Social media and the form and content of Nigerian comic skits

Abstract

The popularity of comic skits on Nigeria’s social media warrants the need to study the form and content of these pieces. This qualitative study examined the comic skits of Nigerian comedians: Taaooma, Mark Angel, Sabinus, and Bello Galadanchi. It employed Achille Mbembe’s ‘Theory of Postcolony’, as its theoretical framework and Netnography as its methodology, and revealed that the skits tackle the themes of gender roles, lingering effects of colonialism, social inequalities, religion, and corruption. Laughter becomes a tool for navigating power structures, critiquing social norms, and expressing discontent within a postcolonial context. The skits leverage short format (51s–4min) ideal for social media, employ slapstick, simple dialogue, visuals (clothing, facial expressions), cross-dressing (Taaooma) and single-actor portrayals of multiple roles (Taaooma, Galadanchi). Languages used include English, Nigerian Pidgin, and indigenous languages, accompanied by subtitles for wider accessibility. While sound effects punctuate jokes, heighten reactions, and establish mood, most of the skits follow the structure of Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, and Resolution. Social media comments indicated that the skits resonated with viewers, highlighting the popularity of certain skit makers across demographics and transnationally, implying a cross-cultural comic appeal, and the internet serving as a pan-African tool for sharing local culture.

Keywords:

• Comic skit
• social media
• form
• content
• postcolony
• Nigeria

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tekena Gasper Mark

Tekena Gasper Mark is a Poet, Novelist, Director and Dramatist with research interests in African Theatre, Film and Performance Studies. He lectures in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with over seven years of experience as a researcher and lecturer. He holds a PhD in play directing and teaches directing, playwriting, dramatic theory and criticism, and music theatre.