Comedy: Our Closest Companion in Times Of Sapa

Image Credit: Vecteezy.com

By Idowu Babosha

Sapa is real. If you’ve never opened your bank app, stared at N23.27, whispered “omooo” and quietly closed it like you never saw anything, then are you even Nigerian? If no, perhaps it would be fitting to play “not like us” by Kendrick Lamar for you. However, all jokes aside, the vast majority of us are not living, we are merely surviving, perhaps even just existing based on vibes (and Inshallah). And in this low-budget Nollywood movie called Nigeria, the only thing keeping the reel rolling is…Comedy!

Yes, forget data bundles that vanish mysteriously like Snape cast an unending spell of Evanesco on them, or NEPA’s toxic trait of ghosting us time and time again. The one thing that has not disappointed Nigerians so far is Comedy. While our country serves us agbado and cassava, comedy is giving light, joy, and pure madness in 60-second clips.

A while back, comedy was stage-bound, our parents only had the means to enjoy them at theaters and later on, those grainy home videos we all watched on DVD (good times). Baba Sala wore oversized agbada like it was a lifestyle choice. Sam Loco was dropping wisdom that made no sense and all the sense at the same time. Nkem Owoh (Osuofia himself) gave us full-time village confusion energy with international flair. Ding ding, Osuofia in London! And other notable mentions like Dejo Tunfulu, Baba Suwe, Lukuluku and others. Oh, the memories! 

But these days? We have skit makers swooping in like superheroes to save the day! Day by day, they drop contents that have us laughing through heartbreak, hunger, heartbreak caused by hunger, and the daily chaos of merely existing in Nigeria. It is free (somewhat) therapy, and all you need is a phone with enough battery and data to survive three scrolls.

We had the pioneer skit makers, Twyse, who showed us how you could be a comedy powerhouse all by yourself; Maraji, who used comedy to describe the various categories of humans we know and are; Kiekie, the tailor who always managed to get herself into trouble and her many “problem”! Let us not forget Mr Macaroni and Mummy wa, replicating the average cheating rich husband and his doting wife, their infusion of humor and social commentary made them stand out.

Joining them were others like Sabinus, a.k.a. Mr. Funny, showing up in his iconic blue shirt to remind you that being broke is a full-time spiritual experience. Brainjotter, who is always ready to shift nonsense out of his life and boy, oh boy! Do we not all relate? Taaooma’s mama character has slapped her way into the nation’s heart, proving that the trauma of Nigerian parenting is, in fact, universal. 

However , let’s not forget the even more recent skit makers; Meshkiey, whose videos never fail to make us feel an overload of secondhand embarrassment, together with Two Glasses. Nigerians are still having issues deciding whose content between them both has admitted them into the department of “shame wear me…”. Also, would a list of skitmakers bear any weight if Gilmore's name is not included? Taking it upon himself to showcase how each of us have lived our lives in seemingly similar manners? His skits are one we never cease to find both funny and relatable. 

These skit makers are few out of the many who have brought smiles to our faces and made us forget the flashing red state of our accounts. But why is this brand of humor so powerful, you may ask?

Permit me to say this, “relatability na your mate?” Nigerians do not just watch skits, they see themselves. That video where a guy drinks garri for a month because he used his allowance to flex for a crush? That’s not a random video, that is your homeboy, Newton’s monthly habit! 

The skit about a person acting like they are angels when with older people but turning round into the actual devil when with friends? That is you! These skits do not just make us laugh, they heal, they are a coping mechanism, one we do not hesitate to share with friends with the caption, “Guyyyy, too real!.”

And let’s be honest, Comedy has become the number one love language for Nigerians. Who needs flowers when you can laugh together at the absurdity of your life’s situation? Is the flame of your friendship/relationship even burning if you do not get at least five “....shared a video/photos with you” daily?

The beauty of Nigerian comedy is that it is built on resilience, sarcasm, and the ability to laugh at ourselves before the universe beats us to it. It is not just jokes, it is a cultural and social commentary, mood-lifting magic, and a subtle reminder that no matter how bad things get, at least someone out there has made it funny enough to share.

So yes, sapa might be the national condition, but comedy? It is the best friend we never knew we needed. Loyal, consistent, and always ready to gently roast our lives.