₦airaland Forum

[quote author=ShyM-X]Erm.. Perhaps, we should embrace our different nationalities and disregard our unique unifying factor(the colour of our skin) - which makes us one people with almost the same struggle... though, we might have different experiences, no?[/quote]See this is one of then tensions that I cannot seem to reconcile with - I do not want to and I cannot disregard my "individual" identity but at the same time, I am being forced to embrace this "collective" identity, which has made me realize that we are all different, yet the same and yes you are right that we are fighting the same battle but in different ways. I guess that is another unifying factor? It's not just the color of our skin but the experiences that we have as a continent (colonization, civil war etc. with the exception of a few countries obviously).

Shollypopz: I didn't read our initial quote, too long and I'm lazy.

It ain't that deep. You are simply African because you were born in Africa or because your parents are Africans. I'm first a Nigerian before I'm an African.
It took me quite a while to accept being called African because I don't know sh1t about countries like Mozambique and neither do I give a sh1t about Cameroon who is right there at my backyard. Yep, we might share some similarities in culture. That's solely based on geography, it's simply expected that there must have been movement among cultural groups in the past, hence the little similarities in cultures. Not to talk about the colonial groupings and creation of African countries.

The only tie I have to somebody from Ethiopia is we both share a similar region on the map and skin color. Now, I don't believe your skin color makes you African, that's a ranting for another day.

What makes one European?? What makes one North American?? What makes one Asian?? This false pretense of "oneness" dey piss me off sef.

Which is why the author concluded that you're African only if you are from Africa. There's no two way to it.

I agree that Africans in the diaspora have this "obligation" to speak on behalf of or defend Africa as a continent when we don't even know how many countries make the continent. I guess the reason for this collective identity is that we share a lot of similar cultural values and what not. Therefore, as it is with all other things, people tend to generalize and group us as one. Let's not also forget the African narrative that the media portrays. It doesn't help at all.

And like Shym-mx said, it's no longer about the geographical space and it is no longer a continent. it is a consciousness. There's a sense of solidarity that Africans in the diaspora in general have and it cuts across our different cultures. We are no longer concerned about our individual countries but about the continent as a whole.

kramer: Nice curtains

LMAO!!!

But um I think it's a dress shirt and a skirt but ehn not feeling it. Skirt is way to short with dem heels again? Nah... But she looks good still

Fhemmmy: i know what you mean, and i think this kinda business will do well in Nigeria in a place where people like packaging . . .Lol

I mean capitalizing on people wanting to also be fashionable and feel among etc. lol. Sad but at the same time, it's business lol.

[quote author=ShyM-X]Interesting thought from a savvy brother...

Personally, being an African is in-born and a way-of-life - it just depends on how we're able to operate in that realm... Africa has moved from just a geographical location to level of consciousness and understanding the science and mathematics of African-ness...

I'll explain further with quotes from two power and great African men of honour:

"You're not an African because you're born in Africa. You're an African because Africa is born in you. It's in your genes.... your DNA....your entire biological make up. Whether you like it or not, that's the way it is. However, if you were to embrace this truth with open arms....my, my, my....what a wonderful thing." - Marimba Ani

"Just because a cat has kittens in the oven, that doesn't make them biscuits." - Malcolm X[/quote]I'm still chewing on your post. I'll be back.

Fhemmmy: Me i see $$$ Sign oh

hahahhaahaha I sure say you no go carry last! lol

*btw* I meant "I don't doubt you on that"

To be African is to be from Africa and nothing more and nothing less

EOD.

You don't have to be African to be passionate about African cultures or to have a genuine concern for Africa - there are a lot of Europeans, Americans doing that already.

Fhemmmy: Yes, sir and can you imagine how much Nigeria will be saving if we have a good educational system, imagine how much is spent sending kids to school out of the nation . . . SAD.

I totally agree! The brain drain is getting worse.

Fhemmmy: I will make sure that each bag is insured and if lost, i will recover my money back . . . .

Loli don't doing you on that.

Fhemmmy: I wish this would thrive in Nigeria cos i would surely like to go into such business . . .

Dem fit carry your handbag go o. You fit no see a again. Lol.

Fhemmmy: No 4: It is not the exam parse but the quality of the exam, if we could have a society that we are so sure that people dont have to pay to get it and we are sure that it is a fair table for the deal to all that are concerned.

No 5. Leader not as in Jonathan not the govt, your parents are leaders in your household as well, so that is what i mean, not as in the govt.

Oh okay. Gotchu! I agree with the exam thing and yes parents play a very important role in developing a child talents and all and ensuring that they have a well-rounded education. That way, when the kid gets to college, she/he already knows herself/himself, what their interests are, their strengths and weaknesses, and what they are capable of doing.

Now it's back to a good educational system, which we are lacking

byvan: I rather go without a handbag,I hate borrow pose.

Exactly!

Still trying to understand what the point is? Such personalized items shouldn't be rented really. I don't switch up my purses for a reason because having to transfer things from one to another is just an unnecessary task for me. That's why I stick to black and when I absolutely need to, I switch to another one for the occasion and back to my basic black.

Don't see a point in renting something like this for a day, week or month. Why not buy a cheap imitation, which will work just fine or save up to actually buy it, which will last for you for a bit.

As far as im concerned, this is ojukokoro. Wanting to be someone you are not and wanting to have something you can't afford.

Fhemmmy: Interesting thread, and i think there are lots of things that make this happen:
1. Peer pressure, when you see a friend that you went to school together and now in University, pressure is now on the other to secure an admission, by so doing will accept anything.
2. Boast of the parent: a parent wanna brag of their kids being at the university and cos a child see him or herself as a failure if not able to raise the ego of the parent's bragging right.
3. Our education system: JME is not a true test of ability or even knowledge.
4. Our Leaders inability to leader right and help the kids in choosing a path in life, most parents dont even know what their kids are good at.
5. Trial and Error, cos most kids dont even know what path will lead them to the light of progress.

So sad but factual.

Pls educate me because I don't really understand what you mean by nos 3 and 4.
3. It's normal to take a standardized exam to enter any school unless you are referring to the quality of the exam?
4. How exactly do the leaders play a role in choosing a person's career?

Gracias!

*cough* all I see is a lot of intimidated men? Perhaps insecure too?

dlinglos: Why d mom's panties na? For proper coverage?

Erm... It's a bikini and that's one if the latestest trends. Be prepared to see more as summer approaches.

@topic, she looks great!!

AjanleKoko: I missed this post earlier. I presume you're still in school?
I am not sure forcing yourself to do Biochemistry is even an option, considering you couldn't cope with Economics.
Just kidding tho.

I would say don't count yourself out yet. If your goal is to make money, who says you can't do something as out-there as fashion design or events planning? You can take some courses in the area that interests you. Someone like Tara Durotoye is making millions from makeup!

If your goal, as you said, is to go into social work, then money should not even be in the picture (though of course you will get paid for your work, just not investment-bank kind of money).

Whichever it is, don't worry too much. If you had the strong desire and drive (and discipline) to study economics or maybe biochem, you probably would have stayed with it. I know some people who were in my class in uni, and were failing horribly in engineering, but refused to drop out due to pride and societal pressure. Many of them ended up with extra years and barely passing grades. Eventually they had to seek other ways to make a living/alternative career path. The degrees they ended up with after many torrid years rendered them basically unemployable.

It's too late for me now. Lol. I'm done with undergrad in about 3 weeks. I'm happy I chose the majors I did and I never had any reason to rethink it until recently and even with that, it's just the pressure of the job search that's taking its toll. I def would have failed out of college if I had done any science subject lol.

But it's like you already know! I'm still sticking to the not-for-profit industry but I also have a few other personal interests.

Sadly, not eveyone can do the same. Not eveyone can withstand that pressure to get a well paying job cause to be frank, life is crazy! It's like doing what you have to do whether you like it or not

Michaeljones36: [size=20pt]JUST SAY NO TO COLLEGE!!!!!

CHINA DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THAT MANY COLLEGES! THEY TRAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SKILLED TECHNICIANS!

LEARN A TRADE, F*** GETTING GOOD GRADES!

PERSON A: STUDIED FOR FOUR YEARS...CAN'T FIND A JOB.
PERSON B: STUDIED FOR ONE YEAR...MAKES MORE THAN YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY![/size]

Erm... maybe that's why they send all their kids to other countries. You don see how many chinese people dey universities abroad?

ooseven: Very few people knew what they wanted to become when they were college students. They had dreams but rarely a clear cut road map.

Having said that, what is missing in Nigeria is an "internship" culture whereby, right from senior secondary level, student can take out time during holidays to work at different companies for 1-3months.

A culture such as this gives students real world skills and knowledge early on of what they really enjoy doing and what they hate, building their CV along the way.

...but who am I kidding...where are the enterprises to absorb them.

Government.::: over to you.

It's not as easy as it sounds. Many people cannot afford to do what they enjoy doing because what they enjoy might not always bring them money. The society is not conducive enough to let people do what they enjoy. When our basic needs arent even met? Basic social amenities aren't there and I am supposed to do what I enjoy? If that barely puts food on my table? I don't think so. If I social security, access to proper health care, constant electricity supply + water,and reasonable fuel price, then maybe I can afford to do what I enjoy because even if it does not generate a huge income I can always fall back on some of the services provided by the government.

biolabee: i dont think this is limited only to students in nigeria

its just more acute here as a result of fewer graduate jobs

I def agree that it's not just Nigerian students. I think it's the industry that sometimes determines what people study.


@topic, I initially wanted to study Econ because I did it for my A levels and I liked it a lot and so I came to college telling myself that I was going to be an Econ major. I took another Econ class and that was the end of it. I swore that I was done with Economics and I never took another Econ class again (although tbh, I think a lot of it had to do with the professors and the way they taught the classes). Anyway, I chose Conflict Studies/ Peace and Conflict Resolution and French as my majors and when I told my dad, he was upset! For about a year, he could not come to terms with the fact that I had chosen Conflict Studies. What was that anyway? Well unless I was going to follow it up with a masters or phd in Intl Relations or any degree of that nature but I really wanted to go into social work and what I kept on hearing and I still hear it today is that there is no money there. and that is the reality of it!

My friends are either in biochem or other sciences,econ and accounting and of late, I have been wondering if sticking to the Econ would have been a better option or forcing myself to do Bio or Biochem because of job prospects. I have friends writing certification exams like CFA and the IT ones too because they know that with these certifications, your chances of getting a job w a decent salary are higher.

Bottomline is that people study the "wrong" majors because that's about the safest way to ensure that you get a good job with a good salary.

[quote author=ShyM-X]That's good news - I love Nigerian food... [/quote]ayt no probs. I gotchu!

[quote author=ShyM-X]Erm... That sounds interesting...

Anyway, I'm a glutton and I love eating a lot...

So, I won't mind a plate from you... [/quote]LOL! erm but my meals are limited to Nigerian dishes and random stuff I make.

tollu: It's not called "Tomato Omelette" for nothing.

LOL! I guess

[quote author=ShyM-X]

Can you cook? [/quote]haahha well... at least I can eat my own food and comfortably serve others to eat

Lol!!! OP where do you live? Lol. Seems like it's been ages since you had a Nigerian meal. Lol. So what else do/can you cook?

2 whole tomatoes for only 2 eggs!! hmmmm...

ifyalways: Too long a write up with little or no paragraphing.I no read am,commenting solely based on topic.

When a child begins to question the wisdom of gray hairs,he would not live to get one.If you think the elders are stooopid wait till you get old . . .

I agree it was quite long and I struggled to read it myself. I don't think the write is saying that older people are not wise. I think his argument is that both groups can learn from each other. No one knows it all and there are somethings that the younger generation can teach the older generation and the reverse is definitely true but what happens with our culture is that the older people do not think the younger ones have anything "wise" to contribute and when young people try to make suggestions/give their input, it is seen as a sign of disrespect. According to the OP, this is one of the reasons why we are not developing because the older people are "messing up" and are not ready to listen to the youth whom he believes, have a lot to contribute. (I hope I kinda summarized the writer's argument correctly)

At the topic, I kinda agree with this respect issue but I have to say that there are ways of going about it. Let's admit that there are times when we younger folk think we know it all and want to show off in a disrespectful manner. In that case, we are to blame. We need to understand how our culture works and work with it. I can't count the number of times where I have suggested something to older people and they have listened or agreed with me. It's a matter of how you communicate. I also think that the older generation is beginning to realize that things are changing and we the youth know a lot more in certain areas.

I won't also ignore the fact that there are some people who just believe that no one knows more than they do. Examples are lectures and other professionals (Doctors, Engineers etc). I don't think this is beyond respect and more like a thing of pride. It's the idea that I have achieved a lot and I have a title, therefore, I should be addressed in a particular way. That is just a crazy mentality that we have regardless of age.

AssoJnr: I remember those days when kitto was the best school sandals and computer socks was the best socks. lol...

and joker jelly. I wanted a pair of those so bad when I was in Primary school... I never got them though lol.

[quote author=Idi-Amin]I miss those days ooo

Those days when one person will be outside turning the TV area shouting 'IS IT CLEAR, IS IT CLEAR!!!!!!!'
then the other person inside looking at the TV shouting 'TURN IT THE OTHER WAY,NO, NO, THE OTHER WAY, IT IS CLEAR NOW'
[/quote]Lmao!!!!! Hahahahahahahaaha oh my days! I sef remember!

good times!!!!

Monicam: This product helped me to achieve my hair length goals! I've been natural for 20 months since the big chop! The results were great. Wanted to share.

http:///cn8rqd2
[Open in new window]

whats the product called?

Orikinla: WHICH US TOUR?

YOU NIGERIANS CAN BE REALLY FUNNY ID-IOTS.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A MUSICIAN GOING ON TOUR MEANS?

NIGERIA DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A MUSIC INDUSTRY AT THE MOMENT.

ANY DUMMY CAN PERFORM FOR NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES IN THE US.
DOES IYANYA HAVE A BAND LIKE FEMI KUTI, SEUN KUTI, SUNNY ADE AND OTHER REAL NIGERIAN MUSICIANS WHO GO ON REAL US TOURS?

And what makes Iyanya's different?

ayswags: Is this a us tour or nigerians living in the us tour mtcheew

what's the difference? Who were you thinking would go see him anyway?

kwajahafiz: just stating the facts nephew...
u need to understand what
"hating" means in the American
street lingo...
i doubt u do.
if u never lived in yankee, u might never get it.

really though?

LesbianBoy: Women and their bullsh*t! Hope he beats her very well! Rubbish!

Really though? *sigh*