January has been a whirlwind month. Which is to say that the first few weeks of the year has come with a glut of controversies and fiery topics. In the United States, President Trump continues his campaign of chaos deploying an armada of armed Federal agents to the state of Minnesota, where the political temperature has been at a historical high since an ICE agent shot at Renee Good three, leaving the 37-year-old mother of three dead. In Nigeria a fiery debate fomented by Seun Kuti has dominated the news cycle for days now. At the heart of this debate is Wizkid and the late Afrobeat pioneer and activist Fela Kuti. Seun Kuti has claimed that Wizkid’s fanbase undermines his father’s legacy by constantly pitting him against Wizkid. Part of his discontent seems to stem from Wizkid not reining in his fans by shutting down the comparison, presumably by issuing a statement. As it stands, the mudslinging between both parties seems to have peaked and fans have moved on to the next contentious topic with the zeal of a hyperactive child who continues to dispense with his old toys as soon as a shiny new one comes along. IShowSpeed’s arrival in Nigeria has come with a flurry of titillating internet discourse. Local influencers have pulled off insane stunts to see the 21-year-old world-renowned streamer, Nigeria has also gratuitously supplied added drama. Much has been said about the quality of activities his Nigerian chaperone organized. For those outside the loop of this conversation, the consensus is that Speed’s Nigerian stream pales in comparison to the other African countries he has visited for his Africa Tour. Amid this rowdy backdrop, in usual fashion, I have curated a selection of pop culture topics that have excited me in recent days, and distilled my thoughts on them. 

Kai Cenat is Poised For a New Era

The past few months have found popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat undergoing a radical transformation. When, late last year, he announced his intention to move on from streaming, possibly to fashion or acting, many laughed it off as a joke, or perhaps magical thinking. Why would he leave his comfortable position as one of the biggest streamers in the world and start over in a field where he has no experience? Others were less charitable, branding him as ungrateful and confused. Starting on the first day of this month, Kai Cenat has increasingly cleared doubts regarding his seriousnessness and offered glimpses into his mental state. In a YouTube video titled “I Quit,” filmed on a beach under the haze of golden sunlight, he revealed that live streaming had increasingly left him feeling hollow, culminating in a depressive episode. Recently, he has begun posting videos about his journey into the world of fashion. He is currently taking lessons to familiarize himself with the sartorial mores and skills, everything from pattern making and sewing to the more conceptual parts of fashion. He also seems to have developed a hankering for reading (he frequently posts himself taking on texts) and music with soul (In a recent video, he sings wistfully along to Frank Ocean’s music).

All of this has polarized the internet. Some have lauded his attempts at self development while others vehemently contend that he’s simply being performative, or worse: a phony. I personally reserve special displeasure for those who have taken to criticizing him. At some point in our lives we all crave to do more meaningful work, to stretch our potential to its maximum. So why would any rational person give effort to tearing down a young man who’s trying to do better with himself?

Druski Takes Over The Internet, Again

Unlike many other things on social media these days, enjoying a Druski skit doesn’t require familiarity with an endless, convoluted list of references. His brand of comedy is straightforward and very much on the nose, leaning primarily into exaggerated humor and satire. This notwithstanding, his skits and sketches are preternaturally hilarious, often finding him interrogating prevalent social issues. Over the years, Druski has produced a staggering amount of viral skits, establishing himself as the preeminent skitmaker in the world. This week, he added another entry to his surreal canon. His latest skit, which has currently drawn some 87 million views on X alone, finds him satirizing teleevangelists. Decked out in a garish Dior jacket, covered in the brand’s monogram, and a pair of Louboutin shoes with red undersoles,  he glides down a harness, landing on the pulpit. Throughout the skit, he affects the fraudulent pastor archetype, resorting to white lies and deflection to defend his unchristlike penchant for ostentation. 

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Expectedly, the skit has generated lots of laughter. When I came across the clip, while dawdling in my kitchen on a warm afternoon this week as I waited for my pot of noodles to be ready, I burst into intense laughter, so much so that my insides began to hurt. In a show of magnanimity I forwarded the clip to a friend, who in turn regaled me with a voice note full of hearty laughter and interesting observations—apparently Druski was satirizing a pastor who had ziplined to the pulpit, and another one who had delivered a sermon wearing the exact jacket Druski wore in his skit.

The skit has however stirred the ire of some Christians who feel that it casts evangelical pastors in a poor light. While I’m not one to litigate or police anyone’s anger, Druski was evidently skewering a specific kind of pastor: the conman, an archetype that continues to wreak havoc on society, stealing from the elderly and preying on the desperation of people in troubled situations. Druski’s skit shines a light on a scuzzy, and often glossed over part of society and religion, and if anything he should be commended for it.

Industry Fever is Once Again Upon Us

This week celebrated HBO show “Industry” returned with its fourth season. For the uninitiated, the show follows a cohort of young finance graduates navigating the cut-throat world of the British finance industry. While it's not the biggest nor the most popular show, “Industry” has earned a devout fanbase enthralled by the show’s earnest interrogations of themes such as youthful exuberance, the precarity of the job market and finding friendship in unlikely places and people. Much of the show is set in the open floor office space of a fictitious finance firm called Pierpoint Co and the characters casually trot out finance jargon even away from work. And while the copious finance speak in the show can be hard to follow and occasionally abstruse, what has kept us glued is the show’s exhilarating plot twists and the relentless scheming of its characters. Social media, X in particular, has been awash with rave reviews since the show resumed. I haven’t begun watching this season but people seem to be obsessed with Harper's relationship with masculinity and her complicated friendship with Yasmin Hanani. “Industry” fans can seem insufferable on social media but it’s really one of the better shows on TV; I hope it fares better during awards season next year.