Title:   SATIRICAL COMEDY IN THE ERA OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE NIGERIAN AWARENESS EXPERIENCE

Abstract
This paper argues that drama through its comedy and satire genres has proven its essence by educating and entertaining Nigerians in the period of covid-19. Although comedy is said to be an action that is unserious and full of humor, it was used during and after the covid-19 era to educate and spice up the boring life of the masses in the midst of the pandemic, looking at the role of comedy in creating awareness, general lives of individuals and the Nigerian society in the chaotic situation during the covid-19 era. The quantitative research approach was used to analyze the number of ‘views’, ‘shares’, ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ of the eight (8) selected online comedy skits. Anchored on Stanley Fish’s Reader Response theory that gained prominence in the late 1960s. This theory focuses on the readers and audience reaction to a text or any artistic output for evaluation and interpretation based on their personal experience, previous knowledge and opinion. The corona virus pandemic in Nigeria brought about lockdown-the shutdown of different activities of individuals and organizations in the country. The government of Nigeria enforced social distancing to cushion the effect of the deadly virus. Hence, the introduction of different alternative ways for the normal such as working from home, no social gathering, regular handwashing and wearing of nose masks. These preventive measures by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the federal Ministry of health in conjunction with World Health Organization directives could only be achieved by “staying at home”. Hence, people found consolation and life in television, indoor games and social media.
Keywords: Satirical Comedy, Awareness, Covid-19 Era, Nigeria.

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Publication Date: 2023-04-05