THIS week, remember this simple truth: life is for the living. Live it, savour it, laugh loudly and unapologetically because, my dear, that is how we win.
Sometimes I sit and think about how much we go through as a nation policy shocks, fuel price hikes, tax threats, new tariffs yet somehow, we still wake up the next morning, dress up, powder our faces, and face life with a little bit of Nigerian swag.
Like Femi Otedola said at his daughter’s wedding, “life is for the living.” And truly, Nigerians embody that spirit. Despite the chaos, we still find a way to smile. Maybe it’s the street hawker who calls out “Aunty fine!” just to make you laugh, or your little niece who waves at you as if you’re Beyoncé.
We live in a country where headlines can be exhausting strikes, inflation, protests but somehow, joy still sneaks in through the cracks. It’s in the smell of freshly roasted corn on a rainy evening. It’s in sharing suya with friends under a flickering bulb. It’s in that random Instagram meme that has you laughing at 7am or the wild banter on X even when your alarm just ruined the sweetest dream.
These small, precious joys are our quiet rebellion. They remind us that life is not just about survival, it’s about truly living. And perhaps that is how we endure by making space for the little things that make our hearts lighter.
We see it every Friday night when Lagos clubs are filled to capacity, even after a stressful workweek. We see it at owambes where women still show up in the brightest aso-ebi, gele tied like architectural wonders, as if to say: “You cannot dull my shine.” We see it at naming ceremonies in Kano where neighbours bring food, music blares, and everyone dances even though the price of rice just went up again.
We laugh in the face of chaos especially on social media. When hardship strikes, we reinvent ourselves with new side hustles, join co-ops, and somehow still find money to contribute to a friend’s wedding or baby dedication.
This is the beauty of life in Nigeria: even when the country feels like it’s trying to break us, we insist on joy. We may not always realize it, but these moments of laughter, of dance, of fellowship are the glue holding us together.
Our survival is not just in our ability to endure suffering; it is in our ability to live fully, dance boldly, gist endlessly, and find humour in the most unlikely places. Because if we wait until everything is perfect before we celebrate, we may never celebrate at all.
Nigeria is loud. The news is loud. The problems are loud. But these small joys these moments of lightness are our defiance and resistance. They remind us that life is not just about surviving; it is about living, loving, and laughing out loud.
Nigeria may test us, but it will never steal our joy. Because joy is our rebellion. Joy is our crown.
So, this week, notice those little things. Celebrate them. Take that picture of the orange sunset. Say yes to the hangout your colleague offered. Laugh loudly at that joke even if it’s silly. The world may be loud, but joy can be louder if we let it.
The country may feel heavy, but even the smallest dose of joy is still ours to choose every single day.
Voice just cleared its throat!
- Kabara is a writer and public commentator. Her syndicated column, Voice, appears on News Point Nigeria every Monday. She can be reached via hafceekay01@gmail.com.