Show me someone who’s never used an emoji before and we’ll show you the rock they’ve been living under. Over the past few years, the yellow anthropomorphic heads conceptualized from messenger smileys have largely shaped interaction in today’s digital age. Though initially created by Japanese developers as a way to add a more personal touch to everyday digital communication, we have since incorporated it into our daily lives, changing how we relate. Emoji’s have come to imply other meanings, beyond what was initially intended for them. While a rose remains a rose, and cake remains cake, in honour of world emoji day, here are some of the smileys that have taken on a life of their own.
The smile
Beyond the genuine happiness it’s intended for, the smile emoji is just used as a soft blush that may indicate more sinister reality. From the “just withdrew the last penny in my account ” to “Been waiting at the ATM for an hour and counting ”, the smile has made rounds with social media posts as a misomner for how humans internalise chaos by putting up a smiling face.
The Egg plant
Sexting is a pastime for many with and the egg plant is often used to denote the male penis due to its phallic shape. In 2015, the American Dialect Society actually declared the eggplant to be the ‘Most Notable Emoji’ in their Word of the Year vote. For an emoji to gain that kind of traffic, it means millennials’ talk a lot about sex , because the big question remains how an innocent vegetable inadvertently became an emblem for our collective perversions.
The Peach
Coming in second to the eggplant, is the peach emoji, also used in the same context with the former. While the eggplant represents the male genitalia, the peach emoji is symbolic of the backside. The peach usually prevails in conversations about exchanged nudes and thirst traps.
Black moon
The Black moon smiley has got to be one of the most suggestive smileys ever. The very cynically dark deceptive looking face, is expressed as the playful look you give to a friend when they are guilty of a crime. Butthe Black Moon has come to be associated with emphasizing sexual suggestions, usually common in morning after texts between two people who just had sex hours prior.
Three droplets of water
Just maybe we shouldn’t question the corruptible human mind but the creator(s) of these emoji’s instead. I mean people couldn’t have begun alluding to any raunchiness, if not for such picturesque symbolisms why should anyone think of anything beyond raindrops. One can still innocently assume these three droplets as simply water related inferences but that’s only if you can get past what the idea of ‘wetness’ or ‘thirst’ it unambiguously connotes to two people coyly propositioning each other for sex.
Tongue
Of a billion emojis sent worldwide, a million are the Tongue emoji sent through smart phones for raunchy reasons. This emoji has gone from an innocuous human tongue to sexting’s favourite shorthand to play pool, fellatio and foreplay involving wet kisses and sticking tongues in strange places.
The eyes
Among the most notable of the smileys is the eyes emoji glancing slightly to the left— and almost certainly the most important signifying a deceitful act or used to indicate pervy eyes. The eyes emoji is a go-to way to describe uncomfortable or provocative social situations to unmannered, reflexive reactions. It’s also used for questioning, it says “See what I did there?” It’s interesting not just cause it suggests emoji convo can be truly intimate but also because emojis play on ambiguity in a way that implies an altered mental state.
Feature Image Credit: Twitter/@moonemojii
Fisayo is a journalist who thinks writing is hard and reading too. But her journey somewhere reveals, words are like pawns on chessboard when writing. She wants to see, create and share with the world, experience & communicate these experiences. Tweet at her @fisvyo
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
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Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanyingmusic video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun”and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”,the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here: