SKIT-TIVISM IN NIGERIA

Artivism is a portmanteau word that combines Art and Activism, and is sometimes also referred to as Social Artivism. Artivism is seen when activism is exhibited through art. It involves the use of art which encompasses performance, writing or even singing as a means of speaking up for or against a particular topic or issue thereby fulfilling the idea that ‘Art is an expression’.

Overtime, there has been a robust augmentation in societal injustice and vices such as political corruption, tribal war, police brutality and harassment and several other seemingly incessant actions of depravity. These have greatly contributed in the backwardness and no development witnessed in the country. The society sinks because people are too afraid to challenge the perpetrators of these vices for fear of their lives. However, with the introduction and rise of Social Media Skit makers who have dedicated their platforms to challenging these societal injustices by adopting humor as their nexus for artivism, there is now evident and active artivism, particularly adapted through humor. Before the introduction of skits as a means of contesting these social abnormalities, artivists used their paintings, their music and every form of art they practiced, to dispute these topical matters. These however, usually resulted to a level of awareness of these situations and a little bit of tension due to the intensity in their works and its presentation. With the introduction of skits which employs humor to inform its wide audience and educate them about these issues, people are able to laugh about these situations and assimilate them in less tense and even more comfortable atmospheres.

Over the past decade, social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and twitter have provided a space for creative individuals to showcase their talents through short skits. These skits employ humor, satire and relatability to capture the attention of audiences, often touching on pressing social issues. The accessibility of such content has contributed to its viral nature and rapid dissemination. By employing satire, irony and parody, they skillfully navigate sensitive topics, making them more approachable and relatable and to a wider audience.

Features such as feeds, profiles, hash tags, reels, stories and groups on social media platforms increase visibility, amplifies voices and instantaneously spreads information and also make these information more accessible. Comedy on the other hand, attracts a plethora of attention from the general public, specifically on social media by hooking them with the beauty of its art. Comedy resonates with its audience and breeds a gateway to increased understanding of complex issues therefore, offering optimism. My study analyzes comedy as an indispensable source of influence and knowledge or information in this digital age and therefore argues that comedians in this age are both artists and technicians because they significantly carry the role of educating people through their jokes. With the use of comedy skits, these activists are able to reshape or redirect the expectations, assumptions and way of consumption of information, putting into consideration, the significant role the social media and media literacy plays in societal and personal development and growth.

Before the introduction of social media skits, there were stand-up comedians who made jokes about situations in their society as their contribution to change. Comedians such as Dick Gregory who was an American comedian, Civil rights leader, entrepreneur and vegetarian activist, there was also Jimmy Morales, a Guatemalan comedian who threw his name in the ring for the snap presidential election following a huge corruption scandal, there was also Russell Brand who spoke against inequality and corruption, there is also Adebowale Debo Adedayo who tries to act or re-enact situations, Ali Baba who made stand up jokes and sarcastically calls out political and societal ills, Fela Kuti who sang about the ills of the society; Esiaba Irobi who writes satirical plays, revolutionizing against the Government such as in his Nwokedi and Hangmen Also Die. Seen in these activists and works is the infusion of art and creativity to promote a cause. There is a common goal which is to speak up for or against an issue concerning the public and while others are signing petitions and organizing for movements and protests or demonstrations, these activists use their platforms to create voices for themselves and the affected.

In the past times, the involvement of art in activism grew from paintings and sculpting and protests, theatrical performances, standup comedy and then to social media skits which have not only proved to be the most effective due to its accessibility both from the comedian’s end and the audiences’ end but has also reached a wider audience than the other traditional means of activism. Through their scripts, compelling characters and impactful storytelling methods, these skits successfully and effectively raise awareness about social injustice, cultural, tribal or class bias and most importantly, systematic problems. By challenging established norms and sparking conversations, they promote empathy and encourage critical thinking. Amongst the many other powerful uses of the social media platforms, content creators who come from quite marginalized communities often use social media skits as a means of reclaiming their narratives and challenging stereotypes. By creating characters and situations that reflect their lived experiences, they empower themselves and others who identify with their stories. This representation not only fosters a sense of belonging but also challenges mainstream media’s limited portrayal of diverse voices. Social media platforms provide a virtual space for individuals to connect, share experiences and form communities.

Mr Macaroni who in this work is a case study in this context, is a visual representation of how well activists skits have grown and how much impact it has made. Mr Macaroni is a skit maker who has won the hearts of many Nigerians through his comedic representation of his culture which is the Yoruba culture and how he constantly challenges the government and societal situations through his skits. Since his rise to stardom, he has featured notable men and women in his skits and has engaged lots of content creators and skit makers such as the popular business mogul Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (The Ooni of Ife), Folarin Falana (Falz), James Ikechukwu Esomugha (Jim Iyke), Bukumi Adeaga-llori (Kiekie), Samuel Animashaun Perry (Broda Shaggy), Bimbo Ademoye, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu (Sabinus) and a host of other major content creators and famous personalities. He launched his acting career in 2012 and began skit-making around 2019 which had an uplifting breakthrough during the Endsars protest that was organized by Nigerian youths as a stance against police brutality and the operation of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). He uses the plot, the storyline and even characterization in his skits to emphasize the many societal vices, to draw people’s attention to the political corruption and to influence people’s thoughts and decisions about these topics. He infuses humor in his skits as an educative language and as a voice for a transformable society.

Social media comedy skits facilitate the creation of such communities, serving as a rallying point for like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same social causes. These communities can then mobilize, support each other and collaborate on real world activism, extending the reach and impact of their efforts. While social media skits have an immense impact within the digital realm, many content creators go beyond the screen to engage in real-world activism. They leverage their platforms to organize events, fundraisers and campaigns, partnering with NGOs, activists and social organizations. By bridging the gap between online and offline spaces, these content creators ensure that their activism extend beyond the confines of cyberspace. This study appraises the contribution of humor and social media skits in the fight against social injustice and the perceived breach in our standards of living. It evaluates the essence of humor and how it challenges the vices the society face. Segment by segment and with the help of thorough research, this works delves into the effect and importance of humor in artivism. It concludes by evaluating the essence of humor and educating its audience about it.

The contribution of humor to the essence of artivism cannot be overemphasized. It is important to understand that social media directly contributes to the general struggle to combat political and social ills. Before the introduction and establishment of skits in the Nigerian entertainment industry, there were so many ways through which activism was carried out. Some of these include the street arts, books, films, music, protests, demonstration, social media posts and so on. However, with the introduction of humor which levels from skits to stand up comedies and even comic books and movies, artivism has become even more accessible. These social issues that are preached about are the topics or subject matters; the social media is the platform on which these topics are spread while skits initiate creativity and innovations that make these matters less serious.