I just finished reading Wole Soyinka’s “Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth”, his 2021 novel, which was his first since 1973. The book was splattered with satire and ironies that come with the unlikely mix of dysfunction and prosperity. It laughs at truly comical but unfortunate circumstances that have marked today’s Nigeria, but most notably glides through the persistent ostentatious habits that haunt us through the unprovoked desire to let everyone know you’re not just doing good, you’re doing great! 

Don’t let my initial paragraph deceive you, this post is not a book review.  

I’m simply reflecting on how peace and joy find ways to shine through amid chaos and uncertainty. It’s the question of how one can be okay or dare I say, happy when so and so is going on?! That, ladies and gentlemen, is the subtle ridiculousness in happiness. It’s senseless or irrational happiness. It’s ridiculous for something to come seemingly out of the blue, except if it’s by nature - think of someone walking down the street then suddenly stops and starts dancing or screaming, or both! The title of Wole Soyinka’s book raises the question of how a country with so many problems can have people who thrive, people who are effortlessly happy, despite widespread discontent. 

So does happiness need to be caused by something? Is it innate and some just don’t know it?

Maybe we should strive to be ‘ridiculously’ happy. Instead of randomly breakdancing in the street, maybe we ought to randomly smile and laugh as often as we can, reach for joy as a way of reaching for the stars, and see what happens as a result. If life is out of our control, worrying is pointless and crazy. So, maybe we’re left with no choice other than choosing happiness. A subtle, ridiculous happiness. 

Until the next one

-C