Nigerians are the Americans of Africa

17 Jan

I said two posts ago that I am now working in Cotonou. One of my colleagues who once lived in America, and who goes to Nigeria very often, told me today that Nigerians are just like Americans. Nigerians think that the whole world hates them, that other Africans are jealous of them, and that no other African country exists apart from Nigeria.

That got me thinking, is that really true? Let’s complicate matters a little. Nollywood movies that do not show us drinking blood – something that I, Nigerian that I am, think make other Africans to be scared of us – show people living in affluence. I remember a Malawian lady asking me, sometime ago, whether most Nigerians live in big houses like in the Nollywood movies – something that might be asked of Americans with regard to Hollywood movies. My colleague goes on with the analogy to say that Nigerians generally know very little about other African countries. His reason for this was simply: by the time you finish learning about 36 states you don’t have much brain matter left to devote to other countries. This, he says, is like Americans who don’t get to learn about any other place apart from the United States of America.

I really saw reason in many of the things he said, and that troubles me.

  • http://shakara.wordpress.com/ Random African

    No shit.

    Yeah, Nigerians suffer from the “big country” syndrome. I was amazed by how little y’all know about other african countries or even your neighbourgs or by random displays of such self-centerness (isnt a word ?) like bookstores having only nigerian writers in their “africa” section or Glo advertising on being “Africa’s Biggest Network”.
    Actually i was amused by such displays most of the time. I mean when you have a 1/5th of the african population, you shouldn’t brag about having the biggest anything. That’s expected. And per capita comparisions are usually not in Nigeria’s advantage.

    Do Nigerians know the 36 states ? There was a few times when I was able to able to convince someone that i was from a northern nigerian state (usually Sokoto) and that it explain my foreign looks, accent and behavior.

    I think the fact that nigerian nationalism is pretty much based on such claims of greatness (or rather bigness) has a lot to do with it (as it does in the case of the US actually).

  • http://shakara.wordpress.com Random African

    No shit.

    Yeah, Nigerians suffer from the “big country” syndrome. I was amazed by how little y’all know about other african countries or even your neighbourgs or by random displays of such self-centerness (isnt a word ?) like bookstores having only nigerian writers in their “africa” section or Glo advertising on being “Africa’s Biggest Network”.
    Actually i was amused by such displays most of the time. I mean when you have a 1/5th of the african population, you shouldn’t brag about having the biggest anything. That’s expected. And per capita comparisions are usually not in Nigeria’s advantage.

    Do Nigerians know the 36 states ? There was a few times when I was able to able to convince someone that i was from a northern nigerian state (usually Sokoto) and that it explain my foreign looks, accent and behavior.

    I think the fact that nigerian nationalism is pretty much based on such claims of greatness (or rather bigness) has a lot to do with it (as it does in the case of the US actually).

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  • http://nigeriancuriosity.blogspot.com/ solomonsydelle

    In a way there are some similarities between the attitude of other countries towards Nigeria as there is towards USA. Many Africans are hostile towards Nigerians. Why? The reasons are numerous – in many places, Nigerians come in and take over the commerce sector that has happened in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Malawi, Zaire, and now Liberia. When foreigners come into a country and do well, it can cause tension. Additionally, considering such tensions, when certain Nigerians go to various countries and outsmart people/systems or even engage in illegal activities, their actions then become a stereotype that is applied to the whole. That then fosters a cycle of tension and hate that affects us all.

    There is also the fact that many Nigerians were not raised to think beyond our shores, another thing they share in common with some Americans. Post colonialism, there were grand hopes and expectations for Nigeria’s greatness and that fostered an attitude of greatness. Oil wealth further encouraged a sense of grandeur that caused Nigerians to also look down on other Africans. However, our inability to fulfill the dreams has created a generation of Nigerians that have no idea of the nation’s greatness and now feel inferior. It has also given others an opportunity to attack us. Nonetheless, irregardless of our failures, the facts are clear, Nigeria is blessed with wealth beyond measure and still remains a global player. That does not change the fact that all Africans are great and that all of us together have the capacity to become better.

    I could mention other parallels but I think I have taken up enough space. I hope Cotonou is still as wonderful as I recall from my younger years. Take care of you.

  • http://nigeriancuriosity.blogspot.com solomonsydelle

    In a way there are some similarities between the attitude of other countries towards Nigeria as there is towards USA. Many Africans are hostile towards Nigerians. Why? The reasons are numerous – in many places, Nigerians come in and take over the commerce sector that has happened in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Malawi, Zaire, and now Liberia. When foreigners come into a country and do well, it can cause tension. Additionally, considering such tensions, when certain Nigerians go to various countries and outsmart people/systems or even engage in illegal activities, their actions then become a stereotype that is applied to the whole. That then fosters a cycle of tension and hate that affects us all.

    There is also the fact that many Nigerians were not raised to think beyond our shores, another thing they share in common with some Americans. Post colonialism, there were grand hopes and expectations for Nigeria’s greatness and that fostered an attitude of greatness. Oil wealth further encouraged a sense of grandeur that caused Nigerians to also look down on other Africans. However, our inability to fulfill the dreams has created a generation of Nigerians that have no idea of the nation’s greatness and now feel inferior. It has also given others an opportunity to attack us. Nonetheless, irregardless of our failures, the facts are clear, Nigeria is blessed with wealth beyond measure and still remains a global player. That does not change the fact that all Africans are great and that all of us together have the capacity to become better.

    I could mention other parallels but I think I have taken up enough space. I hope Cotonou is still as wonderful as I recall from my younger years. Take care of you.

  • http://shakara.wordpress.com/ Random African

    LOL, Solomon, LOL

    That’s why I love Nigerians.

  • http://shakara.wordpress.com Random African

    LOL, Solomon, LOL

    That’s why I love Nigerians.