Twitter went awash over the weekend with Nigerian and Kenyan users yet again engage in another social media banter. The war sparked by Nigerian journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, caused users to exchange insults and trolls on the social media platform.
In a tweet, the journalist announced that she was turning down an invitation to attend a Nairobi media event because of the bombing in the neighbouring Somali capital, Mogadishu. She added that the bombing, which claimed six lives, has made Nairobi unsafe for her.
Kenyan fans, I will no longer be attending #AWiM19 African Women in Media due to a SECURITY THREAT as a result of the Al-Shabab bomb attack today in the Mogadishu Mayor’s office. I will not be in #Nairobi tomorrow. Al-Shabab terrorists often operate in Kenya #Dusit#KemiOlunloyo
— Madam Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (@HNNAfrica) July 24, 2019
The woman who calls herself “The Great Investigative and Medical Journalist of Nigeria”, then went on to list five African cities that she tagged as most unsafe with Nairobi top of the list, Maiduguri second, Cape Town third, Mali’s Bamako fourth and Tripoli fifth.
This particular post infuriated Kenyans who felt she was disrespectful to their country. Users from both sides jumped into the fray, posting ridiculous and hilarious tweets, trading insults that attacked each nation’s weaknesses while highlighting the strengths.
Hello #KenyavsNigeria https://t.co/jEs4nLZ4wo
— Madam Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (@HNNAfrica) July 28, 2019
The tweet pit some Kenyan celebrities in music, film and sports against the Nigerian celebrities who jumped on the retweet-like challenge. Despite the entertainment, some tweets were too excessive.
See reactions below:
Wizkid and the president of Kenya. Who’s more popular?
Like for WIZKID, RT for kenyatta#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/kJcHizlXq1— Shelvey (@ShelveyBills) July 27, 2019
All the noise about #KenyavsNigeria
— lkeyz (@Lucky_blessin) July 27, 2019
Me I always thought Kenya was a village in Ghana o ??? pic.twitter.com/rnDBnONgGk
RETWEET for Olunga,
LIKE for Iwobi #KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/kCz6Itdsws— TUNDE LAWAL (@lawalkazeem74) July 27, 2019
#KenyavsNigeria Lol… Even their Capital was named after a Nigerian.
— MC_PUNs?? (@2much_opoTBdope) July 27, 2019
OBI worked so hard in Nigeria and then decided to go lavish some NAIRA in Kenya.
The Kenyans watched in amazement at how Obi was spending the NAIRA and they started screaming ‘NAIRA-OBI’ ??? #bbnaija pic.twitter.com/M6rGdV3bzR
South Africans looking at this trend just to discover that they can’t say shit about Nigeria ‘cos we settled this at afcon #KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/o63qBFF9Fb
— Ťhe ??ñ Šhińìgåmî (@_IamShinigami_) July 27, 2019
I stopped watching Nigerian movies when a patient fainted at the hospital and the doctor shouted “call the ambulance!” Like for Kenyans retweet for Nigerians #KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/1POYJjgrDx
— Lilac flame (@Lilac_flamez) July 27, 2019
Here’s Raila Odinga, a former Kenyan PM, single-handedly destroying Nigeria. You love to hear it ???#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/zicx6WARCL
— ManLikeArsene (@KiddyYusuf) July 27, 2019
Kenyans after applying make up.#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/K3lR13fuDq
— Oluwatobi? (@toshe224) July 27, 2019
Nigeria too hot ? the gods needs some cold refreshments #KenyavsNigeria #kenyansvsnigerians pic.twitter.com/A9r39ps9Ki
— orton (@AntonyMutiso10) July 27, 2019
What Kenyans are doing to Nigerians#KenyavsNigeria #kenyansvsnigerians ?? pic.twitter.com/7tfmabszSy
— Ian ogeke ?? (@ianogeke) July 28, 2019
Still trying to figure out who told nigerians they’re lightskinned???#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/slm5ZsWX4V
— vinnievinna_ke (@Vinnie44303421) July 27, 2019
Trending in both Kenya and Nigeria??
— Kévmáx™ (@Kevmax027) July 27, 2019
Classic♨♨
Keep it going…Can’t stop enjoying this?#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/FfDoIKXU4B
#KenyavsNigeria these products of charcoal be walking ass high????? pic.twitter.com/qgLKJAaLZP
— Nyakundi (@Nyakund19323434) July 27, 2019
So someone said if there’s too much light in a room, if a Kenyan enters, the darkness might overshadow the light! ?#KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/CW1LCa67ON
— ?MTG?? (@_MichieTheGreat) July 27, 2019
When a Nigerian goes back home after visiting Kenya! #KenyavsNigeria pic.twitter.com/w5YZdAW93s
— Kenyan with an attitude (@TupacSleek) July 27, 2019
In a subtle attempt to end the war between Kenyans and Nigerians on Twitter, Nigerian musician, Tiwa Savage, posted an image of her with a Kenyan flag captioned: “The truth is NOBODY actually wins when we fight it’s all love from this side.”
The truth is NOBODY actually wins when we fight ? it’s all love from this side #OneAfrica #OneLove ?? pic.twitter.com/6GfPv8wqTg
— Tiwa Savage (@TiwaSavage) July 28, 2019