When laughter turns dark: A reflection on Nigeria’s comedy and prank skit culture

Comedy has always been a part of Nigerian life. We laugh at our struggles, we laugh at our politicians, we laugh at ourselves. Skit makers especially have risen over the years to become some of the most influential voices in our digital space. With just a phone and some creativity, they create stories that cut across class, tribe, and language. They make us laugh, they make us forget our worries, and sometimes they even make us think.

But lately, I’ve been troubled by what I see in this fast-growing space. It feels like somewhere along the line, the chase for likes, views, and shares has taken a darker turn. Two things, in particular, stand out to me. One is the way sexual harassment and assault are being smuggled into comedy skits under the excuse of “just jokes.” The other is the way prank content has become more dangerous, sometimes life-threatening. And when you sit down and reflect, you realize this isn’t just about content anymore, it’s about culture, safety, and the kind of society we are building through our entertainment.

Sexual Harassment Is Not Comedy

Let’s start with the first problem. Have you noticed how many skits now revolve around inappropriate touching, unwanted advances, or outright harassment, all packaged as comedy? A man grabs a woman on the street, she screams, people laugh. A skit maker pretends to flirt aggressively with a stranger, ignores her discomfort, and the punchline is supposed to be her shock or resistance.

But if we’re being honest, what is funny about assault? What is entertaining about watching someone’s boundaries being crossed? What these skits are doing, knowingly or not, is normalizing harassment. They are turning serious violations into jokes. And when young people, boys and girls, watch these skits over and over, it sends a dangerous message: that this kind of behavior is fine, that it’s harmless, that it’s even entertaining.

The truth is, it’s not harmless. We live in a country where sexual violence is already a deep problem. Many survivors struggle to be heard, to find justice, or even to speak out. And now, we’re amplifying their pain by laughing at scenarios that mirror their trauma. We cannot pretend this is harmless fun.

Comedy should be witty. It should be creative. It should make us laugh without stripping others of their dignity. But when skit makers rely on harassment to make people laugh, that is not comedy, it is cruelty disguised as humor.

When Pranks Become Dangerous

The second issue is pranks. Nigerians love pranks, we enjoy a good surprise, a clever trick, or even a little mischief. But have you noticed how far some pranksters are now going?

It started with small things, pretending to forget money for a bus fare, hiding a friend’s slippers, or staging playful scares. But now, I see prank skits where strangers are ambushed on the street, where people are made to panic in public, where someone is made to believe they are in real danger. Some pranks involve fake kidnappings, fake accidents, fake police arrests. Imagine the terror of someone walking home peacefully and suddenly being dragged into a drama they didn’t sign up for, just because someone wanted to go viral.

The problem is that life is unpredictable. What if the person has a heart condition? What if they react violently out of fear? What if the crowd misunderstands the prank and someone gets hurt? We’ve seen cases abroad where pranksters were beaten or even killed because people thought the prank was real. Nigeria is not different, we are living in tense times. People are on edge. Fear is real. A prank that plays on that fear is not just reckless, it can be deadly.

And beyond physical harm, there’s the psychological side. Being ambushed, humiliated, or terrified in public leaves scars. The victim might laugh it off for the camera, but inside, it could trigger deep anxiety. Not everyone can shake off such experiences.

The Bigger Picture: Culture and Influence

Why does this matter so much? Because skit makers are not just entertainers anymore, they are influencers. They shape trends, language, and even behavior. Millions of Nigerians, especially young people, consume this content every day. When a skit normalizes harassment or glorifies reckless pranks, it plants seeds in the minds of those watching.

Think of a 13-year-old boy who sees his favorite skit maker grabbing women in public and getting millions of views. What lesson does he take away? That disrespect is funny. That harassment is normal. Or think of a young girl who keeps watching prank videos where women are constantly embarrassed or violated. What message does she internalize about her worth and her safety?

This is how culture shifts, not in big, dramatic moves, but in small, everyday things that become normal. And when harmful content becomes normal, society pays the price.

Who Should Be Responsible?

So, who carries the responsibility here? First, the creators. Content creation is not a free-for-all. Just like journalists have ethics, comedians and entertainers must also draw lines. Your creativity should not depend on humiliating or endangering others. Skit makers need to reflect: is this really funny, or is it harmful?

Second, the platforms. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube. They all have a duty to moderate harmful content. Algorithms should not be rewarding content that endangers lives or normalizes harassment. If these platforms can flag nudity, they can also flag dangerous pranks and abusive comedy.

Third, regulators and industry bodies. I know some people don’t like the idea of regulation because they fear it will stifle creativity. But regulation doesn’t have to mean censorship. It can mean guidelines. It can mean a code of conduct. It can mean penalties for those who consistently cross the line. Other countries have frameworks to protect both creators and audiences. Nigeria should not be left behind.

At the heart of this reflection is a simple call: care. We need to care more about how our content affects people. We need to review the trends we are normalizing in our entertainment space. And yes, we need regulation, whether it comes from the industry itself, from platforms, or from government oversight. Because without care, review, and regulation, this space will only get darker. More skits will cross the line. More pranks will end in tragedy. And more young people will grow up with a warped sense of what is funny, what is acceptable, and what is normal.

A Way Forward

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is still so much potential in Nigeria’s comedy skit industry. These creators are brilliant. They have turned everyday experiences into relatable, funny content that has put Nigeria on the global map. Some of them are already showing us that you can be creative without being harmful. They are finding humor in our shared struggles, in our culture, in our politics, in our daily hustle, without crossing boundaries.

That is the kind of creativity we need to encourage. We should celebrate skit makers who innovate responsibly. We should support those who create safe, clever, and meaningful content. And we should hold accountable those who use comedy as a cover for harm.

At the end of the day, comedy is supposed to heal, not harm. It is supposed to unite us in laughter, not divide us in pain. It is supposed to remind us of our humanity, not strip it away. So, the next time you scroll through Instagram or TikTok and stumble on a skit, pause and ask yourself: is this really funny, or is this harmful? The next time a prank video makes you laugh, ask: what if this happened to me, my mother, my sibling, my friend? Would I still laugh?

We need to bring back the kind of comedy that lifts us up, not the one that tears people down. And we need to insist on standards in our growing digital space. Because in the end, laughter should never come at the cost of someone’s dignity, safety, or life.

Authored by:

Tomilola Boyinde – Founder/CMO/Host, Bulbling247

Tomilola Boyinde is a cultural observer, global marketing technologist, and founder of Bulbling247, a global storytelling platform exploring the intersection of creativity, technology, and innovation. His work blends strategy, creative storytelling, and human-centered insight to unpack how art, media, and technology reshape culture.