With all sorts of conflicts and health challenges facing Africa, does any sensible Nigerian or even African celebrity (or whosoever) need to join the Western bandwagon called “ice bucket challenge”? Must we copy every action taken in the West to justify our quest for individual modernization?
Outspoken Nollywood critic, Charles Novia is not a happy man because most Nigerian celebrities are suffering from second class mentality. But it is not only our celebrities, the list includes mainly of our so called educated or “enlightened” people that equates copying Western/American lifestyles to being on the top of the “civilization” strata. The great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called this phenomenon colo mentality.
Novia’s argument is based on the decision of some Nigerian entertainment stars such as Mavin boss, Don Jazzy, Nollywood Diva, Genevieve Nnaji, Project Fame revelation, Iyanya, sensation half of singing duo, Psquare, Peter Okoye among others to join the Ice Bucket Challenge, stressing that their action demonstrate their inferiority complex and eagerness to follow the path of Western celebs. He urged them to re-channel their energy to campaign against diseases and challenges in Nigeria such as the Ebola Virus Disease.
Does anyone need to tell these celebrities of the multitudes of health problems facing Nigeria or Africa generally?
It will be recalled that Don Jazzy, Genevieve, Inyanya, Peter Okoye have taken part in the Ice Bucket challenge. The Ice bucket challenge is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on one’s head or donating to the ALS Association in the United States. It went viral throughout social media during the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2014.The action is aimed at raising money for research into ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease) and in the UK to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Macmillan Cancer Support.
So who is going to raise awareness for Malaria (number one killer disease in Africa), HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Infant mortality and the list goes on.
Africa needs creative-minded individuals that can project the continent out of the dark image conceptualization by the West. These so called celebrities need to be smart and start setting up campaign project that will inspire change in the continent. Copying or following Western challenges (ice bucket) is neither ideal nor a good way to turn things around in the continent.
My advice to our celebrities, we are proud of you but you need to get creative by looking inward and embarking on awareness campaign on issues facing Africa.
abeg we have so much work to do.
Below are some of the Ice Bucket tweets from Charles Novia
I am sorry to say but our Nigerian Artistes are something else at times. The Ice bucket thing for ALS is a good example of their cootishness
— charles novia (@charlesnovia) August 21, 2014
Really! Must you do it because it's trending? If you must follow the USA lead, then come together for Ebola. Dove tail on that.
— charles novia (@charlesnovia) August 21, 2014
Enough of this second – class mentality. Find the originality for positivity in your inner recesses. Don't do it cos Dre or Beyonce did it.
— charles novia (@charlesnovia) August 21, 2014
Punishment for slaves in 1858 is now Celebrity follow follow in 2014. Good morning Nigerians cc: @charlesnovia pic.twitter.com/MGmggkGj70
— Ayo Shonaiya (@AyoShonaiya) August 26, 2014
