BBC news special on How Nigeria Impacted The Rest Of Africa




[b]" As Nigeria celebrates 50 years of independence, BBC reporters look at the impact Africa's most populous nation has had on countries around the continent - from its movie industry and peacekeeping efforts to its notoriety for ingenious scams.

GHANA   
There is no mistaking the ancient cultural and linguistic ties between the neighbours. However, the post-colonial relationship has been characterised by a kind of sibling rivalry. Nigeria is highly respected for leading effective peacekeeping in the region, and at the same time mocked for failing to ensure peace in Nigeria. While Ghana takes pride in leading the continental way in independence, democratisation, and more recently, in sporting achievements.

An estimated 1m Nigerian nationals and dual citizens live and work in Ghana and, paradoxically, communication has been made easier by a shared colonial intervention - the English language and its pidgin variants. And if you go to any home or office in Accra at any time of day, you'll find Ghanaians glued to a television set. Invariably the attraction, or distraction, is a Nollywood movie with common themes of supernatural causes, twisted love, and thrilling crime. Nigerian R&B has also captured the musical tastes of Ghana's urban youth in a big way.

On the streets of Accra I asked some people what the first thing that came to mind with the mention of Nigeria. "Brotherhood," said Stephen Ofosu, a commercial driver. "What I like about Nigerians is that they are hard working in business." Pressed for negative aspects, the answer flowed promptly and unimpeded. "Fraudsters and 419," he replied, referring to the scams often run by well-organised gangs known by the penal code which outlaws them in Nigeria. Laurentia, a higher education student, added: "Whenever a set of armed robbers is caught here, definitely there will be two Nigerians among them."

More wide-ranging positive views came from Nana Akua: "Nigerians like to dress traditionally when it comes to international occasions, we also take pride in our culture but our leaders dress like the whites when they go abroad."

DR CONGO
In sprawling Kinshasa, the only means of transportation is a fleet of ancient, battered taxis.

And if the city does not grind to a complete halt, it is thanks to a network of largely Nigerian traders who provide drivers with precious spare parts.

Huddled around the Kimpwanza roundabout, hundreds of colourful shops display the rare English-language signs visible in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital. "Chance Motors", "In God We Trust Auto" and their neighbours proudly display man-high piles of headlamps, starters and brake pads.

Those entrepreneurs use their connections in West Africa, a global exchange for second-hand automobile parts, to import the much sought-after pieces of mechanics.

Each garage specialises in one or several car manufacturers. For example, if you own a Ford and break down, your only hope is Nigerian-owned Lita Motors, where orders are taken in English or in the local Lingala - but not in the official French.

And perhaps it is the language barrier that has stopped Nollywood, as the Nigerian film industry is known, becoming the phenomenon it has in other African countries.

LIBYA   
While Nigeria's cultural influence may have been huge across other parts of Africa, neither Nollywood nor Naija groove has reached Libya, despite the many illegal Nigerian migrants who regularly cross the desert to reach the North Africa country in the hope of eventually reaching Europe.

To many here, the only thing the two countries share is oil. Their experiences of illegal migrants largely perpetuate negative images of Nigeria and its people, who are viewed as untrustworthy and as being at the forefront of drug smuggling and robberies.

However, you will occasionally come across a Tripoli resident with a positive anecdote - like how they enjoyed practising English with their Nigerian household help.

On the political front, although Nigeria may be seen by some as the giant of Africa, Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi seems to like putting the West Africa nation in its place. Earlier this year, he suggested - to the fury of Nigerian MPs - that the country split in two along religious lines. Shortly after he went even further suggesting the country fragment into several states along ethnic grounds.

CAMEROON   
Some 3,000 boundary pillars are being planted along the Cameroon-Nigeria border - it is hoped they will prevent further disputes between the neighbours which nearly went to war over the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular. The conflict was the peak of their mutual suspicion and several lives have been lost in border skirmishes over the years.

Cameroon has long viewed her giant neighbour as an imperialist-in-the-making, especially given Nigerians' ballooning population. They began arriving Cameroon in the early colonial days as fishermen, traders and administrators. Their population is now estimated at more than 4m out of a population of 19.5m.

They own virtually all motor spare part shops and now Nigerian Pentecostal pastors are setting up everywhere and performing supposed miracle-healing services. But many young Cameroonians think churches are flourishing businesses and have joined the race to become pastors, prophets, deacons and overnight bishops. They seem to be in a hurry to transform beer parlours into prayer grounds.

Truly, the "Naija" brand is here and no-one can ignore it. Nollywood films are popular in homes, video clubs and TV channels. Cameroon's young film sector is benefiting from the expertise of their Nigerian friends who have jointly produced a few Made In Cameroon videos. Nigerian gospel music also has enveloped the place and the likes of the P-Square duo have been thoroughly embraced by the youth. But it is not one-way traffic: Many Cameroonians have for decades studied in Nigerian universities.

Perhaps the most concrete evidence of the thawing of relations is the eminent construction of a multi-million dollar highway from Enugu in Nigeria to Mutengene in Cameroon. No-one seems happier than merchants of both countries.

KENYA   
For a long time the only export Nigeria provided Kenya was bad news. Stories of corruption, rogue pastors, hustlers, conmen, scams, even worse traffic than Nairobi and lots and lots of people. The only positive tales were literary, thanks to Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and Elechi Amadi.

What changed it all for us in Kenya was Nollywood. Nigeria became real and we were exposed to Nigerians telling their stories and not us being told stories about Nigerians. All of a sudden there were VCDs and DVDs being sold of Nollywood blockbusters. I have an uncle who has a mammoth collection of Nigerian movies and a few other relatives who swear on the integrity of Nigerian pastors.

And as people were exposed to Nigerians, either on the big screen on in person, other elements of Nigeria made their way into the lives of Kenya - notably in fashion and music. Huge and colourful head-wraps, accessorised elegant and colourful boubous (traditional gowns) and for a number of women, that was the outfit of choice at social gatherings. We also started dancing to Nigerian tunes from 2Face, D'banj, Femi Kuti, Bracket and P-Square.

So Kenyans now dance to a very different Nigerian tune. Thanks to Nigeria, West Africa is now at home in East Africa.

LIBERIA     
Economic links between Liberia and the giant of West Africa have always been strong - the most visible sign of which is the 85km (50 mile) Ibrahim Babangida Highway (named after a former Nigerian head of state) to Sierra Leone's border.

But it is Nigeria's peacekeeping efforts that Liberians are most grateful for. When the civil war broke out, Nigeria led a West African intervention force, Ecomog, which prevented the rebels of Charles Taylor from overrunning the capital, Monrovia, in August 1990.
Continue reading the main story
Nigeria at 50

Ever since, Nigeria has been in the vanguard of peacekeeping efforts in Liberia, and in recent times, has also sent doctors and teachers to help with the country's acute shortages.

Nigerian-owned churches are, arguably, the largest in Liberia, which is fiercely religious, as the country was founded on the principles of Christianity by freed slaves repatriated from the US in the 19th Century.

It is true to say that Nigerians feel at home here. Many Nigerians, including those in the UN peacekeeping force and private traders, are married to Liberian women and have fathered hundreds of children in recent years.

Nigerian movies are also extremely popular and the young Liberian film industry, modelling itself on Nollywood, is called Lolliwood.

But sadly, Nigerians have also been linked to armed robbery and drug pushing in the post-war period.

ZAMBIA   [img]http://thumb10.shutterstock.com/photos/thumb_large/3637/3637,1109750152,3.jpg[/img]
Peter Ngoma is a Zambian street hawker who earns an average of $20 (£12) a day selling DVDs. He moves from one street to the other selling his wares. Nigerian films account for a third of his earnings - a feat that the Zambian film industry is yet to reach.

Productions from Nollywood have had a phenomenal impact on Zambians. Most of Zambia's television stations, especially recently established ones, have Nigerian films as part of their regular programming.

The Nigerian influence has been so infectious that in some circles friends pick up the distinctive West African accent whenever they joke or chat amongst themselves about happenings in their lives.

It is Nigerians' power of persuasion, irrespective of what they, do that makes their products sell - and it is what makes them a hit even in religious circles.

Zambia is host to churches with origins from Nigeria and a number of them have large followings.

Such is the popularity of their brand, that many ailing Zambians have flown to Nigeria to seek further healing.

SOUTH AFRICA   
District 9, the recent Hollywood blockbuster about aliens in South Africa, depicted Nigerians as seedy criminals - it might have only been a movie but in many parts of the country this stereotype has been accepted as fact. Logic says this is a generalisation, still for some reason ordinary South Africans blame no-one else for the country's drug and crime problem - you're almost guaranteed the same answer: "Nigerians - men particularly."

Despite these prejudices millions of Nigerians have made this their home and started families here, which has proved another bone of contention. Phrases like: "They are stealing our jobs and our women" are flung around at dinner tables whenever talk about our brothers and sisters from the north arise.

Still many South Africans do enjoy Nigerian films - there are two channels on DSTV satellite just dedicated to Nollywood, while churches led by Nigerians have mushroomed in many cities, mostly around Johannesburg.

And you have to admire Nigerians, who tend to stand out in a crowd with their big flashy cars, bold dress and lively speech, for their ability to keep their heads up in the midst of great and often undue condemnation. "[/b]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11429067

quite intriguing influence. in all the good cancels out the bad thanks to nollywood, naija music, naija churches and naija spare parts dealers

dr.shrewd:

quite intriguing influence. in all the good cancels out the bad thanks to nollywood, naija music, naija churches and naija spare parts dealers 

It's true, we should thank Nollywood & Nigerian churches or many countries in Africa will still have a bad image of Nigeria as the scams capital

Quite laudable, least I know not all Africans hate us so

Even though a lot of churches are still scams.

nice

donspony:

Quite laudable, least I know not all Africans hate us so

Even though a lot of churches are still scams.

lol

Dedicating my 2000 post to fallen hero Wangari Maathai. Former nobel peace laureate.

Its true that nollywood has found its way on kenyan streets but its limited to a few people.The women. Men hate those movies cz they are quite addictive and emotional (appeal to women)and at times full of stuff.(you know wht am talking about).

I think the people trying to make it in Kenya are the pastors. Even though a few credible ones have left a sour taste in people's mouths by engaging in immorality with members and bringing some strange gospel based mostly on miracles and prosperity.
Kenyans have this habit of losing interest very fast and before long you are left alone as soon as they realise you got nothing more to offer.

Music? you got it wrong. They only rem the nigerian musicians when they come into the country. The music selling in EA is mainly from Congo,UG and TZ. Each has great musicians and their music sells and appeals to a greater audience in the East. They have their own dancing style or swags.Nameless,wahu,amani,chamelion,juliana,lady jd,kanji,juakali,wyre,marlaw,and many many more.I guess the swahili has greater impact and cuts across these countries. Majority of kenyans love congolese music.

Now the thing that cannot be disputed is the dressing.I too love those nigerian dresses plus headgear.Every woman in Kenya loves them.They wear them on occasions and weekends.The best thing from nigeria to grace the kenyan streets are those dresses plus headgears. Beautiful.

Problem is a few bad people spoil cz every now and then smbody gets arrested at the airport with drugs.It always involves a kenyan woman and a nigeria man. crazy so they treat everyone suspiciously.

pendo89:

Dedicating my 2000 post to fallen hero Wangari Maathai. Former nobel peace laureate.

Its true that nollywood has found its way on kenyan streets but its limited to a few people.The women. Men hate those movies cz they are quite addictive and emotional (appeal to women)and at times full of stuff.(you know wht am talking about).

I think the people trying to make it in Kenya are the pastors. Even though a few credible ones have left a sour taste in people's mouths by engaging in immorality with members and bringing some strange gospel based mostly on miracles and prosperity.
Kenyans have this habit of losing interest very fast and before long you are left alone as soon as they realise you got nothing more to offer.

Music? you got it wrong. They only rem the nigerian musicians when they come into the country. The music selling in EA is mainly from Congo,UG and TZ. Each has great musicians and their music sells and appeals to a greater audience in the East. They have their own dancing style or swags.Nameless,wahu,amani,chamelion,juliana,lady jd,kanji,juakali,wyre,marlaw,and many many more.I guess the swahili has greater impact and cuts across these countries. Majority of kenyans love congolese music.

Now the thing that cannot be disputed is the dressing.I too love those nigerian dresses plus headgear.Every woman in Kenya loves them.They wear them on occasions and weekends.The best thing from nigeria to grace the kenyan streets are those dresses plus headgears. Beautiful.

Problem is a few bad people spoil cz every now and then smbody gets arrested at the airport with drugs.It always involves a kenyan woman and a nigeria man. crazy so they treat everyone suspiciously.

I know Congolese or soukouss music will always be the leading african music in sub-Saharan africa due to it's appeal, since every african nation listens to it & it's popular. However when it comes to Nollywood I am not surprised that all black african countries watch it, it is the third industry in the world and it appeals to black africans but I was surprised about the Nigerian pastors part. I never knew their Christian religious influence reach that far into Africa. It's good to know though that Nigerian attire is admired in other african countries though(which is not the first time I heard this).

pendo89:


Music? you got it wrong. They only rem the nigerian musicians when they come into the country. The music selling in EA is mainly from Congo,UG and TZ. Each has great musicians and their music sells and appeals to a greater audience in the East. They have their own dancing style or swags.Nameless,wahu,amani,chamelion,juliana,lady jd,kanji,juakali,wyre,marlaw,and many many more.I guess the swahili has greater impact and cuts across these countries. Majority of kenyans love congolese music.
[/tt]

well I dont think so
kenyans only appreciate Nigerian music when naija artistz come into their country?
with the way the girls were crying and dying for p square
its obvious dey are big fans of them





[flash=400,300]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFdbgoYbXGc?version=3&amp[/flash]

BBC are coward, where is nigeria impact on united kingdom and europe

@Pendo89, then explain why "Flavour's Ashawo" has been like a national anthem in kenya over the past few months? Lets face it, nigerian music is viral,

Thank God am a Nigerian and not Ghanian,Congolese or South African , lol

ijaw_girl:
?
with the way the girls were crying and dying for p square
its obvious dey are big fans of them

Oh P Square is in a class of his own.Hes a big hit and his song I must admit played like a national anthem for months.
With his swag tell me which gal wouldnt want to dance and scream when he appears? Thye scream all the time.
There' the bed over group that came and drove the gals mad.Infact I doubt they will be allowed again cz I undesrtand the music was banned in their own country.
Gals will always scream.

Manliness:

@Pendo89, then explain why "Flavour's Ashawo" has been like a national anthem in kenya over the past few months? Lets face it, nigerian music is viral,

mmh wetin be that? ok pardon me but I am trying to learn this funny english. I mean to say 'which one is that?

Wait a min!! is that the funny song which the radio stations have been making fun of? some famous broadcaster kept describing it.Its really funny. does it have a word like 'sawasawasawa we'? if it is the one i can tell you the media has done a great job promoting it.

pendo89:
Music? you got it wrong. They only rem the nigerian musicians when they come into the country. The music selling in EA is mainly from Congo,UG and TZ. Each has great musicians and their music sells and appeals to a greater audience in the East. They have their own dancing style or swags.Nameless,wahu,amani,chamelion,juliana,lady jd,kanji,juakali,wyre,marlaw,and many many more.I guess the swahili has greater impact and cuts across these countries. Majority of kenyans love congolese music

Deny all you like but we all know Nigeria's music is huge in East Africa, Kenya in particular.

I mean, I once saw a behind-the-scene documentary on the Kenya vs Nigeria 2010 World cup qualifier played in Nairobi and guess which songs were blasting from the stadium loud speakers hours before the match. . .NIGERIAN SONGS

^^ and you should have seen the way the Kenyans were singing along & jiving to these songs .A neutral observer would have thought Nigeria was playing at home

pendo89:
Wait a min!! is that the funny song which the radio stations have been making fun of? some famous broadcaster kept describing it.Its really funny. does it have a word like 'sawasawasawa we'? if it is the one i can tell you the media has done a great job promoting it.

Yeah, that's the song and tell me you don't love it Na the video be this

[flash=550,380]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqQxxS1MLKo?version=3" type="[/flash]

manchy7531:

Thank God am a Nigerian and not Ghanian,Congolese or South African , lol

And those of us who are not,thank him for not making us Nigerians.You don't know how nice and blessed it feel not to be a Nigerian.The only people who speak highly of Nigerians are Nigerians themself,people spit after they pass.

There will be a series of programmes on BBC Radio 5 throughout this week.

The subject is overcrowding in cities around the world and of course Nigeria will be one of the subjects.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015mzzn

Today, 16:00 on BBC Radio 5 live

The latest news, sport and travel updates with Peter Allen and Aasmah Mir.

Plus, the global population is expected to break the 7 billion barrier by the end of the month - a figure that's nearly trebled over the past 50 years. 5 live Drive starts a week examining the costs and causes of that rapid growth. Today's programme looks into overcrowding in cities - in the UK, and in Nigeria, India and China

[table]How can you not like Nigerians simply because "they steal your women and your jobs"! When you get some swagger and get smart, that will stop happening.

The spirit of survival is inherent in us. No other African country comes close. We do not have handouts given to us by our government. Yet we find a way to survive. Hate us or love us, u can't ignore us[/table]


You speak well my daughter.May your days on earth be long

Deep Soul:

And here you are with 1,770 posts on a Nigerian site. At this rate, you'll run out of saliva, spitting at every comment made by a Nigerian. And guess what happens after that? Instant death!

How can you not like Nigerians simply because "they steal your women and your jobs"! When you get some swagger and get smart, that will stop happening.

The spirit of survival is inherent in us. No other African country comes close. We do not have handouts given to us by our government. Yet we find a way to survive. Hate us or love us, u can't ignore us

That swagger is responsible for the regular butchering of innocent kids and their pregnant mother's in Jos.
That swagger that makes your type internationally known as scammers and druglords.
That swagger that makes you and their kinds to paddle small boats to the promise land,Europe,risking your life in the process.
That swagger that allow 1% of your population to milk all your resources.

I will tell you the only good thing that is noticeable about Nigeria,it is its overpopulation,and this because of lack of family planning.Anything else is just a pipe dreams.

what is Nigerian wear because I get confused sometimes? Is it the same across all ethnic groups? I know what my fellow Yoruba people typically wear, but after being around so many Nigerians, I can't differentiate who is hausa, igbo or yoruba. Also, I went to a Ghanaian wedding a couple of weeks ago and I saw big geles or what people called head wraps and I also saw agbada those big clothes that men typically wear and I was so confused. I thought ghanians typically wear Kinte cloth Are clothes typically labeled as Nigerian clothing really Nigerian or typical west african clothing?

@semid4lyfe
oh yeah that is the song. Ashawo ashewa.I laughed when that broadcaster said hes so much in love with the song and he was trying to sing it. Crazy.
Ashawo is a prostitute so is it glorifying them?

I never knew anything about nigeria apart from of course you know what.But since I joined nl I saw a different pic. There are very smart people here.
I realised that most nigerians know little about the rest of Africa. They either have no interest or they are too busy to want to know what happens in the rest of Africa.
I joined to learn more about the west cz all that we hear on media is negative. NL is my new newspaper.

[b]@RSA
That swagger is responsible for the regular butchering of innocent kids and their pregnant mother's in Jos.
That swagger that makes your type internationally known as scammers and druglords.
That swagger that makes you and their kinds to paddle small boats to the promise land,Europe,risking your life in the process.
That swagger that allow 1% of your population to milk all your resources.

I will tell you the only good thing that is noticeable about Nigeria,it is its overpopulation,and this because of lack of family planning.Anything else is just a pipe dreams.
[/b]



Please MR  RSA do you mean?

That swagger is responsible for the regular butchering of foreigners in your country(Xenophobia) jealous,jobless people suffering for inferior complex.that is why an average South African is always feeling in-secured around his fellow Nigerian in the office, school cos he know the Nigerian will always outshine him

That swagger that makes your type internationally known as Rapist and drug addicts(HIV/AIDS stricken nation,at least our ladies and newborns are safe and they don't leave in fear like in traumatic country where a newborn is being raped every 5mins, by the way if you call us drug lords i think you guys are the drug servants cos if u don't demand,we wont sell)

That swagger that allow 1% of your population to milk all your resources.like the way the whites are ruling you guys and you blacks have no say,no job,no empowerment,with your corrupt and polygamous ZUMA and his cabinet, GOSH!!!!!

hehehehe, dint know africans have any good things about us!

i was only especting them to start talking about corruption and scam!

thank God im a Nigerian!!!!!

This post just reiterated what my friend in SA said about how South African girls prefer Nigerian guys to their guys. An average Nigerian guy would take a babe out, buy her refreshments, take her to movies on his bill and pay for her taxi back home whereas South African guys would be expecting to share the bills with their babes. So naturally naija guys just get the babes' attention to the frustration of the SA guys. I learnt this has generated a lot of beefs for Naija guys in SA.

Thank God for Nollywood. I hope Jonathan would really come to their rescue and make good the N200bn Entertainment Industry Intervention Fund. Our artistes have proven to be good ambassadors!

All the positives can be ascribed to individual efforts that goes to show the potential of our private sector if properly harnessed.

Funny we fail to appreciate the role of our religious leaders but these men (at least the big four) apart from selling the Nigerian brand are also doing something we've been unable to achieve after decades of promoting ordinary Tourism - 'Religous Tourism'. You'd be amazed at the number of foreigners from all parts of the world trooping into this country on religious grounds! Without having a Mecca or a Jerusalem, I'm certain Ngr would be proud if the figures are compiled. South Africa and the East African nations have the scenery, India has got 'Medical Tourism' the West - well they've got everything so why dont we appreciate what we've got?

Now if I don't appreciate my country how will I expect a South African to sing my praise. The fact remains that if we all can forget about the bunch of failures called govt and focuse on changing our individual way of life for good, who knows MY BELOVED COUNTRY could soar higher some day, GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!!!!!!!

YOU MAY HATE THE GOVT BUT YOU SHOULD NOT HATE YOUR COUNTRY cos govt will come and go but your country (nation) is one.

"the gaint of west Africa" smh

There are still some elements of respect for Nigerian amongst its African brothers even though we have huge image problem to clear
Nigerians are very industrious, bold and darring in almost every field of human endeavour. My Gambian friend once told me that he sees Nigeria as America of Africa in terms of capabilities and exploits. I learnt about the movie 'Mr IBU' through SA/Namibian friends even though I have not watched it then. Nigeria has so so so much to offer Africa only that we are so unorganised and had not understood one another.

Nigerians need to seat down and start taking responsibilities!

Err

There is no mistaking the ancient cultural and linguistic ties between the neighbours.

Neighbors?

Ancient linguistic ties. . . ?

Interesting article though.

Is good to have a brand, it is at the cost of millions of nigerian lifes.

Is nollywood worth the lifes of million of nigerian in a civil war.

Who is ready to die for this two short, God forbit. Tufepa.

jameca brough regga to the world with a small population.

Britain is just 60 million , but have made more impact to the world than nigeria. It is not the size that matter but the heart.

When we break up nigeria, we would still have a film industry. we would still control it. I know so.

Is like people saying if Nigeria break up that nigeria football is gone. That is nonsense, ask any nigeria. If edo, delta and Yoruba leave Nigeria.  Edo,delta and Yoruba will reach the world cup. even the igbo have enough player to make the fifa world cup.


I am telling you this. ask any nigeria.

The film will still sell the way it sell. it does not affect church. dont forget we can also be separate nation in a union call Nigeria, with separate country.  Uk is a union but are separate.