How 'Palava' is Integral to Everyone's Growth and Development

  

By Yamilenu Bamgboye 

You know, I really never liked controversies but the funny thing is that the more I avoided them, the more they came my way. They just had a way of finding me and putting me right in people's faces and maybe their mouths too. It was always an experience that pushed me into situations I wished were different. 'Palava' connotes trouble, conflict, controversy or anything that causes personal discomfort, everyday inconveniences and scandals. These days, 'palava' has a new name among millennials and Gen Zs: it's called 'drama'.

Regardless of how much a category of people like me run from palava---controversies, public scrutiny and disgrace---some have found it to be very instrumental by deliberately creating chaos and confusing narratives to shine or be in the news. This tactic is no new in the overcrowded entertainment industry where everyone just wants to be seen. In 2023, Oxlade released a sex tape of himself and an unidentified female. In the same vein, Tiwa Savage released hers too and Oladips, another singer yearning for attention declared himself dead. Whether or not they apologised, they were in the news for few weeks. Should we call that negative PR?

Like the other side of a coin, negative PR abi palava doesn't work for everybody. It almost ruined Wandecoal when his baby boy was shown to the world in 2010. The Square brothers (Psquare) nko? Only God knows if they will ever recover from their unending family squabbles that have resulted in their splitting up two times. And the big one involving Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA started way back with Ese Walter until it became big with Busola, Dakolo's wife's revelation. It got so bad that on one Sunday, people organised protests both in Lagos and Abuja and blocked worshippers from going in. Days later, Pastor Biodun was forced to step down for a while after one or two board of trustees' members of his resigned. PALAVA!

'Palava', from a very different angle, can be beneficiary to those at the centre and the society at large. First, it can open up new and important conversations on certain ethical issues often dismissed. When Tuface announced his new love interest, Natasha Oswaru, just few days after telling the world he was divorcing Annie, Morayo Afolabi Brown, the presenter of Your View on TVC insisted that he shouldn't go scot free for damaging Annie and leading her on only to spin the wheels all of a sudden. This perspective is changing the it's-not-my-fault narrative. People are beginning to think critically, analyzing different perspectives, debates to form their own opinions.

Another beautiful thing 'palava' does is that it encourages accountability and responsibility. When businesses, politicians, or public figures face controversies, they are pressured to take responsibility and make changes. 

Portable, a Nigerian singer, is another character that has significantly thrived on the wings of 'palava' to draw attention to himself, stay relevant and even engage his followers. Lately, he seems to have bitten more than he can chew. As Ogun state government is on his case, his usual noise and rants aren't attracting the help he seeks and how long he'll remain in hiding, we will never know.

Please comment and share.