YOU CAN'T EAT A CAMPAIGN HAMPER: NIGERIA, ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS AGAIN?

Dear Nigerians,

Let me ask you something. After everything Nigeria has experienced, everything its citizens have complained about and everything ordinary people have had to endure, are you genuinely considering giving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu another four years?

Because 2027 is approaching, and Nigerians will once again have the responsibility of deciding who gets to lead their country. On 16 January 2027, voters will head to the polls for the presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and State Assembly elections following on 6 February. And this time, the decision deserves more than political excitement, party loyalty and the usual arguments about whose turn it is to occupy the presidential seat.

[INEC – Correct Thumbprinting of Ballot Paper⁠. ]

There are 19 presidential candidates on INEC's updated list, including Tinubu of the APC, Atiku Abubakar of the ADC, Peter Obi of the NDC, Omoyele Sowore of the AAC and Sandy Ojang Onor of the PDP, among others. In other words, Nigerians have choices to consider. But what concerns me is not simply who is contesting. It is how some people are deciding who deserves their vote in the first place.

I've been watching street interviews circulating on social media, where Nigerians are asked who they intend to vote for and why. And some of the answers genuinely leave me wondering whether we are choosing someone to govern a country or selecting a family representative for a traditional wedding. "Bola Tinubu. He's Yoruba, just like me." "He's my brother. I have to support him."

Really? That's the qualification? Not his leadership, not his policies, not his performance or what he has achieved for the country. Just the fact that you share the same tribe?

Nigeria, are we serious?

[Unknown]

 Yes, representation matters. But surely, being from the same ethnic group cannot be the only qualification you need when deciding who should govern millions of people. Your tribesman can still make poor decisions. Your brother can still disappoint you. And somebody from a different ethnic group might actually have better ideas for the country. A president is elected to serve an entire nation. Your shared ethnicity with a politician will not automatically pay your electricity bill, put food on your table, create employment for your children or protect your family from kidnappers. And this is one of the things I find particularly dangerous about African politics. We sometimes become so invested in seeing someone from our own ethnic group succeed politically that we forget to ask whether the country itself is succeeding.

You celebrate their victory, defend them online, wear their faces on your shirts and argue with anybody who questions them. But when ordinary citizens start complaining about the economy, unemployment and insecurity, suddenly everybody has something to say. What exactly are you celebrating if your own life and the lives of people around you are not improving?

Let's talk about the economy.

[Unknown]

People are struggling with food prices, petrol, rent, transport, electricity and the everyday expenses of running a household. People are working but still struggling to make ends meet. Young people are searching for employment, businesses are dealing with difficult operating conditions and families are constantly having to reconsider what they can afford. And whenever these concerns are raised, there is always someone ready to defend the government.

"Tinubu is doing a lot of good things behind the scenes."

Behind what scenes?

At this point, I would genuinely like to know when ordinary Nigerians are getting an invitation to watch this wonderful production. Because if all these impressive things are happening underground, when exactly are citizens going to experience the results above ground? There is a saying that you reap what you sow. If good things are being planted, surely people should eventually see a harvest. You cannot keep telling hungry people that an excellent harvest is coming while they are standing in front of an empty cupboard. A president is not a content creator whose responsibility is to keep posting photographs, travelling internationally and releasing updates to convince people that everything is wonderful. Governing a country is not a social-media campaign. Citizens need more than speeches, promises and carefully arranged photographs.

They need results.

And while we are discussing people influencing political decisions, let's talk about celebrities and public figures.

I sometimes wonder whether some of the enthusiastic political endorsements we see are genuinely about believing in a candidate or whether there are financial and political benefits attached to that support. I am not accusing particular celebrities of receiving money or favours. I have no evidence to make such allegations. But I do think public figures should remember that their audiences are not all living the same lives. A celebrity might have access to private healthcare, comfortable accommodation, security and financial opportunities that ordinary citizens can only dream about. The people watching them might be struggling to afford groceries. So, before you use your platform to encourage millions of people to support a politician, perhaps consider the circumstances of the people who will have to live with the consequences.

Now, let's talk about healthcare, because this is where the conversation becomes particularly uncomfortable.

[Unknown ]

What do you mean someone is experiencing a medical emergency, is rushed to a hospital and is expected to produce money before receiving assistance? What do you mean somebody's life is at risk, but the first conversation is about a deposit?

This should not be normalised.

Nigeria's National Health Act of 2014 provides that emergency medical treatment must not be refused for any reason. Yet reports of patients being asked for deposits before receiving emergency treatment continue to raise serious concerns.

I recently came across the heartbreaking story of gospel singer Toluwanisings, whose real name was Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji. According to his personal assistant, after the singer suddenly slumped, efforts to get him medical attention took them to between seven and eight hospitals in Ibadan. Some reportedly cited doctors being unavailable or on strike, while others did not admit him. He died on 14 October 2026, leaving behind his wife and two children.

Think about that. Seven to eight hospitals.

A family is desperately trying to save someone's life, moving from one medical facility to another, looking for somewhere that can provide the necessary assistance. The full circumstances surrounding his death have not been independently established, but the account raises serious questions about emergency healthcare, hospital preparedness and the availability of medical professionals. To be fair, many medical professionals are also working under extremely difficult conditions. They need adequate facilities, equipment, supplies and support. But how many families must experience such desperation before healthcare becomes a genuine priority. People should not have to depend on luck when their lives are at stake.

And this brings me to another institution that should be protecting Nigerians: the police.

There are accounts of people going to report crimes and being asked to provide money for petrol before officers can respond. Imagine escaping a dangerous situation, making your way to a police station because you need protection, only to be told that you must contribute towards fuel before somebody can assist you.

I remember hearing about a woman who narrowly escaped sexual assault, went to report the incident and was allegedly asked for petrol money. In January 2026, Premium Times also reported allegations that police officers demanded ₦100,000 from the family of a 15-year-old rape victim before taking her statement. The officers were subsequently summoned for questioning following the complaint.

Imagine being a family member trying to get justice for a child who has experienced sexual violence, only to face an alleged financial demand at the police station. Where is the protection? Where is the compassion? And what about the kidnappings? Families are left desperately trying to raise millions in ransom money, negotiating with criminals and praying that their loved ones return home alive. Some families lose everything trying to secure the release of someone they love. These are not small inconveniences. These are people's lives.

There are also serious concerns about attacks affecting Christian communities. People should be able to practise their faith, attend their places of worship and go about their daily lives without fearing for their safety. I find it heartbreaking when the suffering of one community becomes a political argument rather than a reason for collective concern.

And while we are talking about accountability, what about freedom of expression?

There have been cases involving citizens facing arrest or criminal proceedings over social-media posts and criticism. The EFCC, for example, brought defamation-related charges against two university students over social-media posts before later withdrawing them. Of course, genuine crimes should be investigated. But citizens must be able to question public officials and institutions. Criticism should not automatically become something to fear. If people are increasingly worried about speaking openly about the conditions in their country, while those responsible for protecting them are not delivering the necessary results, then we have a serious problem.

And then we have the famous campaign hampers! Bags of rice, groceries and food packages suddenly appearing everywhere, with cameras ready to capture every generous moment.

[ Unknown ]

Let's be honest, many of these people know that a politician handing them groceries is not securing their future. They know that bag of rice won't change their circumstances. But when you're hungry, what are you going to do? You take the groceries because you need to eat. Some may even be willing to exchange their vote for a few days of food. And that's the sad part: a vote that should help shape the next four years is being traded for groceries that might not last four days.

Imagine if that same effort went into helping people become financially independent, so they could afford their own groceries without waiting for election season to arrive.

And speaking of political gifts, let's talk about the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and the announcement of vehicles for APC women leaders in five opposition-governed states: Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Osun and Oyo.

Cars? Wonderful.

But have we considered the roads those cars will be driving on? What about the infrastructure? What about communities that need better roads, functioning public services and basic facilities? Nigerians need more than political gestures and photographs. They need improvements that affect their everyday lives. A beautiful vehicle is lovely, but it would be even better to have roads that allow people to drive without constantly worrying about the condition of the infrastructure.

[Unknown]

And what about education, electricity, clean water and employment? These are not extravagant demands. They are basic requirements of a functioning society. Imagine a Nigeria where young people can finish their education and find meaningful employment. Where businesses can grow without constantly battling unreliable electricity and difficult operating conditions. Where public hospitals are properly equipped, schools are maintained and communities are safe. Imagine Nigerians living abroad genuinely wanting to return because there are opportunities waiting for them. Imagine people from other parts of the world looking at Nigeria and saying, "There are opportunities here. I want to establish a business, invest and build something."

That is the kind of Nigeria I would definitely love to see.

I would genuinely love to visit Nigeria. I see its culture, creativity, talented people, resources and enormous potential. I don't look at Nigeria and see a country without possibilities. I see a country that could be doing so much more. And that is precisely why I find some of these political conversations frustrating.

Why should a country with so much potential have so many people desperate to leave? Why should families constantly worry about their safety, healthcare and ability to afford basic necessities? Yes, every other African nations have their own problems. But that does not mean citizens should lower their expectations. A government should be judged by what it delivers, not simply by what it promises.

And I would love to see Nigerian leaders held to the same standards as the ordinary citizens they govern. Are the public schools good enough for the children of those making decisions about education? Are the public hospitals good enough for the families of those making decisions about healthcare? Would those closest to power willingly depend on the same public services ordinary Nigerians are expected to use?

These are perfectly reasonable questions.

You cannot expect citizens to be satisfied with public hospitals while those making decisions about healthcare have access to private medical facilities. You cannot tell young people to believe in the education system while public schools continue to struggle. Public services should be good enough for everybody.

As the 2027 elections approach, I hope Nigerians will look beyond party colours, ethnic identities, campaign posters and celebrity endorsements.

Ask yourself whether your family is better off with Bola Tinubu, whether your community is safer and moving in a direction that gives you hope.

Do not vote for President Tinubu simply because is from your tribe. Do not vote because the party or any other parties distributed groceries at a rally or promised your community a few vehicles. You are not choosing a brother to represent your family at a gathering.

I am expressing these concerns as one African to another. I want to see Nigeria succeed. I want to see its people prosper. I want to see a country where people can afford to live, where children have opportunities, where hospitals save lives and where citizens feel protected.

Nigeria deserves more than another round of promises.

And to every Nigerian preparing to vote, I have one final thing to say:

VOTE WISELY!

With concern, from one African to another.

— Lilo Phedra

Disclaimer: Images used on this blog are for illustrative purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

© 2026 The Dreamer’s Pause. All rights reserved.

WHO IS SO UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY GOD MADE FOOD THAT WE'RE NOW GROWING MEAT IN MACHINES?

I don't know whether to laugh or worry anymore. Honestly, what is happening to humanity? Every day somebody wakes up with a new idea, and somehow we are
expected to clap, celebrate and move on as though everything makes sense.

Now they are growing meat in machines. Yes, meat. The same meat we have been eating for generations. Apparently, ordinary farming is no longer enough. We must now take animal cells, put them in specialised machines, feed them nutrients and wait for them to multiply until we have something that can be processed and sold as meat.

WHO ASKED FOR THIS?

I am genuinely trying to understand why we are making life so complicated. I want my chicken. I want my beef, pork, goat and lamb. I want them traditionally raised, slaughtered and prepared. I don't want to have to explain why I prefer my meat to come from an actual animal rather than a manufacturing facility.

 In 2013, a Dutch scientist presented the first publicly unveiled laboratory-grown beef burger. Singapore became the first country to approve cultivated chicken for commercial sale in 2020, produced by an American company called GOOD Meat. The United States followed in 2023, after its own regulatory process. And the reasons? Apparently, they want to reduce animal slaughter, use less land and water, and reduce environmental damage. Now, I don't know about you, but I find some of these arguments rather interesting. We have land, we have water, we have farmers and we have animals. Why has the solution suddenly become manufacturing our food? Is everything now about saving resources, reducing costs and finding another way to commercialise something?

For me, this is starting to look less like innovation and more like an obsession with controlling production. What happens to the land? What happens to the farmers? Who owns these factories? Who benefits financially? And why must we automatically accept that this is a better future? Let animals be animals, please! Let chickens grow, let cows graze and let farmers do what farmers have been doing. Obviously, we need better farming practices. Animal cruelty is real, and I am not defending it. But we can address cruelty without turning our food into another industrial experiment. And speaking of animal cruelty, I already know some people are celebrating this development. Particularly some of the vegans and vegetarians who have spent years arguing with meat-eaters on social media. Now, before anyone misunderstands me, I respect people's dietary choices. You want to be vegan? Be vegan. You want to be vegetarian? That's your business. But some of you really need to learn to respect people who enjoy meat too!

We've seen the comments, the videos and the constant lectures whenever somebody posts a plate of chicken. Suddenly, everyone eating meat must explain themselves. Now that there's an alternative being developed, some people seem particularly pleased. But who said the rest of us were waiting for somebody to manufacture our chicken?

I love my protein, thank you very much!

Traditional meat provides protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Protein helps build and repair muscles and body tissues, while these other nutrients support important functions in the body. Of course, there are other sources of protein, and eating a balanced diet matters. But there is nothing wrong with enjoying traditionally produced meat. What worries me is what happens when this industry grows. Today, cultivated meat is presented as another choice. But what if manufacturing becomes cheaper and traditional meat becomes increasingly expensive? What if ordinary families eventually buy these products simply because they cannot afford what they actually prefer?

And what about farmers? Large companies with expensive technology could eventually become serious competitors. We cannot ignore the possibility that small-scale farmers and traditional agricultural businesses could be affected. I also want to know what we actually know about the long-term effects of regularly consuming these products. They have undergone food-safety assessments, but that doesn't mean we have decades of evidence from people eating them throughout their lives. Consumers deserve clear information, not just marketing promises. I am not saying that every new technology is bad. I am saying that not everything needs to be reinvented. Sometimes, improving what we already have is enough. I want my future children, grandchildren and generations after them to enjoy traditional meals. I want them to have a choice. I don't want traditional food to become a luxury while manufactured alternatives become the cheaper option for ordinary people.

And to those making these decisions, whatever your intentions are, please understand that people have every right to question you. We are talking about what goes into our bodies. This is not a small conversation.

I LOVE MY MEAT. And I don't need a machine to convince me that it has found a better way to give me what I already have.

© 2026 The Dreamer’s Pause. All rights reserved.

JAVITS FRIMPONG: THE PRICE OF CHASING A BETTER LIFE

A CHILD DIES, AND SUDDENLY EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ABOUT WHERE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

There is something deeply disturbing about the death of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong in New York. And no, I don't think this is just another tragic news story that we should discuss for three days, post a few crying emojis about and then move on from. There is a much bigger conversation here, which feel should be talked about more.

First, my heart genuinely goes out to his parents. Imagine moving your child across the world because you believe you are giving him a better future, only for that same child to never make it back home from school. What exactly are parents supposed to do with that kind of pain?

And before someone comes here with the usual motivational speech about how children must learn to fight for themselves, please, let's talk.

The allegations of bullying surrounding Javits's death have brought back memories of my own childhood. I know what it feels like to be bullied. I remember being beaten up in primary school, coming home crying and looking for comfort. Instead, I was beaten so badly by my mom, and I was told to go back and fight the boy. Mind you, this was someone physically stronger than me, practically a professional bully at that age. Apparently, the solution was to send me back for another episode of WWE.

But here's what some parents don't understand: not every child can fight. Not every child wants to fight. And sometimes, what a child needs is not another lecture about being strong but an adult who will actually intervene.

I have a particular concern about the way some African parents approach parenting. Providing food, paying school fees, buying clothes and putting a roof over a child's head are important. Absolutely. But parenting cannot end at the supermarket checkout. Some children are struggling right under their parent's noses. They become withdrawn, spend hours in their bedrooms, stop communicating, avoid family interactions and lose the enthusiasm they once had. Yet these changes are sometimes dismissed as teenage behaviour. A child needs to feel that they can tell their parents anything without every conversation turning into criticism, arguments or another compulsory life lesson. Sometimes children need their parents to be their friends, too. They need to know that somebody has their back.

And now, in Javits's case, his parents are left with questions that they may never get satisfactory answers to. Could something have been prevented? Was there more to the bullying? What happened before that shooting? We need answers. His father deserves answers.

But let's move beyond the immediate tragedy.

WHY ARE SO MANY AFRICANS SO DESPERATE TO LEAVE HOME?

This is where I want to bring the African governments into the conversation. For many Africans, the Western world has been sold as the ultimate destination. America, the UK, Canada and Europe. Almost like Disneyland, except the tickets are expensive, the paperwork is stressful and apparently the happily-ever-after package comes with additional terms and conditions. Growing up, you see parents dreaming about taking their children abroad. You hear conversations about opportunities, better schools, better salaries and a better standard of living. As you grow older, you begin to understand why. Look at the economic circumstances in many African countries. Look at unemployment, corruption, limited opportunities and the difficulties ordinary families face trying to build a decent life. Ghana is not the only country experiencing these problems.

Some people leave because they genuinely believe they have exhausted their opportunities at home. Others leave because they want their children to experience possibilities they never had. And sometimes, migration is not even the final destination. People move to countries such as South Africa, hoping to establish themselves before eventually making their way to Europe or America. Some succeed. Others spend years trying, sacrificing and working towards that one opportunity.

I firmly believe African governments have a responsibility to answer for the circumstances that make so many citizens feel that their future lies somewhere else. I cannot help wondering whether Javits's family would have been in this position if the circumstances at home had allowed them to build the life they wanted without leaving. Of course, nobody can promise that a child will be safe everywhere. Violence exists everywhere. But we cannot ignore the bigger picture. 

And then comes another uncomfortable conversation: THE TREATMENT OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS ABROAD.

Since Javits's death, people have been sharing experiences of anti-African racism, particularly accounts involving Black Americans. Some have described feeling pressured to hide their African identities, with some allegedly claiming Jamaican backgrounds because of how they feared they would be treated if they identified their actual countries of origin. Apparently, being African can sometimes come with an unwanted social classification. And according to these accounts, some people have experienced bullying, mockery and discrimination because of their accents, facial features, nationalities or cultural backgrounds. Let me be clear: I am not saying every Black American behaves this way. That would be ridiculous. But I am also not going to pretend these experiences do not exist simply because discussing them might offend somebody.

And while we're here, can we please retire the argument that Black people cannot be racist towards other Black people? What exactly are we trying to achieve with that argument? People can hold racial prejudices, discriminate and mistreat others based on their racial or ethnic backgrounds. Being part of a marginalised group does not automatically make someone incapable of prejudice. If you have experienced it, please speak about it. If you disagree, bring your argument. But let's stop pretending that uncomfortable experiences disappear when we refuse to acknowledge them.

Then there are the questions surrounding the shooting itself. Who were the people involved? What was the motive? How did minors allegedly get access to a firearm? Was there a connection to the reported bullying? There are videos and claims circulating online, including allegations about a possible arrest, but these details need to be established by investigators. We cannot replace an investigation with social media speculation.

I want justice for Javits. Not rumours, not internet detectives declaring people guilty, but proper answers and accountability. And to those telling grieving African parents that they should have stayed in their own country: what exactly is wrong with you? Is this really the moment to remind a father that he is a foreigner? A man is mourning his child. Have some humanity.

A CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THE WORLD BECOMES INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

I hate that Javits is becoming known to so many people because of the way he died rather than the life he could have lived. His laughter, his childhood, his personality, his dreams. There was supposed to be so much more.

And perhaps the uncomfortable part of this entire conversation is that there are parents watching this story who will recognise their own children's silence. There are former bullying victims remembering what happened to them. There are African migrants questioning whether the sacrifices their families made were worth it. And there are people who have experienced discrimination from communities they thought would understand them.  This is bigger than one shooting. Bigger than one school. Bigger than one country.

Javits deserved to grow up. His parents deserved to see him graduate, discover his talents, make mistakes, fall in love with life and become whoever he was meant to be. Not this.

May his parents find the strength to endure what no parent should ever have to endure. And to everyone who has experienced bullying, discrimination or the loneliness of being an African child trying to find their place in a foreign country, I hope we can finally have these conversations without being told to shut up, toughen up or go back home. Because if a child cannot feel safe at school, cannot speak freely at home and cannot even find acceptance in the place his family sacrificed everything to reach, then we need to ask ourselves: 

WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE CALLING A BETTER LIFE?

© 2026 The Dreamer’s Pause. All rights reserved.

CONVERSE APOLOGISED FOR WHAT?! BLACK PEOPLE, WE NEED TO TALK.

BLACK PEOPLE, PLEASE WASH YOUR EYES: CONVERSE DID NOT DECLARE WAR ON US 😭

[Ai Generated image owned by Lilo Phedra]

There are moments when I genuinely have to put my phone down, stare at the ceiling and ask myself:

“Are we actually serious right now?”

Because sometimes the internet gives me a controversy so ridiculous that I don't even know whether I should laugh, scream, pray, or simply close the application and go drink water.

And this week?

Converse.

Yes. The tekkies.

The shoes.

The shoes that have been everywhere for years. The shoes that, when I was in primary school 2017, were basically a social currency. If everybody had Converse and you didn't, you could FEEL the peer pressure through the walls. 😭

And somehow, in 2026, Converse has now found itself in the middle of a racial controversy because people looked at an advertisement featuring aespa's Karina and saw something that I genuinely did not see when I first looked at it.

Apparently, the lighting, the shape of the skirt and the way the Converse shoes were hanging in her hand reminded some viewers of the Ku Klux Klan and a lynching.

And once somebody points something like that out on social media?

Oh, it's finished.🤦🏿

Suddenly everybody is Sherlock Holmes.

Everybody is a forensic photographer.

Everybody has a PhD in racial symbolism.

“LOOK AT THE ANGLE!”

“LOOK AT THE LIGHT!”

“LOOK AT THE SHOES!”

“HOW DID THEY APPROVE THIS?!”

Brother.

Sister.

BREATHE. 😭

And let me make something very clear.

I understand why the imagery could make somebody uncomfortable. The KKK and the history of lynching are real and horrific parts of American history. I'm not denying that. I'm not asking anybody to forget history.

What I'm questioning is something completely different:

WHY ARE WE SO QUICK TO ASSUME INTENT?

Because there is a massive difference between saying:

“This image reminds me of something historically racist.”

and saying:

“Converse deliberately created this advertisement to mock Black people.”

Those are NOT the same statement.

And as far as the public evidence currently shows, deliberate racist intent has not been established. Converse apologised, removed the advertisement and said it understood why the image was deeply upsetting. The company has also declined to explain publicly how the advertisement passed its internal approval process.

[Picture: Facebook Unknown ]

And honestly?

THAT is the part I want explained.

WHO APPROVED THIS?

Because let's use our common sense for five seconds.

Why would a massive footwear company deliberately create an advertisement that could alienate customers and damage its own brand?

For WHAT? 🤷🏿

A corporate company wakes up one morning and says:

 "You know what? Let’s spend millions on an international campaign just to secretly make our logo resemble the KKK and piss off Black people". Be serious. 😭

WHAT?

😭😭😭

Be for real.

Where is the business strategy?

Where is the profit?

Where is the shareholder meeting?

“Sir, we've successfully destroyed our advertising campaign.”

“Excellent work, Susan.”

Please. 🙄

I don't believe that.

I believe somebody made a creative decision that failed to anticipate how the final image could be interpreted.

That's very different.

And yes, Converse apologised.

Personally?

I wish they didn’t. Because sometimes an apology can make people believe their interpretation has automatically been confirmed as the creator’s intention. And I don’t think we should confuse the two. An apology can quickly turn into, “See? We were right. We were owed this.” Suddenly, being offended means you must be listened to, apologised to, and something must be done about it even when the intention was never what you assumed.

 Like… are we really at the point where every uncomfortable interpretation needs a corporate apology and a campaign pulled? 😭 You can be offended and still be wrong. Critical thinking still exists.

Now, am I talking about every Black person?

Absolutely not.

Am I saying every person who criticised Converse is Black?

No.

Not every woke person is Black. Not every left-wing person is Black. Not every person who saw the KKK imagery is American.

What I keep seeing online,  particularly in certain corners of Black American social media is the same exhausting cycle: something looks vaguely racial, someone declares it racist, the outrage spreads, and suddenly we’re no longer discussing whether something was actually intentional. We’re discussing the emotional reaction to it as if that alone proves the accusation.

And honestly? I'm tired.

We're in 2026.

At some point, we need to stop living like every advertisement is secretly sitting in a boardroom plotting against us.

Yes, history matters. Yes, racism exists. Yes, companies should think carefully about racial imagery.

But if every questionable shadow, colour, shape, advertisement, hairstyle, word, logo or piece of lighting becomes another piece of evidence that somebody is personally attacking Black people, then what exactly are we doing?

Are we fighting racism, or are we training ourselves to find it everywhere?

Because those are two very different things.

And before somebody starts asking Converse for reparations—

PLEASE. 😭

What are we doing here?

Do we want a refund for emotional damages now?

“Dear Converse, I purchased my Chuck Taylors in 2018 and unfortunately your 2026 advertisement has reopened something.”

PLEASE.

😭

And this is where I genuinely want us to grow.

We can acknowledge history without allowing history to control every interpretation of the present.

We can say, “That image makes me uncomfortable,” without immediately declaring that the company intentionally hates us.

We can question an advertisement without inventing the boardroom conversation that supposedly created it.

And most importantly, we can think for ourselves.

Because I almost got offended too.

I saw people talking about the KKK and thought, “Wait… WHAT are they talking about?”

Then I looked again.

And again.

And I realised something:

I hadn't seen it until somebody told me to see it.

And that bothered me more than the advertisement.

Because if somebody can give me an interpretation, and suddenly my brain starts searching for evidence to support it, maybe the internet needs to stop doing our thinking for us.

So, Black people—

Please.

Wash your eyes.

Maybe with cleansing water.

Then sit down.

Think.

And if necessary, Pray.

Ask God to deliver us from the spirit of being offended by absolutely everything. 😭

Because history is important.

But we are not living in the 1800s.

We are living in 2026.

And I refuse to believe our generation's greatest contribution to the future is going to be finding something offensive in a pair of tekkies.

ENOUGH.

Disclaimer: Images used on this blog are for illustrative purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

© 2026 The Dreamer’s Pause. All rights reserved.

NINE WOMEN. A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO SOUTH AFRICA?

SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I genuinely don't even know how to start this.

Because every time I think, okay, surely South Africa has reached the limit now, another story appears on my phone and I'm just sitting there like...

AGAIN?!

If you're reading this from outside South Africa, let me bring you into the madness for a second.

Since July, women have been found dead across Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. Kempton Park. Olifantsfontein. Clayville. Rhodesfield. KwaThema. And now Dawn Park in Boksburg.

At the time I'm writing this, nine women have been found dead.

And the disturbing part is how some of these women were discovered.

The first body was found on 15 July in an open field near the R21 highway in Kempton Park. She was 37 years old, naked and restrained with cable ties. A man reportedly linked to her was arrested two days later.

Then came another woman in Kempton Park in August. She was 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana. Her family spent 17 days and nights searching for her, praying that she would come home, before they were eventually called to identify her body.

Then September arrived.

On 7 September, a woman believed to be in her late twenties was found floating in a river in Clayville, Olifantsfontein, near Thembisa Mall. She was found without clothing apart from underwear.

Another unidentified woman's body was discovered in Olifantsfontein that same day.

On 10 September, another unidentified woman was found in Kempton Park. Her body was naked and already in an advanced state of decomposition.

Then came Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo.

A 38-year-old mother.

A runner.

On 9 September, Elizabeth went out for her usual run and didn't come back. Her eight-year-old daughter was the one who raised the alarm when her mother failed to return. Her family searched, people shared her missing-person information, and then on 12 September her partially naked and bruised remains were found in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park. Her family identified her on 14 September.

I'm sorry, but imagine being that little girl.

Mommy went for a run.

Mommy didn't come home.

And then you find out Mommy is dead.

That is somebody's childhood memory now.

On 14 September, another woman was found in Olifantsfontein. A passer-by spotted the body and alerted authorities. She was partially naked and bruised, and police suspected she may have been killed elsewhere and dumped there.

Then on 15 September, Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, was found on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs. She had last been seen alive on the Sunday. Her family identified her body at the Springs Mortuary the following day.

And then, because apparently nine wasn't enough...

TODAY.

17 September.

A ninth woman's body was found in Dawn Park, Boksburg.

She is believed to be around 30 years old. Police say she was found partially naked, wrapped in a sheet, and preliminary indications suggest that she may have been killed somewhere else before her body was dumped there.

NINE.

At this point, I don't even know what emotion I'm supposed to have.

Fear?

Anger?

Disgust?

Exhaustion?

Probably all of them fighting for first place.

And yes, I have my own suspicion about what is happening.

I personally suspect ritual killings or ritual sacrifice.

And with everything happening lately, I can't help but wonder: could these women be part of something much darker?

South Africa is heading towards the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, and suddenly I'm looking at these killings differently. Could some of these women have been used as sacrifices — blood being shed because, in someone's twisted belief system, something needs to be sacrificed for something else to work? Could it somehow be connected to power, politics, or whatever plans people behind the scenes might have?

I don't know.

But could it be?

Because the timing makes me question things. July. August. September. Women disappearing. Bodies being found. More cases appearing as we move closer to an election.

Maybe I'm connecting dots that have nothing to do with each other.

But still...

Could it be?

And spiritually? I feel like there this dark cloud over South Africa. I'm looking outside right now and the sun is shining. Birds are chirping. Trees are moving. People interacting. Somebody is buying amagwinya somewhere.

Life looks normal.

But spiritually? Something feels deeply wrong. And that's why I believe we need a lot of prayer warriors. True prayer warriors.

And then there's the SAPS response.

Some of these deaths started in July. Now we're in September and the number has climbed to nine. Police have now assembled a multidisciplinary team, deployed additional resources and increased patrols.

And I'm sitting here thinking:

NOW?

I'm not saying investigators were sitting around eating popcorn for two months. Obviously, we don't know everything happening behind the scenes.

But people have every right to ask why the urgency feels so much louder now.

And then, as if all of this wasn't enough, we hear about 10-year-old Octavia Swarts, a Grade 4 learner from Kraaifontein.

She went missing on Sunday.

Her family and community searched nearby orchards and surrounding farms late into the night. On Monday morning, her body was found in a farm dam. A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with her death, but the case was not enrolled and he was released into his parents' care while the docket was returned to police for further investigation.

And now I'm supposed to sit here calmly?

A TEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD.

What more are we supposed to hear before we finally say enough?

All I want is JUSTICE.

For every woman, child and man whose life was stolen. For the families still staring at an empty chair. And for those still missing, whose names haven't even reached the news.

I pray the blood that was shed does not rest quietly.

May it haunt whoever did this. May they lie awake knowing exactly what they have done. May whatever they gained from another person's death turn into nothing but chaos until they finally crack, and hand themselves over.

Because you can hide from the police.

You can hide from people.

BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD.

And to the souls who were taken from this world:

LET YOUR BLOOD SPEAK.

Let the truth come out.

Let justice find them.

BECAUSE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

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