The Creativity Site

  AI Generated Image By Victor Olubiye From Saturday morning, a strange sense of fear quietly began spreading across different WhatsApp groups and statuses in Nigeria. The source was not a television station or an official security announcement. It was a viral voice note. In the audio message, a man believed by many listeners to be a pastor warned people about a looming calamity expected to happen by 9pm. According to the message, two frightening events — “Afefe” (wind) and “Oro Day,” a traditional occultic rite feared in some Yoruba communities — were expected to occur later that night. As the hours passed, the voice note travelled rapidly from phone to phone. People forwarded it to family groups. Friends reposted it on their WhatsApp statuses. Parents began calling their children, warning them to stay indoors before 9pm. Some students contacted their parents in fear, while others simply stayed alert throughout the day waiting for nightfall. Fear spread faster than verification. A...