We can’t even deny it, 2016 has been an utter shitstorm and filled with WTF moments. Like most, we are now just counting down till we can get rid of this useless year. Where do we even begin with the continuous bad news?
Some of favourite acting and music icons died (why Prince whyyyy??? RIP Papa Wemba).
Wars, plane crashes, terrorism and scandal ruled the news more than ever.
‘No money, mo problems’ continued to be the theme tune for Africa’s biggest economies: South Africa and Nigeria as well as other countries battered by financial crisis.
Zuma stayed.
Buhari did nothing.
Taylor Swift stayed.
Brexit happened.
And then Trump won…. still in after-shock about that one.
Sometimes it feels like we’d have been better off if we’d simply skipped from 2015 to 2017… But then you wouldn’t get to see the 20 reasons 2016 was (just about) worth it:
Amber Rose exposed Kanye West’s sexual ‘deviances’ with the biggest Twitter beef of the year (until Kanye beefed Taylor Swift).
Awww @kanyewest are u mad I'm not around to play in ur asshole anymore? #FingersInTheBootyAssBitch☝
— Amber Rose (@DaRealAmberRose) January 27, 2016
His visit to Lagos and Nairobi cemented Africa’s tech future. His love of jollof rice cemented his place in our hearts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJx8-b5hdPO/?taken-by=zuck
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ02lI5Bd3v/?taken-by=zuck
Did this bicycle kick make 2016 worth living? Probably.
Chimamanda challenged beauty (and geek) stereotypes by being the face of No7.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the new face of Boots UK No7. This is so major and so beautiful to see! https://t.co/6UZuBd7R73
— afrobella (@afrobella) October 19, 2016
ART X Lagos brought (even more) glamour to Nigeria.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMOXH2MBSxB/?taken-by=artxlagos
Welcome to Lagos.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCbmpahyHhw/
It was the first time an African dictator held accountable in Africa by Africans (Chad’s ex-ruler Hissene Habre – a nasty individual – was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison at a landmark trial in Senegal.)
#ThisFlag showed that peaceful protest is live and well in Zimbabwe. (Yes, we know Mugabe is running again in 2018 but still).
Thankful to be named on #GlobalThinkers 2016. The heros are the amazing citizens of Zimbabwe #ThisFlag @ThisFlag1980 https://t.co/VYFOeyralb
— Evan Mawarire (@PastorEvanLive) December 13, 2016
Yes, this isn’t made up.
Anna "Tannie Ans" Botha, coach of 400m #RSA #Gold Wayde Van Niekerk, is a #gsport11 COACH OF THE YEAR finalist. pic.twitter.com/a74TSl9IR2
— gsport4girls (@gsport4girls) August 15, 2016
Peaceful transition of power? Check.
Ghana is consistently one of those African countries that gives the western media nothing negative to report about Africa.#GhanaDecides
— Mwangi (@x_stopher) December 8, 2016
People made an art of taking the piss out of politicians.
#CourberDosChallenge Cameroon Minister greets President 'too respectfully' inspiring national meme https://t.co/Nl78SwDc3z #BidoungChallenge pic.twitter.com/N3GFpkxjWe
— CGTN Africa (@cgtnafrica) December 12, 2016
And American media outlets…
My Ghana people. Shall we do something let @CNN know we are tired of their lazy reportage of our election? Tweet them with #CNNGetItRight pic.twitter.com/A4E7GY0fp3
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) December 11, 2016
Young people living in Dandora, a well known slum, are working together to clean it up.
The young people clearing up Nairobi one slum at a time @DTL_in_Dandora Support them: https://t.co/chehD2dAs1 pic.twitter.com/mHsev94SIk
— TRUE Africa (@_TRUEAfrica) November 21, 2016
