Blacklandia
My official response to the question, “What is Nigeria like?” has been, “Imagine a country ran entirely by black people.” All the good and all the bad associated with that fact are present here. Considering the world’s impression of Nigeria, this may sound like a bad thing. But I still think it holds true.
The spirit of the people here is so strong that the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing them are simply taken in stride. No matter how little they may have, they are generous; no matter how sad they may be, they still laugh; and if you can’t make ends meet, you hustle. Lagos to me is like one big hood, full of street peddlers, corner shops, hustlers and crooks. But it is also filled with people who have learned to derive happiness from the immaterial. Maybe these things go hand in hand. True materialism is present here like anywhere else, but it is also so impractical that it is treated as a fantasy and not a reality to guide your life by. Family, God, Love, money and sex… these are the foundations of society here unclouded by some of the distractions of the ‘civilized’ world.
But along with the good comes the bad. The generosity can be abused (which ultimately allowed the colonization of Africa), the good-natured mindset can stifle the desire for change, the struggle to survive can erode the structure of an honest society. These factors have taken their toll on Nigeria and specifically Lagos, where these issues are concentrated so densely.
The people are smart, motivated and talented, but these traits are not being taken advantage of to the fullest. Most conversations with Nigerians about Nigeria result in the pointing of an accusing finger at the leadership. The leadership is corrupt, they have failed to inspire the country to change its ways. But really, Leadership and the Nigeria cannot be separated so easily. The country, the culture, the people create the leaders. The leaders are a reflection of the greater culture, a sort of summation of the state of affairs in a human body. So when saying that the Leaders have to change, so also, do the people. This entire paragraph could so easily be telegraphed onto to the Black American situation. The parallels are so apparent, the only difference is that our (African Americans) problems are replicated in the rich and powerful United States. But the issues are the same. We must expect more from each other. We must instill values that promote wellness amongst the community. These go beyond the admirable generosity and good-nature, and into a different arena of accountability and change. Not tolerating corruption, can start at the individual level… regardless of that individual being the President or a bus driver. Easing tribal tensions is a personal choice of acceptance that can practiced by all.
As much as I love this place and it’s people, I hate the state that it is in. But by fixing one does it alter the other. I hope there is some balance, and that we (all of the Diaspora) find it soon.
The spirit of the people here is so strong that the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing them are simply taken in stride. No matter how little they may have, they are generous; no matter how sad they may be, they still laugh; and if you can’t make ends meet, you hustle. Lagos to me is like one big hood, full of street peddlers, corner shops, hustlers and crooks. But it is also filled with people who have learned to derive happiness from the immaterial. Maybe these things go hand in hand. True materialism is present here like anywhere else, but it is also so impractical that it is treated as a fantasy and not a reality to guide your life by. Family, God, Love, money and sex… these are the foundations of society here unclouded by some of the distractions of the ‘civilized’ world.
But along with the good comes the bad. The generosity can be abused (which ultimately allowed the colonization of Africa), the good-natured mindset can stifle the desire for change, the struggle to survive can erode the structure of an honest society. These factors have taken their toll on Nigeria and specifically Lagos, where these issues are concentrated so densely.
The people are smart, motivated and talented, but these traits are not being taken advantage of to the fullest. Most conversations with Nigerians about Nigeria result in the pointing of an accusing finger at the leadership. The leadership is corrupt, they have failed to inspire the country to change its ways. But really, Leadership and the Nigeria cannot be separated so easily. The country, the culture, the people create the leaders. The leaders are a reflection of the greater culture, a sort of summation of the state of affairs in a human body. So when saying that the Leaders have to change, so also, do the people. This entire paragraph could so easily be telegraphed onto to the Black American situation. The parallels are so apparent, the only difference is that our (African Americans) problems are replicated in the rich and powerful United States. But the issues are the same. We must expect more from each other. We must instill values that promote wellness amongst the community. These go beyond the admirable generosity and good-nature, and into a different arena of accountability and change. Not tolerating corruption, can start at the individual level… regardless of that individual being the President or a bus driver. Easing tribal tensions is a personal choice of acceptance that can practiced by all.
As much as I love this place and it’s people, I hate the state that it is in. But by fixing one does it alter the other. I hope there is some balance, and that we (all of the Diaspora) find it soon.
posted by Anthony Jackson at 5:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home