Davido, Ali Baba, April Fools’ Jokes, And Others That Went Viral

Ferdinand  Ekechukwu

April Fools’ Day joke is to make people laugh and smile. But the same cannot be said of the experience Nigerian music star, Davido got last Monday after reports surfaced on April 1, alleging his arrest by Kenyan authorities for possession of narcotics. The superstar artiste was in Kenya where he performed at a festival alongside some other African stars, following another show in Uganda.

Shortly after, rumours began to trend that Davido and his crew had been arrested while leaving the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya, in his private jet. The rumours immediately went viral and was almost picked up by mainstream media in Nigeria. It soon turned out that it was April Fools’ Day, a tradition known for pranks and hoaxes observed annually on April 1st.

While Davido took to his social media handle to address the “false” news, expressing displeasure and his next line of action against the Kenyan media outlet, KTV24 that initiated the fake report or prank as it were, other entertainers, especially ace-comedian, Ali Baba was also a hot topic on the social space with the April Fools’ prank.

The legendary comedian took it a notch higher when he announced his wife birthed triplets, two months prior.  If anything, Ali Baba’s was almost believable, looking at the twist-angle in his post. “It’s been 2 months since they arrived, and as the days go by, we thank God Almighty for these 3 beautiful blessings,” Alibaba wrote on his Instagram account on Monday, April 1.

Some other celebrities soon joined in the April Fools’ prank by teasing fake pregnancies and newborns. Actress, Mercy Aigbe posted a picture of her and a baby in her hands, hinting at the arrival of a second child. Her caption was meant to mislead her fans and followers into believing she had a baby for some months but finally showed him to the world on the day.

For creative designer and pro makeup artist, Veekee James, it was withdrawal of her show. The stylist took to Instagram to announce the cancellation of her Funfair set to be held on April 4th. The fashion designer posted a video with the caption “Man proposes, God disposes”. While some were sad about the news, others commented ‘April Fool’ knowing Veekee James was trying to prank them.