Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa trend on Google

The xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa is one of the mostly searched items  on Google this week, the company announced on Thursday.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the search was from Feb. 23 to March 1.

“Relationship between Nigeria and South Africa became slightly strained this week, when allegations of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa ruled the internet,’’ he said.

The Google manager said that people’s attention was also caught online by the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against Nigeria’s naira.

“The dollar, after moving up like a rocket going to space, lost speed this week as the Nigerian naira strengthened to N425 per dollar at the parallel market.

“This is being hailed as a relief after remaining at N500 per dollar rate in the last few months.

“Reports are saying this development is a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent modification to the forex policy,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

He added that release of the video of the song of the late talented singer, Eric Ayobami, also trended on Google.

“Although the death of talented singer has continued to shock his friends and fans, the long-awaited video of his song, The Sound, was released during the week,’’ he said.

The spokesperson said that the released video was for television broadcast and video-sharing websites such as YouTube.

According to Kola-Ogunlade, the news of the death of Neil Fingleton, the Games of Throne actor, who died at the age of 36, also trended.

He noted that the seven-foot-seven-inch British actor played the giant Mag-the-Mighty in the popular American fantasy drama television series, “Games of Throne’’.

“The actor, a former basketball player, was recognised in 2007 by the Guinness World Record as the tallest man in the U.K.,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

He said that people also searched much about the start of the Lenten season.

“Ash Wednesday which usually welcomes lent took place this week.

“It kicked off 40 days of intense reflections through prayers and fasting observed by many Christians across the world.

“Catholics are known to go to church to be blessed with ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross to signify repentance and mortality.’’

Kola-Ogunlade said that other stories that trended on Google included results on the La Liga Table and European League Draw, and the confession of American top actress, Viola Davis, about her struggle with impostor syndrome.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Google Trends, launched in May 2006, allows one to see how popular search terms and their demography have been overtime on Google.