Why Mediocrity Trends: The Nigerian Love Affair with Noise Over Substance

By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel

In Nigeria today, the loudest voices often drown out the most meaningful ones.

It’s a disturbing trend that sees people like controversial street-pop artist Portable and streamer Peller being celebrated with fanfare, while true change-makers and deep creatives like Tunde Onakoya and Johnny Drille barely get the recognition they deserve.

Why is it that society elevates spectacle over substance?

The answer lies in the culture of virality, emotional escapism, and the deep psychological hunger for drama.

In a country where the average citizen is constantly battered by economic hardship, insecurity, and political failure, entertainment becomes a drug—an escape.

But instead of choosing the kind of content that uplifts, educates, or inspires, many Nigerians turn to what is noisy, dramatic, and chaotic.

Take Portable, for instance. His controversial lifestyle, public spats, and raw street persona make him a regular on blogs and trending hashtags. He is unpredictable, and in a content-thirsty world, unpredictability sells.

Brands, always looking to ride waves of visibility, are quick to hand him endorsement deals, not minding the message it sends.

Contrast this with someone like Tunde Onakoya, whose “Chess in Slums” initiative has transformed the lives of many underprivileged kids through intellectual empowerment. Or Johnny Drille, whose music is rich with depth, emotion, and lyrical excellence.

These are individuals who represent hope, value, and vision. Yet, their impact—though real—is often sidelined in the mainstream conversation.

Nigerians, perhaps unknowingly, have created a culture that rewards the outrageous and ignores the intentional. We mistake popularity for relevance, noise for value, and entertainment for excellence.

It’s time to question the kind of content we elevate. Shouldn’t the people building the nation be louder in our timelines than those tearing down what’s left of its moral fabric?

Until we begin to reward intentionality, depth, and impact with the same energy we give to chaos and mediocrity, we will continue to trend for all the wrong reasons.Being loud shouldn’t be the only way to be heard. It’s time to start celebrating those who are changing lives quietly but powerfully.