I can’t remember how much my classmates and I contributed to give him, but it must have been about ₦15k. We even begged him to pity us since we were secondary school students. We paid him, and he sent us the so-called fixed game scores. He promised a refund if the games didn’t end as he’d predicted. We placed our bets, and of course, we lost. This man had the audacity to tell us straight up that we’d been scammed. I’d never felt so stupid in my life.
“I may have been hypnotised” — Elizabeth, 24
After WAEC in 2015, my parents thought staying at home wouldn’t help me, so they enrolled me in a vocational training school to learn bead-making. On my way home one day, I met this brother who started speaking French to me. He showed me an address on a piece of paper, and it looked familiar. Then in broken English, he said that he came from Cameroon looking for his uncle, but people had been scamming him. Then some guy who claimed to be a police officer sprang out from nowhere and promised we would take him to the address. We got into a bus, and I paid for the three of us. The Cameroonian dude kept thanking me. He bragged about how rich his brother was and how he was sure he would repay me for my kindness. All I could think about was how much I was going to be compensated.
In the bus, aman who claimed to be a pastor said he’d seen a vision that we’d all made a covenant. He asked us to go home and bring whatever money we could find. He asked the policeman if he was living with his brother, and the officer confirmed it. I thought, “There’s no way he could’ve known that if he wasn’t a seer of some sort.” I didn’t know it was a ploy to get me to believe the whole thing.
I don’t know if I was under the influence of something or just scared, but I went home and sneaked into my mum’s room to take her cooperative money.
I went back to these men to give them the money. It was on my way home that I realised what had just happened. I nearly cried my eyes out. Thankfully, my parents were just happy I was safe.
“I thought I was paying for delivery” — Deborah, 31
It happened on Facebook in 2016. I was following this Funke Akindele account because I’m a big fan. And because of the large number of followers, I assumed it was an authentic account. One day, I participated in their giveaway, and they announced me as the winner. The prize was a laptop, phone and more, but they said I’d have to pay ₦10k for delivery from Abuja to Lagos. I was overjoyed, so I didn’t care. They sent me the delivery person’s number, I sent the delivery fee, but he called me to send an extra ₦1k for credit. After I sent that, I never heard from him again. It was then I realised the account wasn’t Funke Akindele’s real account. I was disappointed in myself. I didn’t know who to report to, or how to even go about it, so I decided to forget it and count my losses.
“I lost all the money in my account” — Ada 38
In 2019, I wanted to start a POS business, so I reached out to a person who claimed to be an Opay agent online. He said I’d have to credit my Opay account with at least ₦20k. I did that. He then said an OTP would be sent to me, and I had to send it to him so he can activate the POS for me. I did that, and he wiped all the money from my account. My baby sister’s school fees was in that account.
“I transferred ₦170k. This man said he didn’t see it” — Obinna, 30
I’m a travel agent who does visas for people. One day, one of my clients asked me to help pay visa fee for one of his customers. I’d normally make these payments with my dollar card, but it was down on that day, so I hopped on a Nairaland thread where you can meet vendors to assist with visa fee payments. I’d been using Nairaland for over six years, so I was confident in my ability to identify scammers. I found a cheap vendor, and in my haste and excitement, I didn’t run the necessary background checks on him.
I sent him ₦170k. This man said he didn’t see it. I called my sister who works at my bank, and she confirmed that he’d recieved it. Then, this dude blocked me. I decided to check the guy’s history on Nairaland and saw that many people had called him out for scamming them. Terrible experience.
“They spent far more than what they owed me” — Tobi, 21
In 2023, I was broke and unemployed. I had a friend who was working and living an expensive life. But when they asked me to lend them some money, I didn’t find it strange because they’d done that before. I gave it to them, and they promised to return it the next day.
The next day, I went to visit them, and they suggested we go to the salon. This person spent far more than what they owed me, right there, in front of me. When we got home, I asked for my money, and they claimed not to have it. I was stunned. I got the money a few days later, but seeing them do those things while still owing me, lives rent-free in my head.
Let’s talk about birthdays.
It’s tradition. People set one day aside to celebrate the day they were born. It sounds like absolutely normal practice, and we’ve become used to it.
But I don’t celebrate birthdays.
Alright, let me rephrase — I don’t celebrate my birthday.
This has nothing to do with religion — one of the most common reasons for not celebrating birthdays. I’ve just never been gingered to celebrate a day that marks my birth. I see people celebrate theirs — my friends plan whole hangouts and parties just to — and I absolutely support the dedication. It’s amazing to see, but I’m far too lazy for all that.
I don’t do birthday cakes either. Although I’ll finally buy myself one on my next birthday just to know what it’s like, I’ll still hole up in bed, wondering what I’ve made of my life. At least, I’ll be able to literally have my cake and eat it.
But this article isn’t about why I don’t celebrate birthdays, it’s about why you do, or shouldn’t.
The first issue is how can you celebrate the day when you have no way of knowing you were born on that specific day. You just have to take everyone’s word for it. You could’ve been born three months earlier for all you know. How do you know you’re not celebrating it on the wrong day?
You’re managing your back and still spend weeks planning a birthday. You’ll turn event decorator, MC — and in some cases, chef — and still be the birthday celebrant. It’s too much stress, in my not-so-humble opinion.
You’re simply one year closer to death. Why are you celebrating that?
To take a leaf out of my dead great-grandma’s playbook, witches and wizards abound, and celebrating your birthday simply reminds them you’re alive. The best way to avoid your village people is to go under the radar, yet you want to organise a concert for them to convene?
I’m not trying to be a party pooper. I just want to open your eyes to all possibilities. I still believe everyone should celebrate their birthdays anyway. If not for anything but because it’s another full year you’ve survived Nigeria.
