If there’s one thing 2016 taught us, it’s the fact that controversy sells.

If in doubt, ask Koffi Olomide.

Like all preceding years, 2016 also taught us that as a human race, we learn nothing and forget nothing from history. We are the modern-day version of the ancient day French Bourbon monarchs. This is why almost everybody is already stinking broke, even though it is only the first day of January.

If in doubt of this my assertion, go and steal a glance at people’s bank balances or simply peep into their pockets. Better still, ask a buddy for 5K and wait for their response.

2016 was also the year when humanity teamed up to be judgmental and refuse to give US president-elect Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt.

But why be so judgmental? Okay, why not give a man a chance? And why, above all, why voluntarily invite eight years of bitterness to one’s life?

The man, of course, is going to seek re-election after four years. And he will definitely trump his opponent.

Back home, the country took the boldest steps yet in its steady ambition to be a model for the rest of the continent and indeed the globe.

At the forefront of this battle is the City of Kigali, by virtue of course, of being the country’s commercial and administrative nucleus.

With the pomp that surrounded the grand opening of the Kigali Convention Center last year, the City of Kigali set out boldly on a transformational journey from an African city to an African metropolis.

So in 2017 the trek will continue into subsequent years to come.

In 2017, Musanze district in the far off Northern Province will want to partake of some of the sparkle and limelight that Kigali has been hoarding up at fever pitch of late.

The soon-to-be opened new modern market smack in the middle of the town is one such asset the town is rearing to front. I have a real suspicion that once open, it will inevitably swallow up all the lock-up and retail business outlets in the town. It’s that huge.

Musanze is also trying to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Kigali in its road expansion initiatives. But with less winding landscapes and a flat topography, Musanze’s roads are a better sight to behold than Kigali’s.

In 2017 people will still listen to this Rihanna song whose title I don’t care for but where she repeatedly hisses something like kwa kwa kwa kwa kwaa …

Who can help out with the title?

So expect kwa kwa kwa all over the airwaves anyway. Should you decide to set unfortunate foot in a nightclub or pub, the DJ will still slot in Are you gonna dance-oh, if I show you my wallet from some Nigerian clown.

Also in 2017, the word ‘airtime’ will drift closer to extinction as more people now would rather say ‘I didn’t load bundles’ as opposed to ‘my airtime is low’.