I found this piece particularly irritating. According to her account, the reaction of the professor (to stereotyping generalisations about Nigerians and the question of one of her students) was to try pretending that she was not Nigerian! Instead of creeping around apologising for being a Nigerian (if at all she is ever smoked out as one) she should open her eyes and see that Nigerians are walking tall, spreading cultural influences and stepping out on the world stage. Even at my own modest level, none of the positions I have been invited to occupy have been offered because I pretended to be British, (though I have now revived my British passport because there's only a certain portion of my remaining years that I want to spend queuing for visas).
Of course, I don't know what it was that her colleagues were now dismissing as lies because they had originated with a Nigerian: on a visit to the US in the late 1970s I was told by my hosts about how they had met "... a Nigerian Prince who says he's going to be the next President of your country!". Now, if I had heard that about some small out of the way country, I might have been believing it as an unknowing American, but discounted it as soon as I knew that this was being said about the giant of Africa and its teeming millions ...
Last point, if only crooks are left parading their Nigerian identity, what is that likely to do for the national image? Fortunately, it isn't so. Finally finally (and yes, that is a pointer), how do you in fact tell the difference amongst a Nigerian Nigerian, a Nigerian American and an African-American American?
Ayo
Ayo
I invite you to follow me on Twitter @naijama
--"When I left Nigeria for the United States in 1980, the plan was to earn an M.B.A., a doctorate in economics, and then return. It was my moral obligation to help develop my country, whose oil wealth financed my education. An M.B.A., a Ph.D. and 32 years later, I'm still here, abroad. In 1992, when I applied for a position at my alma mater, the University of Ibadan, the dean replied, "Why on earth would you want to return when everybody's trying to escape?" No one's been paid for over three months, he explained, and universities are on strike half the time.Twenty years later, Nigeria can still bring the crazy.In 1980, the naira had a very favorable exchange rate against the dollar. En route to the United States, I stopped over in London. All along King's Road, the shopkeepers beckoned: "Nigerian? Welcome. Come inside." I was proud to be from Nigeria and was offended when the country was confused with Niger. But, today, if I can pass for someone from Niger — sadly, I would be glad."- May Akabogu-CollinsAfter reading the entire piece, even by my jaded eyes, it seemed way over the top. I do wonder if Professor Akabogu-Collins has visited Nigeria since leaving 32 years ago. Things are bad sha but haba! Would be interested in thoughts....Read on...- IkhideStalk my blog at http://www.xokigbo.com/Follow me on Twitter: @ikhideJoin me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhide
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
No comments:
Post a Comment