“Nigerians” Is A Generic Term – Ishola Ninuola

A summary view on the African Narrative Podcast of Feb, ’24, with title – ‘Are Nigerians Arrogant And Loud’?

You might not believe that I made summary notes on your above Podcast that I had the privilege to listen to on Feb. 4th, in my diary, with the intention to send your this view. Don’t ask me why I have not been able to send this view; just bear with me: its a long story.

But first let me appreciate the richness of that Podcast on the Nigerian attitude. It is very uplifting. And give our regards also to the lady partner on that Podcast for her exhilarating view also. For example, it is uplifting to say of the Nigerian, that he has this ‘tendency’ to want to take care of his woman – very uplifting indeed, coming from a non-Nigerian lady. Of course this view would not apply to all Nigerian men; but it would apply to the majority of them, one thinks. It is however doubtful if the indigenous Nigerian lady (a typical one), would have such view, for it would appear to be in the nature of women generally to ‘eternally’ demand more from their men. This is just one view in that Podcast, and there are other similar ones.

I’m giving my summary view here on that Podcast specifically; and then I’m sending you some similar opinion I’ve shared with some like-thinking minds, so you have benefit of some ways my mind is working.

First, when we talk of Nigerians, I think we recognise this as a generic term. This is because I think we should all agree that the Nigerian nation, as presently is, is a colonial construct, as nearly all African nation states. Within that construct is an amalgam of cultures. So taking Nigeria as an example, some of the cultures are loud, and some others might be subdued. So, we shall be cautious in talking of a loud Nigerian culture.

Secondly, the Nigerian elite one can say is one that was not completely subdued by colonialism, by reason of its strong indigenous cultural background that enabled him to confront the in-coming colonising counter-culture, and survive it. And this would be true of several African countries also.

And thirdly, one hopes the Nigerian elite in his loudness would still realise that, that loudness still needs to be constructed on solid foundations to enable it withstand other cultures in our current competing world. It is not advisable to be loud without being strong, economically, industrially, militarily, etc, etc. The current debacle happening to the Gazans is a sobering example of what happen to ‘loud but weak peoples’ !!! God forbid.

And this forms the background to my subsequent ‘discussions’ on Nigeria, with some close friends, which I’m forwarding to you as examples of how some of our minds are ‘working’ here.