‘Joba, Must You Joke About Everything?
On 8th September 2022, the Queen of England passed on. Several reactions have trailed her life and legacy. But one that has been quite sensational is the comment from a Professor of Nigerian origin at an American University who wished the late Queen “excruciating” pain in her last moments. According to the Professor, this was because the Queen had a role in some events that had caused her family pain. Again, more reactions have also trailed these allegations. But one comment that caught my attention in all the brouhaha that followed was a distant and relatively unnoticed wish for the Professor. The wish was just as unpleasant as hers’, if not worse.
Perhaps these wishes were also premised on personal encounters and events, perhaps not, but the comment made a valid point. Isn’t it a joke that someone who is absolutely unsure of the circumstances of their own death aspires to have a say in another person’s death?
On the 24th February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. As expected, this singular event would go on to lead to several other events around the world, some with global implications which are still being felt to date. The dynamics of this war have been interesting to follow. Before the invasion, there had been a lot of tension between both sides and several other third parties. Exploring these dynamics is, by itself, deserving of a full-length essay but what’s fun to note is that at the time of writing this, these dynamics are even more interesting as Ukraine currently seems to be ‘winning.’
Eight months ago, this would have been the substance of a good joke.
In 2023, Nigeria will hold its general elections. Currently, there are three major names leading the opinion polls for the seat of President. Of all three, the most popular candidate among the youth on social media is a former governor in Nigeria who has served in various capacities, both in private and public offices. Some of his achievements are being put in the spotlight just as the opposition has also committed to highlighting some of his failures. This leaves the average Nigerian on social media with a colorful collage of contrasting information backed by a digital mob that is always ready for ‘vawulence.’ The timeless comedy of democracy.
I’d go on and on, but at this point, you are probably wondering what the relevance of these events is to the question posed to me by the title of this article. The truth is they probably aren’t, and it’s just me making another bad joke about ‘everything’ in these random musing. About how us, our work, our friends, our choices, our reactions, and even our very existence, albeit transient, can be the subject of a good joke.
I don’t joke about everything, everything is a joke! I only crack as much as I can.
