Jackie Aina, who is she? Explaining Sr. Sókè candle scandal as Nigerian YouTuber faces backlash
In honor of Jackie Aina’s 34th birthday, scented candles were launched on August 4 by beauty, cosmetics and self-care company Forvr Mood, owned by the Nigerian-American YouTuber. Sr. Sókè, No Wahala, Soft Life and Spice of Life are the four fragrances offered by the collection.
Nigerian youth have been organizing large-scale rallies to oppose police brutality since 2017, calling for the disbandment of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Online campaigns used hashtags like #EndSARS and #SrSókè during the protest.
Many tweets condemning Jackie Aina pointed out that she misused the delicate slogan to promote her products. Aina was said to have remained silent during the protests themselves or when the victims of the protest were revealed, some say.
Why was Jackie Aina so upset with the Sr. Sókè label for the candle collection?
Many young people led campaigns against them because the initial protest was against the alleged brutality of the Nigerian police, particularly units of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). As of July 2020, around 28 million featured tweets were shared on the network, according to Quartz Africa.
Following the disbandment of the SARS unit on October 11, 2020, protests against the alleged deaths, assaults and continued harassment by SARS officials in Nigeria continue.
However, the protests reportedly resulted in a significant death toll just nine days after the dissolving, according to the BBC. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly claimed 69 people had died as a result of the protests, according to a BBC News report. 51 citizens, 11 policemen and even seven soldiers were among those killed.
As a result, the word “Sr. Sókè” and its hashtag have become linked to a tragic event and a divisive protest in Nigeria. Since the protests have been going on for about five years, some people of Nigerian descent are sensitive to the use of such slogans and hashtags.
How famous is Jackie Aina?
Jackie Aina is a former professional makeup artist turned YouTuber, according to her website. The 35-year-old had been interested in makeup since she was a teenager and entered the field professionally in 2009.
After graduating from Vidal Sassoon Academy and obtaining her beautician’s license, Aina continued to work with MAC cosmetics and Bobbi Brown. The US Army veteran reportedly spent five years working as a freelance cosmetic artist. She enlisted in the military in 2008, serving two years in the Army Reserve.
Additionally, Jackie Aina launched her makeup and beauty YouTube channel in 2009, and in 13 years, it has amassed over 3.56 million members. The native of Los Angeles, of Nigerian descent, was born there in the United States. Aina’s father is from Yoruba, Nigeria while her mother is African American.
This could explain why the YouTuber used the nickname “Sr Sókè” to describe the scent of her candle collection. According to Hellogiggles, Jackie Aina has collaborated with a number of cosmetic and apparel companies, including Sephora, Sigma Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and elf Cosmetics.