In a dystopian, futuristic Lagos, the government has outlawed sadness and other negative emotions. Under the authority of the "Ministry of Upbeat Sentiments," citizens are forced to maintain a constant state of happiness. Frowning is a crime, and the official mantra is "Good Vibes Only." This enforced positivity acts as a thin veneer, covering the deep-seated sorrow and exhaustion of the people like plaster on a wound.
The story is narrated by Ashake, who introduces us to her younger sister, Riri. At seventeen, Riri is a quiet rebel known on the streets as "Riri of the Sorrowful Vibes." With her distinct teal-green hair, she operates as a pirate DJ, defying the government by broadcasting illegal "Sorrow Sound." Her music is not for dancing; it is a powerful, melancholic anthem that gives voice to the unspoken pain of the city—the sound of tears that can't be shed and a tiredness that can't be expressed.
One night, Riri and her lookout, Taiwo, set up her makeshift equipment on the rooftop of an abandoned building. As she broadcasts her deep, resonant basslines across the city, the music seeps into the homes of ordinary people, offering them a moment of catharsis and permission to feel their true emotions.
However, her act of defiance is quickly detected. A government drone, operated by the relentless Kayode, descends upon the rooftop, its piercing blue searchlight shattering the darkness. Instead of surrendering, Riri makes a final, bold statement by turning the volume all the way up. The drone fires an energy pulse, destroying her console and injuring her.
Riri and Taiwo flee through the back alleys of Lagos, eventually finding refuge at a clandestine late-night clinic. There, they are stopped by a stern security guard named Iyabo. When Riri confesses she was injured for playing music, a flicker of understanding crosses Iyabo's face. Recognizing the raw honesty in Riri's "Sorrow Sound," a sound that mirrors her own unspoken burdens, Iyabo lets out a long, heavy sigh—an illegal act of shared humanity. In a world suffocated by forced joy, this small act of empathy becomes a powerful symbol of resistance, proving that even in the most oppressive society, true emotion can never be completely silenced.
