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).
His visit to Lagos and Nairobi cemented Africa’s tech future. His love of jollof rice cemented his place in our hearts.
Did this bicycle kick make 2016 worth living? Probably.
Chimamanda challenged beauty (and geek) stereotypes by being the face of No7.
ART X Lagos brought (even more) glamour to Nigeria.
Welcome to Lagos.
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).
Yes, this isn’t made up.
Peaceful transition of power? Check.
People made an art of taking the piss out of politicians.
And American media outlets…
Young people living in Dandora, a well known slum, are working together to clean it up.
