ARE YOU NIGERIAN ENOUGH?

HUMOR ME TAKE THE POLL!!



I know, I know, am I serious? Lend me your ears, i'll give you them back soon...No seriously, read the article out loud, it's more enjoyable..

 'Im Nigerian!'
and I take it very personal when someone questions my 'Nigerianess'. I think it's my arrogance, because in my head I come first place as a Nigerian, I mean it's not a competition or anything, I know. In fact, some people might even say i'm delusional, that I can claim their Nigerianess and join to mine if I so please, because they don't want theirs. I don't care... Anyway, since I come first place as a Nigerian, you can imagine how taken aback I am, when someone feels the need to tutor me on how to be Nigerian.


'Im Nigerian'
with friends who live in Nigeria, meet Ngo Ngo, Ngo Ngo meet my readers... I spoke to Ngo Ngo on Sunday, I had not spoken to her in a long, long time. Minutes into the conversation, "Pre pre your accent has changed oh," she said,  "Huh? change for where? Abegiiii it has not ohhhh, this is just my 5th year here, wetin?" I said nonchalantly.... chalantly in my consciousness though. Blurred lines in relation to if her comment was a compliment or an accusation. To crown it all, I spoke to my ex who insists on questioning my 'Nigerianess' every time! He can't even speak Igbo and pidgin like me, imagine? In his case he does it to annoy me, for certain. "Arghh, me I have not changed ohh, ehn? why?" I kept thinking to myself, till the next day when I had to record a video for Nighjerian Entertainment weekly (Check that out by the way.)
After recording, I was watching the video, listening closely to my accent and kept hearing myself pronouncing the word 'and' as 'ehhnd,' I mean what is that all about?

'Im Nigerian,'
with Nigerian cooking skills for days. That day, I later cooked a really delicious Egusi soup while rehearsing how to say 'and' as 'ahhhnd' to assure myself of my Nigerianess. So it begs the question what is Nigerian enough? I recorded a video about Nigerian accent just a year after I got into the U.S on YouTube (I wanted to post the video here but i'm just a punk, so I didn't.). I admitted that it is okay to adapt a little with our accent, by pronouncing our words more clearly. What is the need of communication when you can't communicate with the people around you?

'I'm Nigerian,'
so living outside Nigeria for me, has been a constant struggle with how much originality to give out, in order not to be misunderstood. I can hear someone already saying 'just be yourself,' (I am restraining myself from going into a major rant from that cliche alone) What is be yourself? I am obviously still finding myself, so what should I be, while i'm finding myself? Ahhh, more questions, great!

'I'm Nigerian'
but it's madness not to adapt at all, and change is created by adapting, right? I hate that I have to change into Nigerian English when I want to appear more 'Nigerian', and reverse back to American English when i'm being normal. If I follow my advise in that video of pronouncing words clearly instead of speaking American English, then i'll sound British, because technically the correct Nigerian English is British English. Then I'll have to explain how I have a British accent but have never gone to anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Forget that I am zoning in on accent (it's because that's what applies to me)  but a lot of people have been questioned based on their place of birth, color of their skin, their choice of residence, if they know how to cook Nigerian meals, how they wear their hair, if they know how to dance Azonto and Alanta etc. I'm guilty of it too.

'I'm Nigerian'
and so? Based on what I have been told, since I plan on going back to Nigeria, to enter into the media/entertainment industry, I have to claim 'Americaness' by fire by force. I mean I look up to and follow the lives of Toolz, Toke, Eku Edewor, Ebuka, because I love their work and honestly foreignness, is part of their package. Note, that I am in no way saying that their 'foreignness' is responsible for their success, but it is part of their brand, so embracing change might not be so bad.

Since i'm writing this article, i'm supposed to come to an epiphany and blab about some cliche solution or mind-bogging bogus, but erhm, I have nothing! What I do know is, I try my best to be faithful loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with what convenience allows me, to defend her unity by mouth and uphold whatever honor and glory we have left which mostly comes from the entertainment industry, so help God be a better Nigerian.

I'm a struggling Nigerian....