₦airaland Forum

It's a very smart move to be fluent in a foreign language very few people know, especially as she's a journalist. She can work for CNN, BBC, Reuters, any news corps or networks around the world, and since there are many news stories relating to Nigeria (politics, oil, religious violence etc) she'll be the 'Nigerian correspondent' and will have few competitors.

She can also write books, teach classes or speak around the world as an expert in 'Yoruba/African Affairs.' She will always be in demand because of her rare skills as a white American fluent in Yoruba, and the more she learns about Yoruba/Nigerian culture, politics or history, the bigger will be her field of knowledge.

Condoleeza Rice got her position as US secretary of state because she was fluent in Russian.

I wish I'd learnt Mauritian or Mongolian or some other language obscure to the West cos you'll never suffer for lack of job. My children must learn Spanish/French or both at least, it guarantees a good career if you use it well.

Aww, I saw her name and got excited thinking she was Hausa. That would have been a rare treat.

Anyway congratulations to her, she seems like a sweet, humble girl. And with qualifications from Harvard her future success is almost inevitable. I hope her three brothers are equally successful

Yep. Not every man is deserving of a submissive woman, some will misuse and abuse the power they think they have over you. When a man is worthy of your respect he usually gives it back too (in his own non-ego damaging way).

UncleJJ:
Firstly - Tweety - Ki Chanza wanchan foton -, it terrible, why dont you employ the image on the blog.

secondly- i like submissive women, there sexy, they make me feel like am the guy and your the girl

Men, do this kind of stuff to chicks they find attractive, from the little i read on the blog, the profile thing,

It would make me do a whole lot of stuff for you, but i wont wash your undies ,

Na gaishe KI,

Lol! Ba zan chanza foto ba. Ya yi kyau mana, ko? And nagode for gaisheing me 

Blazay:
Actually, I am happy for her. Or should I say them.
Taking 'baby' steps to civilization.
It is common for Hausa peeps to lead themselves across the street.
I used to see a few 'bambi-allahs' or 'gbomo-gbomos' do just that while begging for money or trying to kidnap little children in large loin-clothed suffocating cow-skinned bags from street to street.
If the gesture can be extended to women who can see with all hands and feet INTACT. . . I rejoice. Very romantic.
From chopping off hands and feet for adultery to leading their women with protective hands on their backs and buttocks. . .to the other side of the road WITHO0UT KILLING THEM or using the women as donkeys or mules to transport merchandise while sitting on them?

[size=20pt]Somebarry please shout J-J for Jehovah Jireh!!! [/size]



The only problem?
I wish she will experience that 'chivalry' in Hausaland Nigeria.
Not just in London.
All well and good sha.

Please, rock on. "Awusa" peeps in London. . . you have a lot of catching up to do.

Small-small. . . una go reassssh dia. Amen.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrran-ka-de-de ma!!!

Yesssooo! Awusas have come a long way since boko haram. We speak and write in English now and some of our men even let us women walk side by side with them on the street and not three steps behind. We thank God for progress.

Odunnu:
Mu hee heee heee.
You are one annoyingly funny gal

I don't know, you tell me. You are the owner of the blog and your thoughts,  I will take your word on the matter as fact. I have read your blog before and I think you be-labour your heritage too much. Let us just know what you think about the world. Not where you were born and the tribe you belong to- shikena. Have a very nice day Ma'am.

The whole blog is about being a Hausa Nigerian, hence the name + what I think about the world. What's the problem? Lighten up

I am not as young or as innocent as I look, yet every time I cross the street with any man, whether I've known him 10 minutes or 10 years, they either hold my arm/hand or put a protective hand on my back and lead me to the other side of the road.

Most Western-minded, proudly independent, 21st Century women would be insulted by this because they feel it patronises them; they can cross the street just as well as any man! I don't. I take it as a compliment that a man acts on his natural instinct to protect when he's with me. Some women, because of the aggressive vibe they give out quench this gentlemanly behaviour in guys, but I'd like to think it is because of my sweet, accommodating nature that men are willing to open doors or pull out chairs for me.

Now I know and they know that I can do these things for myself, but that's not the point. I'm a lover of classic literature like Pride and Prejudice because it describes a time when men were men and ladies behaved decently and were treated with care because they were the fairer sex. I am not insulted by this, and I believe that women that are have either been hurt by misogynistic men or were told that a woman is just as good as a man and doesn't need to be treated differently.

Well, its their loss. If a man wants to treat me nicely because I am a woman, let him. I know I am just as intelligent as he is, so why should his chivalry make me feel bad?

There's a difference between a man opening a door for you and a man not allowing you to speak in public. Women in certain Middle-Eastern or African countries have the right to demand more fairness because they are been oppressed, but I'm afraid if women get more fairness in the West they might stop having babies, because if men don't have to do it, why should we?!

So its obvious that I am not a feminist. I thank the Women's Movement for the vote, shattered glass-ceilings and the Pill, but it all spun out of control when:

Women Started Acting Like Men

Some women think that if a man can sleep with 300 women and be admired by his peers, why can't she sleep with 300 men and be equally respected? Well, umm, apart from this being a cry for help, nature discourages it. A man produces trillions of new sperm daily throughout his lifetime, whilst a woman is born with about 400 viable eggs, is able to fertilise only one a month, and then they run out when she's 45. Also, women tend to get pregnant after sex whilst men can walk away if they so wish, and the reproduction game is such that whilst a man shoots and deposits, a woman receives and incubates.

All this means that nature has given men the ease and biological efficiency to have sex-and-go a lot, whilst women have to deal with the palaver of periods, pregnancy and ticking biological clocks. It kinda seems as if 'Mother Nature' is a misogynistic man trying to ruin women's fun doesn't it?

Fact is women are BUILT differently from men and it is not everything they do that we should do. Those that want to out-earn, out-drink or out-burp men may feel emancipated now, but a wise man is not looking for a woman to compete with but a mate to build a life with, and a woman that uses her femininity to compliment a man will have a happier home.

Women Started Demeaning Men

I dislike watching adverts these days because of the trend for women to belittle men. Commercials like Windows 7's Family Photo is one that I actually switch channels to avoid watching. I just get angsty about seeing a woman say things to a man that will cause outrage if the tables were turned. Watch a round of adverts next time you're in front of the TV with this in mind, and you'll see stroppy, domineering women chastising gormless men for being inept. Its never the other way round. Because that would be sexist.

The funny thing is that ad executives are overwhelmingly male, so either they're being funny, or worried that if they don't toe the feminist line there would be backlash. It's probably the latter.

I was watching a show about weddings, where it is the norm for the bride-to-be to complain that the groom doesn't help enough etc and then a 'Fairy God-mother' is called to help. But one episode had a wealthy young man who was outspoken about the fact that he'll pay for the wedding, but the bride should make all the arrangements (he was American. I noticed that their adverts are fairer). The female voice-over and 'Fairy God-mother' were indignant: how dare he be so honest about his disinterest and put the bride in a bad light! Didn't he read the memo? Only the bride can complain; the man should just nod and apologise!

The gender role-reversal in the media probably reflects reality. Today most divorces are initiated by the woman who is encouraged to not put up with any dissent, I mean failings in a man. Of course I know that men can be *%*#*@*, but perhaps women don't try so hard anymore?

Women Started Saying They Didn't Need Men

I used to say this. Back when I was young and drunk on the feminist power Destiny's Child sung about. Sure women can and have raised babies who became well-adjusted adults without the help of men, but should they? It's fine if you have no choice, but to make a conscious decision that you want to raise your child without a father is like cutting your nose to spite your face. Children from such homes grow up with daddy issues because it was never supposed to be that way.

Women also say this to mean they can buy their own houses, cars, clothes, weaves, shoes etc without the help of men. That's fabulous. I'm sure the men are quite happy not to have to pay for all these things too. But I personally want my husband to take care of me and be the breadwinner, and thankfully I'm with a traditional Hausa man who feels that it is his responsibility to provide for his family.

So after we marry I'll take primary care of the children, (since they grew in my body for nine months and were then fed with my body-juice, it seems fair) cook, clean, work and help him be the best he can be, whilst he protects, provides, procures the bacon and loves and respects me as the superwoman-mother-wife-lady I am. He'll probably wash the dishes too sometimes because he's nice like that. But he doesn't have to.

It's old-fashioned and I love it. There's something, wholesome about the natural order of things.

http://hausanigerian..com/2011/04/i-am-submissive-womandoes-that-make-me.html

jerseyboy:
List of Islamic Terror Attacks For the Past 2 Months

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks

Please take a look at this link.

Good for you IloveFred, hope you have a long and happy life together.

And if you both feel you want children, you can always adopt

@190 are you serious?? That Indomie advert had a yoruba and pigin English version (see youtube) that was exactly the same in plot, product, script everything, the only thing different was the language.

Please, there are already plenty and more serious grievances against Hausas without this petty criticism. There's no need to be flippantly insulting (cassava leaves??) that is as immature as the riots are despicable.

Don't degrade yourself to the ignorant level of the rioters with your intentionally divisive, crude and stereotypical statements.

You're not helping  

@ Bukittes, I'm a Hausa/Fulani woman and I'm a Christian. Contrary to misconceptions, we do exist but are not numerous enough to influence our Muslim brothers against violence. We're just as appalled by the riots and burnings as the rest of the country/world and blame it on poor education, joblessness and Imams that preach hate.

I wrote more about Hausas and violence, as well as other issues pertaining to being a Hausa woman here: http://hausanigerian..com/

It's correct to say that Hausa Muslims are still proud to be Nigerian, but defending Islam comes first

@Nadanbata: Yep they lack a rich culture, but I find them less racist than Americans .  .  .  .

Special shout out to tpiah who made the first (and positive) comment about my blog on Nairaland. Good to see you're still following 

The latest post is 'Why Are Hausas More Violent than Other Nigerians?'
http://hausanigerian..com/2011/04/are-hausanortherners-more-violent-than.html

@ Muk-Ldn I'm in Surrey now, but I've lived in North, South, West and East London (Hackney and Stratford) and yep, plenty foreigners there 

@ Kenezi, I agree. I am yet to meet a Muslim that has made me regret my decision to convert  Considerate Muslims like Clemcycul, Sweetnecta and Razby are few and far between and are drowned out by the passion and anger of louder Muslims everywhere else.  .  .

@ Jenifa thanks for your honesty

@Reddfox thanks! Don't worry, my 'westernisation' has made me braver than your average female Fulani, and I've long written about difficult issues. It is easier to follow your conscience when you are not afraid of the reactions of people around you.

http://hausanigerian..com/

Yayade Muk-Ldn?

Yanzu gida na a Ingila ne, ama ina so in koma. We'll see. Are you based in London?

Thank you Rabzy.

And lol @ 'defulanise'

Thank you baby.me

@ rabzy from what I understand, the fulani have been predominantly muslim for centuries, before that probably animists/spiritualists/pagan like most Africans were before Islam and Christianity were brought over by conquerors, colonialists and migrants. Although culture is often intertwined with religion, fulani culture in terms of their clothing, food, language, occupations, dwellings, movements and family relationships is mostly distinct from and probably predates Islam.


@ clemcykul To, nagode. Bin che kome ba dan bana so in zo nan in fara fada da kowa.

@Tweety121;

my email is galadimalou@aol.com

let me know when you write.

then i will check in and respond.



Check your email Sweetnecta, I sent you a message today

Anyway check out the latest post titled "You Are A Fake Fulani" on http://hausanigerian..com/

Oh, and thanks for the compliment @ armyofone!

Thank you Saiyaman, I will

@saiyaman: I'm fascinated by namfav's criticisms, and I was prepared for this line of questioning by Muslims unhappy at my conversion
@namfav: Firstly, my father was a western-educated Fulani Muslim who was open-minded and tolerant and never imposed his religion on us. Secondly, he died before I became a Christian so his displeasure at this cannot be noted.

Also, even if he had expressed regret that I'd become a Christian, I'm an independent adult living in the UK who, despite not wanting to displease my family, will follow the path I have chosen. I know the number of Christian Fulanis are minimal, but I think it is highly close-minded and innapropriate of you to condemn me for doing what I please.

It's obvious I'm not a typical Fulani person (the blog title is 'the musings of a Westernised Hausa/Fulani woman', yet my love for my culture is evident and the purpose of my blog was to knock down certain stereotypes about us, i.e. we are all the same. (My boyfriend is also a Hausa/Fulani Christian from a Christian family so maybe we're not as rare as you think)

I don't represent your Fulani experience, I'm only representing mine. This is all I'm going to say about this.

Please tell me how I have misrepresented Hausa/Fulani culture (also note that my blog is purely my personal perspective and about my unique experiences)

I am Fulani because my family is and my grandmother spoke Fulfude, and I'm Hausa because my family is and that is what we speak.
Funny how you presume to know my etymology, I kinda thought I was better placed to make such judgements myself, seeing as it is my family we're talking about, and you don't know me?

There are many Arabic words in our language. Check my post 'Why I love my language'

Hi Sweetnecta, I haven't forgotten, I'm just waiting for my internet connection to be fixed cos typing long emails on a blackberry is not enjoyable. I'll email you by next week insha'Allah.

Thanks 25omega, I'm glad you liked it!

@hornyimam, I don't know if you're been sarcastic or not?
Yayade Emofine? Are you Hausa too? We're a rare breed indeed, especially the females.

Thanks afam4eva and fstranger3!

Two new posts have just been added

Well, Sweetnecta, I don't know what to tell ya. I've said all I can on the subject. But I promise, if I ever become a muslim you'll be the first to know. Anyway thanks for the thorough analysis of my faith, and keep reading the blog!

My faith is based on more than just facts, research and investigation. It's a gut feeling I have, a deeply held trust and an emotional connection with my Father in heaven who I have had powerful experiences of where I've been left in awe and fallen down on my knees because of His power. I worship Him not because it's popular but because I know He is there and has changed me and the way I think, act and understand life. That's my proof.
My religion has long moved on from any family or societal influence, and today I am Christian because my experience of God leaves me no choice but to follow Him.

@Sweetnecta: Thanks for your fascinating assessment of my conversion.

Although I'm very happy with my choice of religion, I value my father's religion and will not change my Islamic history