Have Nigerians Accepted Inferior Statuses

Have Nigerians Accepted Inferior Statuses?

Paul I. Adujie

New York, United States

A Nigerian lawyer was recently part of team that paralleled mine, in a major law firm, where we were preparing the paper-work for litigation, she had a cellular telephone, but both our cell-phones did not have good reception on 36th floor elevation, you would have thought, the higher you are in the sky the better the reception, but it was simply not so, technologically, well, she had cause therefore to use the land-line telephone in my office, she was new and sort of visiting the floor for the project, but she did not introduce herself, as she politely asked to use my desk phone, which I obliged, human and professional courtesy and all, when she spoke, she did with an accent that was not discernable.

But the next day, another colleague, from New Hampshire, who was on the same team with the Nigerian lady, also wanted to use my desk telephone, saw my Nigerian flag label pin, and acknowledged the fact, and asked so many questions about Nigeria that I was glad to provide answers, about Nigeria, Africa etc, and behold, she informed me, that the other lady with a flat or un-discernable accent, is a Nigerian! This other colleague was a white lady, she now was the one, pointing out the other couple of Nigerians in her team, that is, apart from the flat-accented lady, who subsequently came to my office, upon the nudging and prodding from the New Hampshire white lady! The Nigerian lady is not a bad person, but what with that forced American accent? If she had spoken with her natural accent, we probably would not have needed an American to introduce us, two Nigerians! Why would Nigerians born and raised in Nigeria, who then emigrated from Nigeria to other lands, as adults, with legal education from Nigeria, and all, suddenly assume foreign accents, in derogation to Nigerian accents? Why the preference for non-Nigerian accents? Well, some have said that, being identified as Nigerian in America and Europe, has become burdensome for them, but what is the right thing to do? Be in denial? I have recounted the above to make the following points, I strongly believe that everyone has an accent worldwide, and that Nigerians should not be ashamed of or embarrassed with our distinctive Nigerian tongue and accents, as our accents, our color, culture and country are why, we are unique, these are no accidents or products of scientific mutations! Americans and Europeans and everybody else, have accents, and they do not engage in tongue-twisting imitations of Nigerian accents or any other accents, apart from theirs, not even when they are on Nigerian soil! For business or pleasure for a day or twenty-years! Are we running away from ourselves a la Bob Marley? None but ourselves can free our minds? Liberate thyself from mental-slavery etc? While some Nigerians are rushing to give birth to their unborn in America and Europe, as an artificial insurance, for their children, as if, they do not realize that, there are Americans and Europeans, born and raised in America and Europe, but poorer and more illiterate than the guy from my hometown and yours? Talking about Nigerians with fake foreign accents, also reminds me what we have in most Nigerian radio stations, as they play foreign music, all day and everyday, and some Nigerian radio stations' DJs and presenters, talk with foreign accents, all day, while presenting foreign music all day, everyday, helping foreign musicians and companies, popularize their culture, their music and business, Nigerian radio stations, have essentially, become the mouthpiece of foreign things? Selling and promoting Nigerian music is good business, why sell other people's music? In New York City last year, theatrical musicians went on strike, and city government reported a loss of tax of more than $10 million dollars, the strike was short-lived. This means, when we promote foreign music, we are not helping to develop ours, we are not putting money in our musicians pockets, and we are not helping our govt tax base.

I have heard it all, by way of adulterated Nigerian accents! Some Nigerians living in New York, are more Americans than the Americans themselves, sometimes, especially, when these educated, middleclass Nigerians resort to imitating low class slang of the streets and it can be overbearing! As they substitute improper words and improper pronunciations for common English words, for example, want to become "wanno", or "wanrrow", twenty becomes "twenny" or "twenree" or "twenrry"? party becomes "parry or parree" and later, becomes "lay-rah"? Some Nigerian commentators, have written on similar subject of de-Nigerianizations, such as corrupting or abbreviating Nigerian names, to soothe American and Europeans hears and tongues? Anglo/Americanized Nigerian names, why? I hold the view, that non-Nigerians may have whatever opinions, they must of Nigerians, but, what opinions do we have of ourselves? Before some Nigerian say, this issue is unimportant, lets point out, its sure is! Its our culture and our essence or the denial of it, that we are dealing with here, in the circumstances, we ought to be concerned and reverse; In New York for example, I frequently hear on radios and television advertisements, different announcers and celebrity commercial endorsements, in tones and accents, that depicts or emphasize and accentuates their cultural heritages And so, for New York state lottery, aka New York Lotto, there is a famous advertisement announcements by Yolanda Vargas, she is of Hispanic heritage, and when she says her name, she demonstrates her appreciation and pride in it, as she says, "I am Yolanda VeeeRRH-GAAAR! And there are others, a guy with heavy British accents and intonation, advertises Jaguar the car, similar british accented individual, advertises for British Airway! And a Russian accented lady advertises a Madam Verve Cliqoute Champagne, and an Australian accented guy, advertises Subaru car, and croons, mate! Recently, there is an upsurge in these accented advertising, including one done in Chinese ethnic chat, and another one by London tourist board etc.

The concern here, is, the question, why are Nigerians, especially the ones in New York, eager to be conformists, conformists with other peoples accents, intonations and twangs, even when no one is demanding it? Why do this in New York, when in fact, non-Nigerians, working and living in Nigeria, dutifully retain their accents and every facets of their cultural identities, but the Nigerians are quick to assimilate foreign accents and cultures, perhaps, because they believe this to be an accomplishment, achievement or whatever? Are we such undiscerning cultural assimilators? The economy in Nigeria is broken alright, but Nigerians should not lose sense of self and country, we should still have our pride and dignity intact, and our accents, tones and other wonderful attributes and qualities, we are Nigerians first and foremost, Take pride in your Nigerian-ness of it!