5 social media challenges of the year - AfricaFlavour

 

The hugest moments that made Naija social media rock in 2021.

2021 was not quite filled with lockdowns the way year 2020 was; but Nigerians still had enough time to create and jump on some of the most viral social media challenges from all over the world.

In this list, we look back on the biggest, most creative, most hilarious and raciest ones that captured the imagination of Nigerians in the course of the year.

1. Love Nwatintin dance challenge

Ckay’s ‘Love Nwatintin’ is that success story that kicks other success stories in the butt. This year, the 2019 song rose and rose and rose until it became an anthem all over the world, mostly on the back of the love it got on Tiktok and the dance challenge that propelled it to a much larger audience. Check out the Tracy Joseph dance routine which birthed the challenge.

2. Focus dance challenge

The focus dance challenge caught fire on social media earlier this year off a delicious tune by producer Ajimovoix. Dancer, Hagman DC signed off the pointing dance move to that tune and soon everyone was pointing along to it. Of course, it became such a huge vibe that this list would be incomplete without giving it a deserved mention.

3. Wife material challenge

2021 saw hype men enter beast mode of supreme creativity. And an offshoot of that is how their chants and freestyles became catchy tunes that social media could hardly get enough of. ‘Wife material’ by Emmy Blaq is one of those tunes and the similarly-named challenge it birthed will be remembered as one of the hottest moments on Nigerian social media -particularly Tiktok - in 2021.

4. Buss it challenge 

Another Tiktok-birthed challenge that rode on the back of rapper Erica Banks’ song titled ‘Buss it.’

This was the earliest challenge of the year and it might as well be considered one of the raunchiest, seeing women from all over the world - including Nigerians, of course - throwing down a combo of the best glow-ups and sexy booty bounces all in the space of 30seconds or less. What an exciting time to be alive.

5. Silhouette challenge

Another insanely provocative dance challenge that is distinct for its red light filter. This challenge got life from Paul Anka’s 1959 song; “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.” Participants in the challenge take a spot against a light backdrop which then puts the outline of their [naked] body in focus, bathed in the red light filter.