Every Nigerian family WhatsApp group has that one unforgettable event. Whether it’s Big Mummy London sending a chain of annoying broadcast messages or a sibling adding the entire extended family without warning, there’s always some premium gbas gbos.
We asked a few Nigerians to share the drama that’s gone down in their family group chats, and let’s just say the tea is piping hot.
Seun*
My brothers and I had a heated football conversation in the family group chat. I saw this lengthy, senseless take and replied, “Guy, read what you wrote, does it make sense?” I dropped my phone to attend to something and returned to find my dad going off in the group. That’s when I realised he’d sent the message. I apologised, explaining it wasn’t directed at him, and he said it was fine. That night, my mum called and gave me a proper lecture about respecting your parents.
Balikis*
While preparing for my cousin’s wedding, we created a family WhatsApp group for easy communication. The group was mostly inactive since the wedding was months away, but we’d get occasional updates about hotel reservations, the asoebi colour, and other plans.
One day, my bride-to-be cousin posted the asoebi rates and other expenses. A younger cousin felt the price was too high and tried to express her thoughts. My cousin flared up, insisting the younger cousin had no right to address her without using “Sister” or “Aunty.”
The exchange got heated, with some cousins arguing that since the bride was only a few years older, it was fine to call her by name. Most of us were in our mid to late twenties, and I agreed with them, though I didn’t voice it to my cousin. She eventually left the group and only sent updates through me after that.
Ben*
During COVID, my mum kept sending videos and broadcasts full of false information in the family group chat, and I was getting tired. I’d casually asked her to at least read or verify things before spreading panic, but she didn’t take it seriously. Then, one day, she sent a video claiming people should take salt baths to prevent COVID.
I was pissed because she was acting like someone with no education. I sent a voice note trying to respectfully correct her, but she didn’t appreciate my tone. After listening, she replied, “Why not go to the market, buy a cane, and come beat me? Then you’ll know you’ve corrected me.”
I knew I’d messed up. I spent the next few days apologising, explaining I wasn’t trying to be rude. She still sends annoying videos, but I’ve muted the group chat.
Tayo*
My stepbrother tried to play peacemaker by adding all 12 step-siblings to a WhatsApp group. I knew it was a bad idea because we’d never been close, and each wife had always kept her children apart.
He created the group without discussing it with anyone beforehand, and we all found ourselves in a group called “Adedeji* Children.” Worse, he didn’t explain why the group was created or try to make introductions. After a week of silence, people started leaving. The third eldest left first, then two others, until we were down to four. I’m not sure if he even noticed what had happened. He eventually came back some weeks later asking why I left. His message is still in my unread folder.
Ade*
My eldest brother offered to sponsor our youngest sibling’s university education. He doesn’t have a high-paying job, but he’s unmarried and could afford it. We’d been trying to secure her admission, but nothing clicked.
One day, the second-born, who recently got promoted and now earns a lot more, came to the WhatsApp group and announced she’d enrolled our sibling in a private uni. It shocked us because she hadn’t discussed it with anyone. When we tried to reason with her, she refused to back down. My eldest brother commented that she can’t boss us around because she has more money now. Then he left the group. It took a lot of begging to get him back.
Dorathy*
One morning, my deeply spiritual sister sent a voice note to our family group, saying she’d been having visions and nightmares. She said someone in the group was working to bring us down. For context, the group includes our parents and all six siblings.
Our parents demanded to know who she was talking about, but she refused to name names, insisting we fast and pray so God could reveal the person. The group went quiet for days because no one knew how to handle the situation. Thankfully, she returned weeks later to say the evil-doer had been defeated. We all still wonder, “So, who is the witch in this family?” But no one has dared to ask.
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