Celebrity influence on society

 People that influence actions and inactions of people either positively or otherwise in the society are religious leaders, royal fathers, artists, social critics, rich-wealthy people, spiritual leaders, heads of families, community leaders, political leaders, security agents, youth leaders, and social, academic, professional and cultural institutions and organizations.

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 These groups individually or collectively command the influence knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously, based on their followership or fans strength. But of these groups, in relation to several modern social interaction techniques, the artistes have a greater influence on the youths.

The awkward or highly un-African dressing code today is largely influenced by this influential group. In fact, empirical studies have shown that changing or successive dressing codes or styles of human generations have consistently  been a result of the influence and dress codes or fashion sense of artistes around the world, though it is gradually derailing to complete nudity as we hopelessly build a seductive sense of dressing and consequently aid and promote prostitution, rape, early teenage pregnancies and mass female school dropouts in what is a mockery of entertainment.

The alarming rate of alcohol abuse like codeine, tramadol and many other harmful substances intake is one of the prizes the society is paying for the great influence the group has on teeming unemployed youths as some videos and performances practically preach such anti social drug extremism.

 In the build-up to elections in Nigeria, celebrities are usually either indifferent or protective of political aspirations as their influences are obvious factors that shape voters’ decision.

Taking a look at the background, reasoning and social efforts of Tuface Innocent Idibia, who has been a modest and moderate star whose influence on the young people can positively affect the mindset of the younger generations who incidentally are his fans, the African Queen Crooner has been an heritage of bond between a man and a woman with a decent approach while helping to reduce the nudity populism concept in the industry.

Since every man is either a political animal or an outcast like a bird which flies alone, there is no sitting on the fence in nation building. Tuface is not left out in the political scenes. With utmost caution, and unparalleled civility, he has championed a non-partisan neutral “Election No Be War” movement which has canvassed for peace by touring the divides and consequently calming political frail fingers during elections across the country.

As we approach 2019 general elections, I implore celebrities and other influential blocks in the society to begin to observe whether they are a good influence on the society because the good of the society is beneficial even more to the influential blocks.

The recent arrest of a musician on illegal possession of firearms is not a good omen at this time on the psyche of his numerous fans, though his guilt is a judicial issue but the news is bad news.

Mr Akinola  Iwilade

 

iwiakinola@gmail.com