‘Intellectual No Dey Work Again’ — Tekno Defends Brain-Rot Content Trend
Kehinde Adeleye
Afrobeats singer Austine Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno Miles, has defended the controversial “brain-rot content” trend, also referred to as the “Olodo Uprising,” arguing that goofy and unserious entertainment can be more engaging than intellectual content.
The ‘Pana’ crooner made the remarks during a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, where he discussed changing tastes in Nigerian entertainment and the type of content that attracts audiences.
Tekno argued that intellectual content no longer has the same appeal in Nigeria, suggesting that audiences are often more interested in entertainment that makes them laugh than content designed to showcase intelligence.
“Intellectual no dey work again. Wetin I go do with your intellect?” he said.
The singer cited skit maker Carter Efe as an example, saying he could watch him for hours simply because of his goofy and entertaining personality.
“I can watch Carter Efe for hours and just be laughing at him just being goofy because that’s interesting,” Tekno said.
He also compared the trend to the popularity of veteran Nollywood comic actors Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, and the late John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu.
According to Tekno, their appeal was largely rooted in their comic and goofy performances rather than intellectual portrayals.
“Back in the day, when you dey watch Osuofia and Mr Ibu, wetin make you been like them? No be the mumu wey dem dey mumu?” he said.
His comments come amid growing conversations around the popularity of short-form, absurd and deliberately unserious online content, particularly among young audiences.
While supporters of such content see it as a form of entertainment and social expression, critics have raised concerns about the growing dominance of low-effort content in Nigeria’s digital space.
