No one knows about my love for Nigeria
Nigeria is a country in the western part of Africa. As of 2017 the population is said to be 191 million and growing, making Nigeria one of the most populous countries in the world.
Within this exploding population, there are over 250 ethnic groups alone in Nigeria and 521 languages spoken. The major languages spoken are the languages of the most populous tribes, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. English is the official language of the country, due to the history of 20th century colonialism, and it is a means of communication across differing ethnic groups. However, we have found a way to make it ours, through the creation of Pidgin English. As they say, Naija no dey carry las! — (means ‘Nigerians do not accept last place’, in Pidgin)
Nigeria does have many shortcomings. For one thing, the corruption is second to none and it exists at every level, from bribing the airport officials to let you go through the fast track line, to more high-level corruption such as rigging elections. Nigeria is also the poverty capital of the world even though it is home to at least 80% of African billionaires.
Perhaps the most striking economic incongruity is found in the fact that it is the largest oil and gas producer in Africa, yet the level of poverty is still staggering and the divide between the rich and poor is jarring. Another shortcoming is the prevalence of regressive social views such as the sexism, homophobia and ageism that have plagued a lot of older Nigerian minds, some of these views being due to ancient cultural beliefs and some due to the extreme religiosity born of colonialism.
Regardless of these issues, there are so many reasons to love Nigeria and I shall explore a few of those reasons below.
Firstly, the culture. With 250 ethnic groups we are a very diverse group of people. The Nigerian diet consists of delicious dishes such as our fantastic jollof rice, a tomato and pepper based dish served at every party, that unites Nigerians as it is not specifically from one tribe unlike several other dishes. Other popular delicacies include freshly fried ‘small chops’ which is a medley of grilled meats, plantain-based appetizers and pastries, and pounded Yam, a dish served with an assortment of peppery and vegetable-based stews.
Nigerians have a great party culture with traditional events called “Owanbes”. Here you can see music food and dance in full display. Owanbes are named for the Yoruba phrase which literally means ‘it is there’, a reference to the location of the gathering at hand. They are events you go to every weekend, usually to celebrate significant occurrences such as weddings, birthdays, or the birth of a child.
They also serve as a display of prosperity for the host. Depending on your income tax bracket, music may be provided by a range of musicians from a local band in your neighbourhood, to king Sunny Ade or Ebenezer Obey, top internationally recognised artists, whose presence on the band stand at your party guarantee that the event will be well spoken of. The live musician is known as the “Onilu” and it is compulsory to engage one, as a DJ is not considered sufficient to provide music at such an event.
Secondly, the opportunities. Nigeria is a developing country and it is slowly becoming the giant of Africa with new emerging industries bringing new opportunities to the younger generations. An example is the creative scene, with Nollywood which is well known around the world and is undisputedly the biggest film industry in Africa, making revenue of almost 600 million dollars annually and drawing global attention. The music scene is making similarly great strides with the continuing mainstreaming of Afro Beats, a genre of music which originated from Nigeria. Individual artists are also getting global attention, with Beyoncé releasing an album this summer which consisted mostly of Nigerian artists such as Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage. There is also an emerging food industry, with new restaurants popping up every week and Nigerian food is being put on the global map with Nigerian restaurants such as “Ikoyi” being opened in central London and renowned chefs like Jamie Oliver having a crack at creating jollof rice.
Thirdly, the resilience and strong work ethic. Nigerians tend to be very resilient people. In spite of all the hardships in the country you still find some of the most industrious, hardworking and ambitious people in Nigeria. They never give up and when they fail, they get back up again and try even harder. Most Nigerians have their main job as well as what they call a “side hustle”, which is another source of income apart from their main job. The country’s logistic difficulties mean that many Nigerians run their own businesses and as a result, they are a very business savvy people.
Most of all, though, I love Nigeria because it is home. With all its economic, security and healthcare problems, and all its bright, brave and beautiful people. It is a large part of where I was raised, in the sharp glare of the sun, and howling winds of Harmattan. It is a place where people struggle and people fall, but they continue to rise, and live, and love.
