“The biggest challenge after success is shutting up about it.”
― Criss Jami

Fame is something we all desire and we do so rightly. The beauty, influence and money that come with fame are definitely desirable things but recently, we have watched our favorite celebrities literally suffer from success. The question now becomes: is fame a blessing or a curse? Does the glitter and glory of fame equal the cost? These and many more questions are the background against which this article is written.

Why do people want fame?

Most teenagers in almost every society want to be famous actors, musicians, politicians or recognized and celebrated technocrats. Some of us continue dreaming about fame well into our adulthood and others into old age. Interestingly, the teenage mind wants fame not because of the money and beautiful things but because of the influence that comes with fame and how this influence can be instrumental in the creation of a better world (EB Quora Poll for this article).

Indeed, fame can be akin to winning a jackpot. It can change your life and the life of your family and transform the future of your generation completely. Consider the story of Olajumoke: her rise to affluence is a depiction of the power and blessings of fame. The present and future of her children will never be the same. Fame even transformed the destiny of her estrange husband too.

Fame can also be a tool for positive change; Omotola Jakande a popular actress is also known to be the founder of Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme which can be seen as a tool for change. Chimamanda Adiche’s brilliant voice on the issues of feminism and gender equality is a beautiful example of how positive fame can be. The fame of Patience Jonathan’s birthed Women for Change Initiative; and many more examples of people who used their fame for positive causes abound.

But is that all there is to fame?

By no means! Fame is more destructive than it is constructive. If this was otherwise, then celebrities would be the happiest set of people in the world but we know that is far from the truth.

From the suicides of Whitney Houston, over-dosage of painkillers by Michael Jackson, and that of Marilyn Monroe to the drunken homicide that killed Dagrin to the family drama of Tiwa and Teebliz and many other challenges of the celebrity lifestyle, we can deduce that there is little to no joy in Fame.

A story was told of a very successful celebrity who was asked of what he knew now that would have helped him when he was coming up. His startling reply was that he wish he knew that after coming to the top, there is nothing there. Robin Williams quoted him before his suicide.

In Conclusion

With so much incomprehensible troubles in the life of the rich and the famous, to question if fame is a blessing or a curse can be answered in many a divergent ways. The truth however is that people will continue to seek fame and continue to get burnt by it.

What is the better choice?

Tell us your opinion in the comment section below or visit our website at www.esther.ng.


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