Mental
Colonialism
By Adenike Akinsemolu
I
am not out to speak good English or follow a writing
style. I am here to speak my mind
like I am talking to
you one on one. Therefore, I won’t apologize for
the way I write. My dear friend, there is something I
have been thinking about for too long, It is called Mental
Colonialism. That word! Yea, lets talk about it.
I
remember meeting up with Omotolani last summer in Nigeria.
We arranged
that
she come to
see in me in my
hometown, Ondo. She affirmed that there is nothing really
to do in Ondo town, "Ondo is for small girls”.
Keep it in mind that Omotolani was born and raised in
Ondo until she went for university in Lagos. I quickly
reminded her of the great asun (goat barbeque), the beautiful
scenery, the breath of fresh air and the peaceful nature
of Ondo town. I remember she even told me not to call
her Omotolani again, that her name is now Sandra. I smiled.
I thought to myself, major "ngunbeeness"!
I
picked up Sandra at the motor park, and we headed home.
She asked why I
still talked “Nigerian”.
I smiled. I must have forgotten that I am Nigerian by
birth; I think she must be reminding me. Am I missing
something here? I noticed in our conversations, Sandra
seems to use more men, shit, fuck and American slangs
in her sentences than most Americans I know. That is
another story.
She
started asking me about music, movies etc. She asked
if I have seen this
video and
that video. She asked if
I know of this new clothing line by this famous designer.
I am sure I wasn’t really paying attention. She
has seen all the episodes of OC, Gossip Girls, and Summerland.
I noticed she had a tattoo, she even told me that she
smokes now. It is bigz girlz runz. Sandra was telling
me that if you attend Unilag and you don’t wear
at least a gold chain on your neck, you ain’t got
swagga. In fact, she was even telling me about how girls
while in school, get pregnant to tie a man down. I open
my mouth. “Ehen is it new? In America, there are
lotta teen pregnancy, so why is your mouth wide open?” she
said.
We
started watching a Nigerian movie on tv. Why is it
that everyone looks
flashy?
Why is it that a man must
wear all those earrings, designers, sun-glasses (at night),
and blings on his neck to show his wealth? Why do they
always show big houses? Why do those actresses remind
me of Beyonce (except a crappy version)? Why do I notice
an accent that sounds British? No, it sounded like American-Irish
accent. On a second thought, I thought it sounded Sudanese
mixed with Brazilian and Spanish. Ok I need to stop.
I switched channels now. This time it was a music channel.
Is it me or do I notice more foreign women in Nigerian
videos? When have you seen a Chioma in Linkin Park video?
Chei! Even Sandra said foreign girls are really beautiful.
Then I said, “You must be ugly then”. She
was like “haba, I be fine girl, as in, you know
now”. Hmm, ok!
As
if that wasn’t enough for one night. I saw
a lot of dance moves that resemble that of Usher. Don’t
get me wrong, its not bad to have that in videos o. I
just don’t know why they have to dress like Usher.
What is wrong with a man having bits and pieces of African
culture in his music video? Well I think it is sexy.
I am sure if Usher wore an African outfit in one of his
dance videos, a lot of Nigerian musicians will adopt
that. Having said that, few artistes are doing their
best by showcasing the richness of Nigerian culture in
their music videos or movies. I will like to say thank
you and keep it coming. Nigerian needs more people like
you. Ok, I digressed.
Anyhoo,
Sandra and I went shopping. I saw some London wax,
and Ankara that
I really loved.
I bought a lot of
them, took them to the tailor for sewing. I also bought
some high quality t-shirts and customized my name on
them with different designs and slogans. Then I saw a
label called Dudu Phassion. I love their design work,
so I immediately picked one up. Sandra was like “which
one is dudu again? God forbid! Please lets visit Sachs,
I have been dying to get that Louis Vuitton bag I told
you about.” I smiled. Major "Ngubee-ness"!
Later
that night, we headed to the club. I need my inhaler
on this one.
Okay! I think
am exaggerating now. One thing
I appreciated about the club was that they were playing
Nigerian music. That was a relief! I noticed a girl was
wearing a top that looks almost like a bra with a short
and a “long leather boot”. I didn’t
know it was winter! I judged her, I am sorry. There was
this guy with some grillz, hair plaited, pant sagging,
and tattooed arms. Mehn I can see the lightening in those
girls’ eyes. Its like you can read what they are
saying, in their minds “he’s got swagga”.
Even Sandra thinks he is sexy. One of my childhood friends,
Olakunle, came to my table. Wow! I hadn't seen him in
like 5 years. “Olakunle, meet my friend Omotolani,
we went to primary school together”, I said. “Hmm,
pls call me Sandra, nice meeting you”. Olakunle
asked us to visit a restaurant to catch up on old times.
It was really a nice restaurant. They have both home
and foreign cuisines. Everyone ordered food. Sandra decided
to eat Pizza. I could tell she wasn’t enjoying
it because she said she wanted to take it home. Again
I smiled. Major "Ngunbee-ness"!
We
got home that night and I kept Sandra’s pizza
in the fridge. An hour later, she told me she was hungry.
I reminded her of the pizza. She was like “omo
men, the pizza wasn’t flowing o. I just wanted
to be tush ‘cos ‘Kunle was there”.
I smiled while thinking she is so Ngunbee in my mind.
Sandra asked why I have been smiling. She thought I was
acting strange. She even asked if I’m really schooling
in the U.S. She said my behavior is like that of an Ondo
girl. “Kei kei kei, ngunbee o! Am I not an Ondo
girl?”, I asked. , “You are but I figured
you should be acting American by now, your behavior is
just …..” , she replied. I smiled “Sandra
my dear, listen:
Americans
don’t really care about us. Western
people don’t wear our clothes, they don’t
eat our food, and neither do they sing our songs. Don’t
be taken over by mental colonialism. Traveling or schooling
in a foreign country is not a justification to forget
one’s culture but to learn about new stuff, meet
new people, try new things and become a global citizen.
There is nothing bad in adopting a new culture but when
you see nothing good in your own culture and thinks the
other culture is the norm, then something is wrong. I
call it slavery of the mind. You can have all the degrees
in this world and still be ignorant. Why don’t
we patronize quality Made In Nigeria products? Don’t
get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wearing Louis
Vuitton but the mentality that any designer made in Nigeria
is not of high quality is bad. I am not saying we shouldn’t
listen to foreign music or watch their movies. The only
thing I speak against is excess. Nigerians can abuse
things. We use more American slangs than Americans. We
know more songs than the Americans. We tend to even know
the American culture more than the Americans. If you
don’t know, men that dress with their pants sagged
to their knees like those ones seen in music videos are
considered irresponsible. Yet, "some" people
thinks it is the swag in Nigeria. I don’t know
when smoking became a fashion statement or a bigz girlz
run. Have you ever thought about the cold weather in
some countries? Maybe that is why people tend to smoke
a lot in those countries? Why do we use American bad
habits as our own “swag”? What is wrong with
having a shirt with Funke Akindele or Fela Kuti written
on it? In fact, if you can’t wear that, how about
a shirt with your own name on it? What is wrong with
beautiful names like Adenike (kei kei kei), Omotolani,
Aisha, Olakunle, Chika, Eniola, Agbani, Ilebaye, Musa
etc? Please I’m not saying if you have an English
name, something is wrong with it. Something is wrong
when you change your native name to an English name just
to fit in or because you think it sounds good. And then
you will see wannabe model exposing their body and people
will comment, “this is sexy”. You can be
sexy without showing all your nakedness. Not everyone
wants to see it. 9ice in his song “Photocopy” said, “Photocopy
ko easy, You could never be like me, this is my identity”.
You can’t be an American even with fake accents.
Your identity is your identity. It is what makes you
special. Don’t be trapped by Mental Colonialism.
Young
people have choice. Nigeria youths are very creative
and enterprising.
However,
the embrace of this so-called
American culture is disheartening. Perhaps, times have
changed but it is still not an excuse to adopt another
culture to a fault. I will like to see more men in their
sexy African attire. I will like to see more people speaking
proper English and not “we ain't talk to no police,
we ain't make no peace bond, we ain't trustin in no judicial
system, we shoot guns we rely on the streets, we do battle
in the hood. We Gangsta” WHAT??? Can someone tell
me when Nigeria started having "hood"? And
no am not talking about AJegunle. I will like you to
see the beauty of the Nigerian Culture. The radiance
of the Nigerian woman, the fresh taste of our food, the
unpolluted breath of air, the scenery of midnight tales,
the orgasmic sound of our drums, the powerful effects
of our proverbs, the courage of our people, the class
in our fashion and the sophistication in our language.
Hmm by the way, "Ngunbeeness" is an exclamation.
It can be anything you want it to be. (Keikeikei, I formed
it)
Above all, let us remember, that we are good people
and a great nation.
Sandra thinks to herself, “Adenike you sabi talk
o, all these because I pretended I like pissshaaaaa?”
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