Being a Nigerian celebrity today goes beyond the glitz and the glamour on social media. On the outside, it is sweet as honey on a good day, but stressful as Lagos traffic on a rainy one.
In Nigeria, being a celebrity isn’t just about “living the life.” It’s about being a constant spectacle for fans and even the haters who come to the comments section to drop abusive words.
What are the things that Nigerian celebrities have to do to maintain that status? Let’s take a look at some of them.
Balancing talent with relevance
Talent used to be the only ticket needed, but in today’s Nigeria, the possession of talent has become just the beginning. The new game is all about being relevant. You might have all the talent in the world, sing like Wandecoal, and dance as well as P-Square, but if you don’t keep the hype alive, they will forget you faster.
The Nigerian celebrity now needs to be a part-time clout chaser or a full-time content machine. Churning out content every week to keep people interested.
Playing to the social media circus
Celebrities in Nigeria have to maintain appearances on all social media. Be it TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter.
Fans don’t just want to hear your music or watch your movies; they want to know where you had your lunch, what car you’re driving, which gym you’re going to, and what your captions mean.
Say goodbye to privacy
One minute, you’re stepping out for small enjoyment; the next, every blog will carry where you’re at, what you ordered, and why your shoe didn’t match your outfit. Being a Nigerian celebrity means saying your goodbyes to privacy.
Always “show workings”
The thing with fame here isn’t just good music or excellent acting; you have to “show working”. And what does “Show working” mean?
It means you must flex and even do “pepper dem” for the gram. It is not enough that you are talented; people want to know that you are living. They want to see the designer outfits, the weekend trips to Dubai, the luxury cars, and the endless bottles at Quilox.
Embrace Fanbase Wahala
A Nigerian celebrity isn’t complete without a loyal fanbase ready to go to war on Twitter any moment, no looking back. Wizkid has the Wizkid FC, Davido, the 30BG, and Burna Boy, the Outsiders.
Nigerian fans are loyal to a fault, and the bigger your fanbase, the more “stans” you have that will drag anyone on your behalf.
Deal with scandals (or don’t)
The reality that every Nigerian celebrity knows is that a scandal will come. Be it a leaked audio, messy relationship drama, or a business deal gone south.
How does one survive it? You either address it with “No comment” or you upload a highly dramatised apology video.
Cover image by Netng
