Nigerian Halloween Costumes (You Want No Part of)

What’s up people?

My cousin sends me a link this week that shows a CNN report of a poll taking that finds the Nigerian accent as one of the world’s sexiest tongues. Our accent apparently came in fifth only behind the likes of the Italians, French and Spanish (NWO)! The caption read “dignified with just a hint of willful naivete, the deep, rich “oh’s” and “eh’s” of Naija bend the English language without breaking it, arousing tremors in places other languages can’t reach. Kinda makes the occasional phone scam worth the swindle”. This is so typical, even when Nigeria is given praise and presented in a positive light there is always a back handed insult awaiting to follow. Did these yahoos read my blog last week? I just told you all that we have over 250 dialects spoken in Nigeria so which accent in particular can they be talking about? And as for me, I am not down for positive reinforcement that accompanies blatant insults and disrespect of my people.

Ok people; Let me get focused…

I wrote about Halloween in Nigeria a few years back and many of you all enjoyed it. You liked it so much that I thought you know what why not do another blog on Halloween this week since everybody is gearing up for their Halloween festivities and are in search for that one show stopping custom that will make the biggest and loudest statement at the party. The only twist to this week’s post is I have highlighted the leading candidates in Nigeria that you want no part of representing in your Halloween custom because this group will bring attention to you only for the wrong reasons.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab – this yahoo will go down in our country’s history as the one that shamed my people as terrorist. The so called “underwear bomber” was convicted of attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his draws while on board a flight en route to the United States. And because of his brain fart Nigerians worldwide are now under a bigger microscope now more than ever when we enter any international airport on planet earth.

Boko Haram – this group of militants have the audacity to associate themselves with the peaceful religion of Islam. I wish nobody dare wish to represent these mean spirited and lifeless group of terrorist. I wish to not draw any further attention to there cause. I loathe your existence.

Goodluck Jonathan – arguably the worst Nigerian president in history. His bio read as follows; a liar, corruption is at an all time high, heartless, breached and compromised Nigeria’s security, under his leadership Nigeria is more divided than ever and has yet to accomplish anything significant during his administration.

Super Eagles footballers – has any group of people brought Nigeria more heartache and suffering than this group of age cheats who take the pitch to represent Nigeria unmotivated as if someone has forced them to finish their plate of broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots and spinach at the dinner table? But no worries though I stay supporting my Super Eagles, see you all in South Africa.

Tricks are made for kids

Go Crazy for Nigeria

What’s up people?

I know you were all glued to your television sets for this week’s presidential debates. Now was it only me or did anybody else not catch the COON of a human being that tried to play President Obama on a national level with his “Uncle Tom” question? Somebody had to have planted this dude in the audience. SMH; not only was that a great example of Black-on-Black (BoB) crime on a national level but it was also a BoB on an executive level. Now this is too funny; am looking at CNN Headline news and I just seen some African American woman holding up a Romney & Ryan sign in the background. It is very clear that she was strategically placed to be standing right smack in the middle of the campaign rally. HILARIOUS

Ok people; let me get focused… 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were playing in a very important competition this past week to qualify for the AFCON tournament set to kick off in January 2013 in South Africa. As disappointing and troubling our football federation has been in recent memory, there was nothing more frustrating than knowing that not one local television carried the broadcast in order for supporters to watch and root on our national team. WTF? I mean I know the product on the football pitch is nothing to rave about these days but to just shun viewers and disregard the symbolic importance football is as a rallying force that brings our country together must not happen again. I am not a homer; I stick with my country in good, bad and ugly times ALWAYS.

This is something that I have often experience in recent years about many Nigerians, we are more excited and apt to tell you about what is going on in American politics, English Premiere League Football, Hip Hop & Entertainment both in the United States and UK. But go ask them about the status of affairs in their own villages, cities and respective states I bet 90% are clueless. Better yet, they want to talk to me for hours about Obama, Rhianna, Beyounce, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Young Money and Ricky Ro-zay. Now when it comes to Nigeria the standard operating answer to anything and everything is our politicians are thieves and crooks. Wow, that really took a lot of thought huh?????

There remains so much backwards thinking in our country. It is almost as if you can’t add to a conversation in the world of sports, entertainment and politics outside of Nigeria you are irrelevant. Like that makes you current, cool and legitimate. I say this because growing up in Nigeria I was that person. But it is extremely difficult to have pride in something when it is repeatedly devalued and discredited as having no substance. What we need is a balance; so the same way I was in amazement of the life of those overseas growing up in Nigeria, I also was raised to have pride, respect and a sense of belonging to my still developing country.

Trust and believe me that I agree with some of the global assessment that we currently find ourselves in as a country. Maybe this is the start to something beautiful in Nigeria, the Super Eagles go to South Africa and dominate the tournament and bring home the chip. From there maybe another positive moment comes out of Nigeria and we continue to build on the momentum. I do know that it is not easy to stay on top of current events in Nigeria because 95% of what is published in the papers or televised on network television is utter rubbish and trash. It is so easy to stay on the negative with everything, why not put in a little more work, research and share with the rest of the world our many strengths.

Anything is Possible.

Race & Ethnicity

What up people?

You know that old adage, to much is given much is expected never rang so true until very recently for the kid. I mean I am extremely thankful and very blessed to have been giving such a FANTASTIC opportunity to build, create and oversee programs that better lives and contribute to the human development of people. Truthfully, LIFE is GOOD on this side. This week has been a remarkable one for my family and we give the man up above all the praise for his watchful eye over us and the strength to preserver during moments of darkness and dismay this very difficult year. It is without question that when I say “Boys who’s got it better than us?” The answer is unequivocally is NOBODY!  

Ok people; let me get focused…

I was facilitating a workshop earlier this week on Cultural Competency and Diversity when one of the attendees asked a very interesting question, what is the difference between race and ethnicity? Hmmmmmmmm; I made sure I gave myself a good minute to think before I responded because clearly if you going to teach a workshop on a hot button topic such as cultural competency you best know what you talking about. You ever felt like someone is asking you a question to test you just to check if you know WTF you talking about? So in short my response to the gentleman was race refers to the group you identify with typically through one’s physical appearance i.e. skin color, eye color, hair. Ethnicity on the other hand relates to cultural factors such as nationality, ancestry and language. I was so proud of myself after I gave my response I almost wanted to say now shut-up and take notes for the rest of the workshop. How you gonna try and test the “Capital P”? Loooooool.

So all jokes aside there are over 350 ethnic groups identified today in Nigeria. This is clearly as my homeboy Steve-O thought me this week during our intense planning meeting an illustration of one of the “Competing Constraints” that is troubling our country in its current state. Yeah, I know you all liked that “Competing Constraints”. I did not graduate from Notre Dame like Steve-o but I sure know how to talk that talk and trust and believe me I got more of that to come in the future.

If I was to compare Nigeria in size, only Alaska in the United State is bigger in terms of square kilometers. Alaska is very diverse in terms of population but no where near 374 ethnic groups. Hence; once again there lies one of our major fundamental flaws as a country. I am all for acculturation and will only promote the ideas of assimilating only when appropriate. Those are two cultural competency terms and incase you are not sure of their meaning; acculturation is the process of adapting to the norms of a dominant group while maintaining your ideas, values and beliefs. While assimilation is the process in which a group adopts all the customs and attitude of the dominant culture and ultimately rejects its own ideas and values common to his/her own indigenous roots.

The bottom line is be it Nigeria, United States or any other country for that matter people are no longer connecting or putting too much stock in their race or ethnicity like many years ago. The group that people all across the globe first identify themselves with and want to connect better with is their social-economic group. People truly only see themselves as either being, RICH, POOR or SUFFERING.

I just want to be comfortable.  

Who Drank All the KOOL-Aid?

What’s up people?

For the first time in a very long time, I must say it sure does feel good that the weekend is finally here. My RESPECTS goes out to the lives and families of those who suffered a massive loss in the senseless attack that killed at least 25 Nigerian students at a college residence this week. I mean we as a nation have truly gone MAD and more disturbing is the idea that people are growing numb everyday to all the random acts of violence in our communities. I mean are we that lawless, unsophisticated and highly vexed that we only know how to communicate or express our frustrations and needs by assaulting the lives of innocent bystanders in order to get attention? And since when did it become a Nigerian custom that we must now mark our country’s annual Independence Day festivities with mass murders. WTF! As my Hausa bredrens would say it back home, “Dam Baro Ba Walayi” Anyways; anybody catch the presidential debate this week? Hmmmmmmmmm; I do not do politics so am going to leave that one alone.  

Ok people; Let me get focused…

Last week I made a proclamation to you all that I would resume to the heart and basis of why I started my blogspot and you know what, I am going to say some things in the coming weeks that some will agree with and others will consider ignorant. Quite frankly, “NO DISRESPECT” but I do not take part nor promote BITCHASSNESS behaviors. Many of you all already know the history of African neo-colonialism but who knew that 500 years later the entire continent of AFRICA aspires to be and remains inferior to its colonizers.

Of all the scientific studies and extensive research conducted over the years, I truly wish someone would get inside our African brains and explore why and how we became conditioned to accept that we were not good enough nor could we measure up to those men who gutted and reeked terror on our soil many years ago. In Nigeria like so many other African nations it is common practice that the white man’s word is GOLD. Case in point I still find this so comical; back in 2008 Nigeria international Peter Odemwingie famously declared “Oyinbo na Oyinbo”, If you do not know what this Nigerian saying translates to, it simply means “The White Man Knows BEST”. A home based Nigerian coach had marched the troops towards a successful qualifying bid for the world cup all to have him been unceremoniously sacked for a European so called “Technical Expert”. Why you may ask? Well everybody in the country was drinking that “white man’s kool-aid” that had them so convinced that a European coach would prove to be more successful but only to be bounced from the tournament in the first round and barely securing one point before they were sent home packing.

Look I got crazy love for all types of people and color is not what draws nor deters me from getting to know people on a personal level. There are many talented people amongst us of varying nationalities, ethnicities and racial make-up but to just concede or defer to someone solely based on their color and perceived superiority should never happen. It is simply ASININE. I am not looking to bash groups of people who do not look like me, if anything I love to learn from all types of people and take something that I their deem a strength and try to apply it into my existence.

The point am trying to make is there are no VICTIMS in the system only VOLUTEERS. So we as Africans must not think it is acceptable nor in our best interest to willingly trust outsiders more than our kind unless when it is warranted. We worship the light-skinned complexion and straight hair of others that often we find no beauty in what we were given and born with. The idea of allowing someone to totally humiliate and disrespect you in your native land and run things all for the sake of believing you will be made a part of their community is wishful and backwards thinking.

Reclaim your Dignity.