USA Africa Dialogue Series - The right to speak vs. what is right to say

During the recently concluded Fulbright orientation in DC.,  I listened to previous Fellows who were invited to narrate their experiences in order to educate others about things to watch out for in their respective African host countries. The goal of the exercise is to help the newbies learn how to make positive experiences and return alive.

Of course, no narrative about the continent will occur without Nigeria featuring prominently. The young European American lady who was stationed in Lagos recounted several negative experiences she had in Nigeria. Ranging from bribes by the police, soldiers with guns, and even by nurses in highly rated hospitals that lacked services. The stories are familiar and they are not the point of this posting.

Three of us Nigerians listened shame-faced as “she flogged our pains repeatedly with her words”. There was Abiodun, a big bald headed man. As soon as the lady finished her gory tales, Abiodun raised her hands in objection. Not recognized, he flared up to those of us sitting next to him. “This is not the purpose of the Fulbright. I have been to 73 countries and there is none without any negative story. There is no justification whatsoever to tarnish the image of another country,” he continued, very angrily.

Then there was Bella, a young Nigerian who works for the American Embassy in Nigeria. She was at the orientation to represent the US Embassy and to assure Fellows of the services, that she, on behalf of the American Embassy will provide for them in Nigeria. She said politely, “if you don’t like the narrative, then change it. People have the right to tell their experience as long as they are not lying.”

That was not all. In the afternoon session, people were posing practical questions pertaining to eventual donations to their host universities. A scholar-artist who was previously at the University of Ife as a Fulbright scholar and now going back to Nigeria, this time, to the University of Ibadan, produced another shocker. According to this man, whose sculptures are still to be seen in Ife, he had donated to the department his many heavy equipment, including welding machines and industrial generator for the use of students. No sooner has he left than the department sold all his donations. What should he now do to prevent the same from happening at UI? I looked around, luckily, Abiodun was not in the room.

Yoruba people say: “Agidi o ran, ija o ran” (strong head no do am, katakata no fix am). Is narrating any of our many gory tales from, and experiences in, Nigeria at any time damaging to the country?

Augustine