Every June 12, Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day — a reminder of our right to vote, speak, express, and be heard. But as the flags go up and speeches echo across the nation, one question lingers in the minds of many, especially the youth:
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Are we truly being heard? Or are we simply shouting into the void, dressed in bold colours and louder voices, hoping someone is actually listening?
Democracy Gave Us Freedom. But Is It Complete?
Democracy was meant to give us power — the power to choose our leaders, shape our society, and determine our future. But beyond casting votes and singing national anthems, what does democracy really feel like for the everyday Nigerian?
Does it feel like freedom when electricity is a luxury and fuel scarcity is normal?
Does it feel like freedom when creatives are underpaid, youth are unemployed, and voices are silenced with hashtags instead of change?
We wear our frustrations, literally — through streetwear with protest slogans, hairstyles that challenge societal norms, and makeup that screams individuality. Our fashion isn’t just style — it’s rebellion. It’s identity. It’s resistance.
Culture Became Our Voice
In the silence of broken promises, our generation found a new way to speak — through culture.
- Musicians tell our stories with lyrics laced in pain, hope, and protest.
- Designers push boundaries, dressing us in the pride of our roots and the rebellion of our future.
- Content creators and storytellers paint the truth that mainstream media sometimes forgets.
Democracy gave us a voice, but our culture gave us the mic. And we’re using it, whether the system listens or not.
So, What Are We Really Celebrating?
Maybe this Democracy Day isn’t just a celebration of how far we’ve come — maybe it’s a reminder of how far we still need to go.
Maybe it’s not about wearing green and white, but about making sure those colours actually stand for something.
Maybe democracy shouldn’t just be something we celebrate once a year, but something we defend every day — in the streets, in our art, in our votes, and yes, in our style.
Final Thoughts: A Generation That Refuses to Be Ignored
We are the generation that turns pain into poetry, frustration into fashion, and silence into sound. We’re not just dressing up — we’re showing up. Loud, proud, and unafraid.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real face of democracy.
