By John Ikani
It’s that time of year again – love is in the air, and every store is flooded with heart-shaped balloons and cuddly teddy bears.
But what if you don’t subscribe to celebrating Valentine’s Day? Fear not, because we’ve got you covered with this guide to not celebrating the most overrated day of the year!
First things first, let’s address the elephant in the room – why should you not celebrate Valentine’s Day? Well, for starters, it’s a Western holiday created to boost sales of greeting cards and chocolates.
Not to mention, it puts a lot of pressure on couples to have the perfect date, when in reality, love should be celebrated every day.
So, what can you do instead? Well, the answer is simple – celebrate love in your own way.
Whether it’s spending quality time with your friends, family, or even just treating yourself to a well-deserved spa day, there are endless options for celebrating love that don’t involve buying into the commercialized holiday.
If you’re feeling particularly rebellious, you could even join the Anti-Valentine’s Day movement and participate in “Singles Awareness Day” (SAD for short).
This is a day to celebrate the joys of being single, without the societal pressure to be in a relationship. So grab some African snacks, binge-watch your favourite Nollywood movie, and embrace the solo life.
However, if you do find yourself in a relationship this Valentine’s Day, don’t feel like you have to conform to the traditional expectations of a romantic dinner or flowers.
Why not switch things up and do something unconventional, like a picnic in the park, a traditional African drumming session, or a cooking class together?
The important thing is to spend time together and make memories, not just follow the script.
In conclusion, love should be celebrated every day, not just on February 14th.
So, whether you’re single or in a relationship, take this opportunity to celebrate love in your own unique way, African-style.
And most importantly, don’t let Western culture dictate how you express your love – because at the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts.
So, go ahead and break the mold this Valentine’s Day. Who needs a Western holiday when you have the power to create your own love story, African-style?
