Top 13 recent social media challenges in Nigeria

Social media challenges are just proof that boredom is dangerous. Because other than that, I can’t think of any reason why a normal human being would decide that stacking a pile of crates and climbing such a wobbly edifice is such a bright idea. So, yes, boredom and an unhealthy dislike for personal safety in this case.

But there’s no doubt that they are interesting to watch, even when they involve people practically trying to break their own heads open for fun. So, let’s get right into it.

Table of Content hide 1What are social media challenges? 213 recent social media challenges in Nigeria 2.1Drop challenge 2.2Focus dance challenge 2.3Wife material challenge 2.4Buss it challenge 2.5Silhouette challenge 2.6Charlie Charlie challenge 2.7Crate challenge 2.8Shedibalabala challenge 2.9Door opening challenge 2.10Don’t Leave Me Challenge 2.11Love Nwatintin challenge 2.12You want to bambam challenge 2.13Joro challenge

What are social media challenges?

Social media challenges are viral trends that invite people to partake in “challenges”. And really, that’s all they are. One person, usually an influencer, performs an activity and then challenges their followers to do the same, and just like that, a trend has started.

Really enough to make you worry sometimes. Like, don’t people have jobs?

13 recent social media challenges in Nigeria

Drop challenge

The Drop challenge trended early this year, which saw people going about their normal daily activities anywhere – at home, at work, out shopping – while Yoncé by Beyoncé played in the background, only to squat suddenly while staring at the camera. More often than not, most people around them are left staring in shock.

Focus dance challenge

The focus dance made waves last year off a delicious tune by producer Ajimovoix. Dancer, Hangman DC, came up with the pointing dance move to the tune, and pretty soon, everyone was pointing along to it. And from there, it went so viral that it became a huge vibe.

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Wife material challenge

Hype men are an underrated class of Nigerian citizens, but they showcased their talent in 2021 as they entered a beast mode of supreme creativity with their chants and freestyles that drove social media crazy. Wife material by Emmy Blaq is one of such tunes, and Nigerian social media, especially TikTok, will not soon forget the social media challenge that it spawned.

Buss it challenge

This is another 2021 social media challenge that came with rapper Erica Banks‘ song, which is also titled Buss it. It was the earliest challenge of the year and saw women from all over the world – Nigerians included, of course – unleashing a combo of some of the best glow-ups and sexy booty bounces in less than 30 seconds.

The Buss it challenge went down (pun definitely intended) as one of the raunchiest social media challenges of 2021. Ass men probably thought they’d died and gone to heaven.

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Silhouette challenge

When they called the Buss it challenge the lascivious challenge of 2021, the Silhouette challenge turned around from its seat by the bar, placed its hat on the counter, and said to a nearby challenge, “Hold my beer.” Then it took a long drag from its cigar and stepped to the center stage.

Because if you thought the Buss it challenge was provocative, it held no candle to the silhouette challenge. Based on the 1959 song Put Your Head On My Shoulder by Paul Anka, this social media challenge was distinct for its red light filter. Participants took a spot against a light backdrop, then it switched to the red light filter that put the outline of their body in focus.

Naked.

Charlie Charlie challenge

Charlie Charlie challenge was as simple as they came; you balanced two pencils on top of each other on a paper with Yes and No at opposite cardinal points. Then you ask, “Charlie Charlie, are you there?” Then Charlie would respond to whether he was there by moving the pencil in the direction of either Yes or No.

Okay, who the hell is Charlie, you’re asking? Well, Charlie is a spirit of unknown origins, and we cannot see him or talk to him, hence the paper. But then, why are we trying to talk to him? Well, remember what I said about what boredom does to humans? Here’s another example.

Either way, this social media challenge was only for the bravest of people, because I cannot imagine how you’re supposed to react if Charlie does reply Yes. But I do know how our Nigerian mothers will react.

If I were Charlie, though, I’d reply No, then proceed to smack you upside the head for disturbing my peace.

Crate challenge

Whoever started this social media challenge needs either an Oscar for creating a new “1000 ways to die” entry, a sense transplant, or a serious beating, because why would you… Argh! And then, of course, social media users jumped right on it, stacking crates up high and attempting to walk over the shaky assemblage. And promptly fell right off.

But no matter how many times Humpty-Dumpty hit the ground, it didn’t stop it from going viral as more people tried to become the agile ninjas they never were. For once, though, Nigerians showed a modicum of common sense by not jumping on this one en masse, and for good reason, because crate of Coke go follow you drag who go fess break. Hence, we limited our participation to just laughing from a distance.

Still, we had people like the ones in the video below…

Shedibalabala challenge

Another example of hypemen going into beast mode, this viral challenge was inspired by DJ Basplit and Hypeman BobbyBanks’s song Shedibalabala, and it swept through Nigeria’s social media space like a hurricane around the middle of the year. Participants of the challenge are expected to bounce their booty to the command of the song while it is played in the background.

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And of course, you can trust Nigerians; they went absolutely bonkers. Especially those who had enough material to work with.

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Door opening challenge

Nigerians are some of the naughtiest people on the planet, and this social media challenge is a testament to that. Because how can you birth a challenge from something as simple as a member of Nasir El Rufai‘s entourage rushing down to open the door for the man who will open the door for the governor? Wait, what? A door opener who has a door opener?

Don’t Leave Me Challenge

The idea behind this social media challenge was to share a horrible joke with a cringy punchline, and then walk away from the camera while someone shouts, “Don’t Leave Me”. The lamer the joke, the better, but that didn’t stop even A-lister celebrities like Falz, Funke Akindele and Kanayo O. Kanayo from hopping on this challenge.

Love Nwatintin challenge

This challenge was inspired by CKay’s 2019 track, which grew until it became a global anthem and catapulted the artiste to fame. The dance routine that started the challenge was created by Tracy Joseph.

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You want to bambam challenge

Another one for the hypemen! Goya Menor & Nektunes inserted an Amapiano twist into the popular Ameno song, and the result was another social media challenge that went viral, especially at clubs and owambes.

Are you really ready to chill with the big boys? How much is your salary?

Joro challenge

It’s no surprise that this Big Wiz‘s song spawned a social media challenge, given the popularity of the track. What is surprising, however, is the fact that the challenge didn’t peak until two years after the song’s release.

The Joro challenge is graced by sensuous waist-twisting while the dancer balances a bottle on their head.

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