The Nigerian Twitterverse was set ablaze this week after popular comedian and skitmaker Sydney Talker ignited a humorous social media storm with a single tweet one that pitted two viral catchphrases against each other: “Joy is coming” and “Who talk that thing?”
On Tuesday afternoon, Sydney posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle:
“Between ‘Joy is coming’ and ‘Who talk that thing?’, choose your fighter. Nigeria, decide now!”
What followed was nothing short of digital chaos and comedy gold.
Fans, fellow comedians, influencers, and even brands jumped into the fray, each defending their preferred phrase. Memes flew. Voiceovers returned. And before long, hashtags like #JoyVsWhoTalk and #SydneyTalkerChallenge trended across the country.
A Battle of Nigerian Pop Culture Slogans
The two phrases, while humorous, carry distinctly Nigerian flavors:
- “Joy is coming” is often used to express optimism in difficult times, gaining traction especially among Gen Z Nigerians grappling with the country’s economic and political challenges.
- “Who talk that thing?” on the other hand, is a classic comic retort, often delivered with dramatic flair in skits, used to call out exaggerations or sarcastic lies. Sydney himself popularized it in several of his viral comedy videos.
Celebrities Join In
Comedians like Mr Macaroni, Taooma, and Sabinus chimed in with spoof videos and polls, stoking the mock feud. “Na joy dey find who talk that thing,” tweeted Sabinus, alongside a clip of him hilariously switching sides mid-sentence.
Even Nigerian music stars got involved. Singer Ayra Starr posted: “Joy is coming but I no talk am o! ” sparking speculation of a skit collab in the works.
Sydney Talker: The Mastermind
Known for his unique facial expressions and viral punchlines, Sydney Talker has consistently remained a household name in Nigerian digital comedy. This latest Twitter post is being hailed as another example of his innate ability to understand and steer pop culture narratives.
While it remains unclear whether this was just a spur-of-the-moment joke or a calculated build-up to a new skit series or campaign, one thing is certain: Sydney Talker has once again shown how humor can bring Nigerians together if only briefly in collective laughter.
Verdict?
As of Wednesday morning, an informal poll conducted by Pulse Nigeria showed “Who talk that thing?” leading with 58% of the votes, while “Joy is coming” held a respectable 42%. But the real winner? Nigerian humor.
Whether you’re team Joy or team Who Talk, one thing is clear: Sydney Talker knows how to make the internet laugh and we’re all here for it.
Follow [@SydneyTalker] on X for more updates or unexpected chaos.
