₦airaland Forum

People underestimate the value of having an intelligent wife. If you marry a dumb wife, then it means you have to work harder to take care of her. And you'll likely have dumber kids. Dumber kids will take more years to graduate from college (costing you $$$), and might still be living in your house up to age 30 (again, costing you $$$)

I know this average-looking Yoruba guy out here in Oakland who is a medical doctor. His wife is a smoking hot redbone African-American who is also a medical doctor. He will never have to worry about his wife eating up too much of his money, because she makes just as much as he does! And he doesn't have to worry about his kids being liabilities, because they'll almost certainly be very smart and successful in life.

So be very careful if you say intelligence in a woman doesn't matter. . .

Lol. The people from the article are in some cases refugees, settled in Yorubaland to escape persecution and to make money. And you somehow spun this into some sort of existential threat?

Please leave your editorializing out.

Oh, one other comment. One of my friends out here is an African-American anthropology student who is also interested in Yoruba culture. She has learned to speak Yoruba and spends her summers in Yorubaland doing her research there.

I think I'll encourage her to start a blog of some sort as well, when she next goes.

Hopefully my fellow Yoruba see the value in having our language and culture being the first that people seek to learn when they want to understand Nigerian and West African culture.

It is something to be lauded and encouraged, imo.

Perhaps we should instead define the core North, instead. That might be easier to define. Then by subtraction, we can define the middle belt.

Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano. Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Gombe. Bauchi, Taraba and Adamawa, as candidates for the core North?

What states (or parts of states) should be added  to the above list, and which ones removed?

Brazil is an ally that Lagos and the rest of the Southwest would do well in cultivating ties with. This is a good first step, hopefully more will come (and in other areas of mutual interest like agriculture and technology.)

Kaduna itself, isn't the entire south of it Christian? So do we consider it core north or also middle belt?

Also, is Southern Kaduna demographically Hausa, or mostly Gwari, ? I know the area surrounding Abuja is supposed to be mostly Gwari in origin (correct me if I am wrong). I don't think they view themselves as core North (again, correct me if I'm wrong.)

mamaken:
Good answer but i dont think its so easy to made up uglyness. it takes more than a 6pack for men and a well shaped body for a woman, to say u r good looking.

True. But from what I've seen, a guy with a 6pack and a well-shaped body is going to get a lot more women than just a guy who is only handsome. I dunno if this is how women think in general, but it is pretty true of social settings I've observed.

I love my mother and my youngest sister more than myself. I'd be willing to die for them, I think. That is about it, though. Hopefully in the future this group of people who I feel this strongly about will grow. . .

Heck no. If she cannot cook, then how will we eat?

Lol, on a serious note, it isn't that big a deal. I can cook, and cook pretty well. But it is a lot better if both people can cook, so that one person isn't doing all the work

I cannot make pounded yam though, so I want a woman who can cook pounded yam and egusi. . .

OP:

Err, from my reading of Wikipedia, it looks like Efik and Ibibio are very similar languages? But you say that the Efik people and Ibibio people are quite different? Just trying to understand, I don't know much about that part of Nigeria or how the people from it view themselves.

This sounds really fake, lol. It isn't that hard to find FWBs in any part of the world, it isn't something she needs to have someone go search for her. And if she is attractive too on top of that, then it shouldn't take her more than 24 hours to find a fvckbuddy.

All of this wahala, executive search, etc seems unnecessary.

Personally, I'd prefer to be an ugly genius over an idiotic handsome guy. Intelligence can be quite easily turned into wealth. Physical beauty on the other hand, it is a bit more difficult to turn this into wealth, imo (the modeling business doesn't pay that much money unless you are among the best of the best.)

Also, while women certainly value attractiveness in men, it is not enough to get the best women. Generally, the most desirable women in the world also value financial security, and a man who is materially successful (I'm not calling them golddiggers, but they don't want a guy who will be financial liability.)

Sorta see what I'm saying? Think about a guy like Jay Z, or Swizz Beatz. Jay is a fairly average looking dude, while Swizz is downright hideous. Yet both of them have extremely desirable women.

And honestly, ugliness can be quite easily made up for (assuming you aren't physically deformed.) An ugly guy can put in time in the gym, get a 6pack and chiseled physique. You'd be surprised, there are a lot of women who'd prefer an ugly guy with a phenomenal body to a handsome guy who is doughy and pudgy.

no1madman:
I've never been 2 my village.

Wow. Did you leave Nigeria when young, or something? I'd imagine that 90%+ of people within Nigeria have been to their village at least once. Hrm, interesting.

Disappointed in how poorly the Heat are playing and regretting my procrastination in the lab earlier this week, but otherwise pretty good. How about you bro?

And lol @ me as an elder

Kobojunkie:
I wish I could stretch out my hands to slap you there for the above!

As a certain poster here would say:

ROFLMAO

Obama on the Heat: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5847782

harshie11:
Hello everyone! E ku ijiroro.
I am the "White American Girl Speaking Yoruba" this forum is discussing. Titilayo is my name.

Hey, nice to meet you.

I would just like to say I am really humbled, shocked, excited, sort of freaked out and just really astounded that people are actually taking the time to discuss ME and my scholastic ambitions on this forum. I started speaking Yoruba because I felt something I loved when I traveled to Angola with RISE International a few years ago. I had the experience of my life and I wanted to do anything to go back to Africa. Speaking an African language seemed like the best way to go back, and also an excellent pairing to studying journalism.

Indeed. Though the typical choice is usually one of the larger languages like Swahili. This is why at least me personally, I'm pleased you chose our language.

I want to be a journalist in Nigeria someday. All of these videos I am posting on You Tube is not to show off or to brag to all the Nigerians who don't speak Yoruba. Not at all. I actually uploaded the first video, "Titi Speaks," because in order to embed a video on my blogstream it was mandatory to post it to YouTube. So for all of you thinking I am just posting to show off, you are mistaken.

Honestly, people will hate on anything one does, so best bet is to ignore them. Nothing in your actions can really be viewed as bragging or even disrespectful, imo.

Like I said I want to become a journalist so I hope this blog helps me get a foot in the door.

Yep, should be a good way to achieve these goals. Also, it is quite likely that your blog and adventures will be noticed by the local newspapers.

Just a recommendation. I purchased this "Beginner's Yoruba" book by Kayode J. Fakindele. It comes with two audio CDs as well. Seems like a pretty good resource for learning the language. Being able to rewind back and forth the pronunciation of each lesson from the textbook is quite useful.

^-- Proly going to lose my $10 bet with my friend on John Wall making RoY


Looks like I'm going to win my other bet on the Celtics making the ECF, though. And that one I got at 7:2 odds

I don't think ACN capturing the presidency right now makes sense. Makes more sense to focus on grabbing the SW states and fixing them, imo. No point grabbing what you cannot strongly hold. I'd much rather see the progress that has happened in Lagos replicate itself elsewhere in the SW than capture the presidency at this point in time.

We have a lot of work to do in our home region; this I think needs to be the priority.

Also, I'm hesitant to ally with the Northerners any more than we have to, even at the national level. I don't think our longterm interests and theirs really coincides. . . I dunno.

Kobojunkie:
uum . . . NO, unless you are going to tell me you are IN LOVE with the man, that is how it works. You like people because  . . .  you don't just like for no reason. Why do you find GEJ's person likable and what has that to do with his ability to do the job here? Or should I say why are you willing to declare him capable of handling this duty just for that?

I've never made any statements suggesting his likability makes him qualified. They are two separate matters.

Kobojunkie:
I have read a lot of people on here say the same things about  this man, yar adua, and even Obasanjo, not much else on the particular reasons why. Fine, you say you like him PERSONALLY, I ask you why? Do you know him PERSONALLY? Have you ever met him? What has he done to impress you that no other has before him? Is it his family life? His wife? The policed view that his publicists do a good job trying to sell you of him? Which? I want to know why you like him PERSONALLY.

Come on now. That is not how human beings work. You don't need reasons to like someone, some people are just intrinsically likable. GEJ is one of those people, at least for me (and I suspect lots of others.)

Heat aren't winning a ring this year, unfortunately

bawomolo:
you mean christine bosh after his post-op surgery.

Ouch, lol

Kobojunkie:
He cannot win if he defects because he lacks the support and power he needs to achieve that outside of the PDP.

We don't need anyone, not even some imagined messiah from the PDP winning anymore elections. That is the main point here. We need a complete change and in order to do that, all those who have held on to power through one corrupt means/association or another need to be taken down and that includes your dearly beloved Jonathan.

My dearly beloved Jonathan, now? 

Look, all I care about is seeing the PDP weakened. Anything that achieves these objectives is fine by me. I must admit that for some reason I like him personally, but politically only want him to win if it will weaken the PDP.

marcdunu:
Nigeria's Jacob Zuma is on the match again.

Just like we stopped OBJ 3rd term. Jonathan must be stopped. Rules are Rules; they must be respected. Incumbency or no Incumbency.

It is a stupid rule. In what sort of godforsaken country can a man not run for office in some years due to his ethnicity? What type of moronic rule is this? Where else is this practice done? Shouldn't everyone in the land who is of age be able to contest for presidency?

^-- My hope is that it will be viewed as a northern one, if GEJ loses the primaries and is forced to contest using another vehicle. Think you misread me a bit.

Kobojunkie:
Aren't you there deluding yourself by believing Jonathan himself has any strength as a candidate outside of the PDP? The man owes his political career to the PDP and in his years there -- this is a man with no merited political achievement to date and you are already predicting he will win if he defects?

As others have stated, the powers of incumbency are not insignificant. Maybe I'm overestimating GEJ, but he should be able to win if he defects (worst case scenario, he rigs heavily.)

Look, ultimately I don't care who in the PDP wins, I don't much like the party and think it is bad for Nigeria. So to see it implode one way or another is fine by me. Plus, will Atiku even be a strong president with much of the south and middle belt realistically against him, and the party in disarray (say with significant losses of governor seats in the south?)

Or am I underestimating the danger of Atiku somehow winning?

^--- If that is true, then I hope Jonathan loses the PDP primary. Then:

a) He takes himself and his strength to a new party, weakening the PDP
b) PDP is viewed as a northern party rather than a national one
c) He likely wins the election anyway, but with far less "mobility" (so to speak) than if he had won on the PDP platform
d) The ACN can make mincemeat of the PDP in the SW, with their energies focused on other things.

Is this not the best of all possible worlds (at least from the perspective of an ACN SWester like myself?)

It is an interesting idea. It would likely splinter the strength of the PDP into two new components. If Jonathan loses, will he still contest under another party? And will a good portion of the PDPs strength follow him?

I would love to see the above outcome happen, I think it would be wonderful for this country for the PDP to be broken. But I'm not sure it is what would happen if GEJ loses.

Zoning of presidency is anti-democratic; any man from any region should be able to contest and win. I am in full agreement with @mikeansy.

Beaf:
The land use and petroleum acts have served as vehicles to steal the land, rivers, streams, dignity, humanity and income of the Niger Delta.
The lands and water ways are siezed by government fiat and then polluted without a care in the World. It is a level of wickedness that is mind boggling and totally shocking in the way it is perpetrated by citizens of the same country on others.

It is a very serious human rights issue that will one day consume this country if equity and compensation are not provided.

Honestly, not only does it weaken the Delta, but it weakens the remaining states. Imagine how much more progressive and innovative we would HAVE to be without oil. Would bad roads and inconsistent power be even an option? Or lack of investment in agriculture, manufacturing, business? I truly believe that Nigeria would be better off w/o oil. Unfortunately, most do not see it the same way I do.

Omenani:
This should not be reviewed. It should be thrown out. I am a fiscal federalist first and foremost. Wherever the natural resource is found, oil, natural gas or coal, companies should deal with the people who is control of the land.

+1. The owners of the land should own the resources that come from it, not the federal gov't.