Lockdown has been a testing time for most of us, but among all the sadness, joy from Black Twitter has kept us going. Here are some of my most memorable moments from the past 18 months.
1. Every time Munya Chawawa wrote a song based on current affairs.
Matt Hancock - It Was Me (Shaggy Parody). Written / Performed by myself. Edits by @CarlossRicoo. #healthsecretary #matthancock #boris
If you haven’t heard of Munya by now, you’ve definitely been living under a rock. The British-Zimbabwean comedian has been keeping us all going throughout lockdown with his skits and raps in response to the pandemic. From Unknown P rapping about Piers Morgan to his lyricism regarding Matt Hancock’s latest scandal, he’s had us in peals of laughter.
Skepta explains THAT Priti Patel tweet with a remix...‘That’s Priti’ 👀
We’ve definitely come to rely on his responses when something happens.
I ignored my TL today because I knew tweets like this were waiting for me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/ZGjwOh3Tao
2. When No Signal Radio launched 10v10 and saved us all with good music and amazing Black Talent.
A year ago today, something amazing happened. Hits from Wizkid and Vybz Kartel went head-to-head on #NS10v10 - Wizkid beats Vybz Kartel to win all 10 rounds on NS10v10 battle of hits.
No Signal Radio came at a time where we all needed something to fill our days indoors. A real Covid triumph, this online radio station came up with a concept known as #NS10v10 – an evening show dedicated to battling DJs going head to head, playing the best tunes from selected artists.
This clash was vibesss defo had people up and moving #NS10v10
No Signal Radio has become more than just a place to enjoy great music, it’s home to a number of animated discussions surrounding culture, talent, and what it means to be ambitious. And it kept the timeline locked in for hours.
10vs10 has now developed into a separate competition to see who “London’s best DJ is”, with those chosen going head to head in a number of curated rounds.
#NS10v10: THE ROAD TO ROUNDHOUSE. 8 RADIO SHOWS. 5 LIVE EVENTS. WE OUTSIDE! TICKETS DROP TOMORROW AT MIDDAY, SET A REMINDER HERE: https://t.co/CwjWsGeML7
3. The day when a random tweet tried to convince us we’d all get superpowers on 21st December.
I know this wasn’t your intention but shoutout to you. You’ve brought a lot of people happiness and jokes in what’s been a horrible year🙏🏿 https://t.co/XfzsLs3AG8
After an errant comment regarding the early days of the development of the COVID vaccine (remember that?), one user came to Twitter to "inform" everyone that Black people were “genetically stronger” meaning that vaccine development would “alter our genetic code” and result in “Real DNA being unlocked”. For clarity, there's (obviously) no scientific backing for this, but Black British Twitter ran with it and even pretended to have powers on the day.
I’ve been taking my iron supplements for a while now and i’ve just realised it IS possible to stand up without feeling like you’ve just stepped off a rollercoaster. i feel like my superpowers have already kicked in!
“Honey have you found my negro suit???” #December21st
4. Every time the United Kingdom held a press statement regarding Covid restrictions.
This country is so funny 😂😂
Over the last year and a half, we’ve seen more of our Prime Minister than we ever thought we would, and each press conferences made room for more memes on Twitter.
Unlimited exercise? are we training for the olympics?
This is Boris Johnson’s definition of a ‘LOCKDOWN’.. 😌
No one: Boris Johnson:
5. And when Rishi Sunak announced ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ – the scheme where lots of high street restaurants offered discounts in an effort to get the economy back up and running.
The budget announcement 5% VAT on food and 50% off meals in participating restaurants next month😃😃😃😃😃
Lol Erm.. why is #eatouttohelpout trending in the UK??! What have I missed?! And how may I be of service???...
6. "Aunty Boots."
Naa this is the funniest comment ive seen😂😂😂 #auntyboots
You might remember a video going around socials last year which had Boots on the tips of everyone's tongues. In a since-deleted tweet, a girl spoke of confronting the woman her father was allegedly cheating with at her workplace –Boots – and the whole debacle had morning tweeters reaching for their best meme reactions.
Twitter was quick to react with funny commentary and their own thoughts on the drama and the woman in question was quickly labelled “Aunty Boots”.
just in!! live footage of #auntyboots vs the mum 😂😂😂😂🤣😂😂🤣
Boots even weighed in on the matter!
7. The introduction of exclusive chat-room style app Clubhouse, which had loads of us staying up to talk to one another about ‘Twitter topics’ on another app ,only to then re-hash conversations on Twitter (I don’t get it either).
The overflow room needs to stop doing commentary. This is not Match of The Day. #talkswithAsh
In its heyday, the social audio app had thousands flicking from Clubhouse to Twitter, desperate to have their say on discussions where hadn’t been invited up on the stage. One user, Ashleigh Louise’s rooms, labelled #TalkswithAsh, became so popular that overflow rooms were created so that others didn’t miss out on the drama.
Clubhouse was home to some amazing rooms, specifically the ones dedicated to musicals. In an amazing one night only venture the app held auditions for Dreamgirls, The Lion King, and Hamilton. Some of the West End cast members even made appearances to listen and give feedback to fans.
@Oloni you don’t know talent. I’ll be back #HamiltonCH
*Starts singing* *Oloni* Thank you. #HamiltonCH
The app was also in its prime when the annual “Kettles exist?!” debate happened on Twitter and sent the entire timeline into disrepair.
Americans have found kettles
8. There were also sweet moments that restored our faith in the midst of all the chaos, like when British Youtuber and new mother Grace Victory awoke from her coma.
I’m awake. 🤍
YouTuber Grace Victory contracted Covid while pregnant, and was too unwell to carry to term. Her baby boy was born in December instead of his due month of February, and she was placed in a medically induced coma in an effort to protect her. In March, when Grace tweeted that she was awake, Twitter only had good things to say that day.
9. And when users showered Paula Sutton, AKA @Hillhousevintage, with support after her wholesome content creation was scrutinised.
This sweet auntie is living my countryside dream
In March, one of Paula’s Instagram photos was brought to the timeline when a writer Liv Siddall tweeted it along with the caption, “Deleted Instagram today for the first time ever (eight years!) Don’t know when I’ll be back, but let it be known that this was the image that did it.”. The image in question was a picture of Paula sitting on her manicured lawn, with a manor house behind her. She’s reading a book, unbothered.
Black Twitter immediately came to Auntie Paula’s defence, and she gained followers and love on Instagram, completely unaware of the drama unfolding on Twitter. 24 hours after discovering what had happened, Auntie Paula posted a statement on Instagram which included the following –
“I suppose what I didn’t realise - in my naivety - is that some people look at the pictures without reading all of the captions and therefore understanding who I am... These images are meant to be joyful and fun, and are styled and created to please the eye. They are a tiny snapshot of an otherwise very mundane and normal life. Too shallow for you? Perhaps....but I’m a firm believer in taking the responsibility to find the content that brings YOU joy and moving on from the things that upset you.”
Auntie Paula’s account has continued to grow and she’s now releasing a book!
And the photo on the front cover is the image that was originally tweeted.
10. Some tweets came with no context but left us all laughing anyway, like this one:
Coz they killed all their opps. Has Spider Man even got the don that licked down his uncle??? How you got super powers but your uncle got touched, I’m a normal human and all my uncle’s are fine https://t.co/0IRqjXgJV2
11. And we can't forget what happened when people made plans for festivals, then realised they were never going to happen due to Covid.
I somehow forgot to cancel my Afronation apartment 🙂🙂 I’m getting a call from Portugal asking where I am. My dear, I’m in Yorkshire working??!??
Afronation has been the subject of discussion since its launch back in 2019. Despite skeptics, the festival’s debut was a success and the creators were keen to host, only for the pandemic to stop them in their tracks. People had already bought tickets in anticipation, so when it was postponed in 2020 and 2021, they wanted refunds.
Today is meant to be the beginning of the Afronation refund but where is the email???
Lmfaooo imagine holding a ticket for three years 😩 https://t.co/O4OjMD3svh
12. Every single time sexpert Oloni began a thread with "Ladies..."
Ladies.. let’s have some blah blah. You know how it goes. I wanna know about the worst hygiene you have ever experienced with a man. During intimacy or casually. DM me all stories will be anonymous.
If you don’t know about Oloni, you will very likely have seen her threads without realising it. They amass tens of thousands of likes, retweets, and high levels of engagement overall.
The educator in all things sex and relationships has been “having fun” on the timeline for a while now, and nothing quite gets us talking like one of her iconic threads.
Whether discussing men’s hygiene or asking women to ask their partners questions and share responses, Oloni never misses and keeps us talking for at least two days after the fact.
My sister said I’m a menace to society. Do y’all agree????
Sometimes Oloni’s threads were so shocking they'd leave people with regrets...
Oloni, we are still traumatised https://t.co/BEOY5kKOi6
oloni's most recent thread made me sex negative.
...But more often than not, they've ended up teaching us something new.
In view of the @Oloni thread let me be direct. If you are a man with a penis and access to washing facilities. Please wash before you come to the sexual health clinic. Yours sincerely, an exacerbated health professional.
This isn’t new news, but thanks to Oloni, people have been reminded that hygiene of their partners is the bare minimum.
13. All the brand giveaways that you could only win by having "0 RTs and 0 Likes.
QT this and get 0 likes and 0 RTs by 8pm & the winner gets vaps for two. 🤩 🍝
Vapinano started the challenge to end all challenges, and it wasn't long before other brands were mimicking their competition for engagement, RTs, and of course quality interactions between users desperate to win competitions.
This dark period had people creating new accounts to evade their posts being liked and some even went as far as to sabotage their own friends, with hilariously entertaining results.
14. And of course, the chaotic rise of the Pretty Little Thing giveaways, which had people creating studio-level songs in efforts to get the account to gift them vouchers.
#PLTPINKMONDAY I have bars and a presentation for you come on https://t.co/xN3CpTz7c5
i’m angry @OfficialPLT
15. The night Prince Harry and Meghan Markle interviewed with Oprah.
me if i was meghan rn #HarryandMeghanonOprah
Despite this not being a funny interview at all, Black Twitter in both the UK and across the pond found a way to make light of the matter.
From the running commentary, to adding more memes to Oprah’s already overflowing bank, to commenting on how wildly different US healthcare adverts are, Black Twitter didn’t disappoint.
Who made this?😭😭
If these medicine ads are what it’s like to not have an NHS I never want to experience that
not prince harry staying at madea’s house for 3 months what kind of simulation glitch