Being Black In Nigeria

I never expected to experience prejudice in a country where people like me are the majority

Instagram: @yetundevlogs

[mrdacusthenavigator]

I'm Black American and I'm still going to visit Nigeria

[olanrewajuin]

This "foreign is better" mentality is deeply upsetting!

[rohaaniidaalii]

Sis the facts is that wherever in the world you find black people whether in Africa or the diaspora they are subservient and self hating. This is what 400 years of slavery, past and present has done to the psyche of our people. Until we can truly heal these psychological wounds and truly put our destiny in our own hands we will remain an enslaved people with all the mental and psychological illnesses that comes along with being enslaved. The problem is not an African problem but a global black problem which comes from years of being abused and still being abused.

[diegoharry]

I've seen many comments to the effect that this is only Lagos behaviour, and whilst it is most prevalent in Lagos, I've seen this also in the North of the country and the East, so Yetti is right when she says Nigerian behaviour.

I've had many similar experiences like her and from a historical perspective, we can see why things are the way they are. White people colonised Nigeria and brought Christianity during this period. The lebanese have been around in West Africa doing business since 1898 and were also brought in by the colonial authorities so they could be a conduit between local Nigerians and European colonisers, especially with the management and processing of commodities like cocoa, groundnut etc. South East Asians- who are classified as oyinbo by indigenes- have been in Nigeria since the 1950s and were brought in by the British to help with the colonial administration, including the overseeing of Nigerians. Some were treated so well and given resources to start businesses, in most cases greater resources than Nigerians. Such has helped to shape the present day circumstances in which foreign groups have been blessed with better resources for economic pursuit vis-à-vis Nigerians.

I've had Nigerians, based and raised in Nigeria that have said in not so many words that antecedents involving the white man has led to them seeing them as better than indigenous people. Some believe oyinbo will bless them with a job or business opportunity if they can just help them with good service, even at the expense of pissing off Nigerian indigenes (whether with accent or not), or some are hoping to hook a foreign spouse who will improve their economic condition. The fact that this seldom happens doesn't discourage the behaviour.

Politicians are also to blame for bending over backwards to foreigners, whether or not they're any good at what they produce/provide. This extends to zero or lousy background checks, inadequate risk management based on their "otherness" and also the hope of kickbacks/inducements for facilitating foreign business, all at the detriments of Nigerians. It's as if their rational minds go out of the door once they're dealing with foreigners. Lets make no mistake about it, despite the so-called Nigerian bravado, what we have discussed is the net result of self-hatred by the specific Nigerians guilty of this behaviour, whether consciously or subconsciously.

[kennyamaha]

Let's not kid ourselves. It happens ALL OVER NIGERIA! It's not self-hate. It's ignorance that anything out of Nigeria is seemingly better.

[Missrachela]

It's quite disappointing to be very honest. My personal experience was with a white gospel singer. The lady in question has a very mediocre voice in my opinion, but simply because she sings yoruba songs and she is white this lady is so overcelebrated. She is even preferred to Nigerian singers who sing far far better than she. I look and think if the cultures were reversed and a black woman sung in lets say German think if the response would be the same? Certainly not. It's to do with our subservient mentality. Anthing that is not Nigerian is apparently better. Anyway a great video as usual thank you for keeping your words see you next Monday x

[sophia]

This reminds me of when I first discovered that this was not just the sickness of black people in the diaspora. In actual fact I think it may be worse with people in Africa. To some extent I can understand why. They have not lived among white people as we have; many people do not have a full picture of their oppression, i.e. IMF bank, european politicians, etc. and of course colonialism.

To some extent I agree with one of the comments which said that part of this is about poverty but in that it must also be about perception. There are many rich blacks/Nigerians who would be able to spend money which people who would bypass them for a white person.

I remember being in Ghana and meeting a white man from Germany who worked there. He explained that Ghanian women would always approach him assuming that he had money. He did not and said that the men with real money in Ghana were black but simply because he is white it was assumed that he did. However, I do not think that this is only about money. In the main I think it is a lack of pride! I recall being in a restaurant in Ghana. Near where I was sitting was a 'No Smoking' sign, directly underneath it were two white people smoking. The staff did not say anything. It was my friend who mentioned it to her and said that she should not be allowing them to do that as they would not do it in their own country. It's a sad state of affairs but it is what it is.

Hopefully it will change if the people that notice it speak up, i.e. if you're in a cue and the assistant goes to serve the white/foreign person behind you INSIST they serve you first.

[ventdesiles]

Being black in Nigeria! Is this supposed to even be considered as a Topic???

[PatrickEgwu]

I've experienced this first-hand in Nigeria several times, and it really irritates me.A British raised Nigerian friend and myself connected in Nigeria in 2001, and on that particular visit to Nigeria we had an altercation with a Lebanese guy on Victoria Island at a video rental store somewhere close to Mega Plaza.The Lebanese guy jumped the queue, and we challenged him whilst the local Nigerians there kept quiet. In fact they were surprised that we were challenging him. He was surprised too, and became arrogant...to the extent that he insisted on jumping the line and refused to apologise. Insulting words were exchanged between us and him. We were in our very early 20s, raised in the western world, and did not suffer the racial inferiority complex that the local Nigerians generally suffer from, and we were ready to take him on. As we exchanged insults, he got upset and slapped my friend. My friend quickly retaliated with a head-butt and drew blood. I followed it up with a couple of punches before some of the Nigerian guys there intervened and broke it up.He continued to talk, we challenged him to come outside so that we can continue the fight, but he wouldn't come out. The intervening guys were busy trying to keep us apart.

[BeachChairz]

When I went to Nigeria for a year between from 2008 to 2009, I got all kinds of comments from the locals implying that I'm not Nigerian enough because I grew up in London. They'd call me "oyinbo" and all kinds of names, yet anytime a non Black person showed up they'd kiss his/her ass. I got into fights because of it and also got into fights with non Black people who made all kinds of racist comments about Africans.

[crystalfadipe]

The only difference about that in the U.S. is that businesses risk being sued for discrimination so they try to do it subtly....but being black in America is pretty much the same in different areas

[FehintolaOgunye]

I think it's a result of colonialism. in Nigeria, people favour foreign brands more, even graduates with degrees from foreign schools get better opportunities than graduates from Nigerian schools.
I believe we are currently having self awareness and discussions like this can help us face and overcome this issue.
As for charging a higher fee if you're non Nigerian, that's 'sense'. I think it happens every where. once people notice that you aren't an indigene, they try to rip you off to make a quick buck.
Good job girl. I love your hair. it's soo full and lovely.

[austinokafor]

We have to start changing how we think because everybody are the same, let's treat everybody as one

[randomvintagefilm]

I would just advise that you take a long vacation there first. So many people just jump right into something because they hear ONE good report when our life's experiences are so different. I've lived all over the world and for me, home is wherever my loved ones are.

[RubySuze]

This is really interesting...I think we do the same thing in the UK as well. We do it amongst ourselves. We're happy to pay £ for a non-nigerian, non-black product but if our nigerian brother or sister is producing the same product or service we 'price' it. it's very annoying.

[joannakolawole]

So true!!! Until we start appreciating ourselves, we cant move forward. Thanks Yetunde!

[Saved.by.Jesus.]

That is absolutely true, and it is wrong to think that way. it is something that is deeply rooted in Nigerians. Most Nigerians thinks that white people are smarter and more competent in everything. It is clearly a wrong mentality to have. This is the reason why the country is the way it is, and the reason why most Nigerians do not progress. Nigerians likes to devalue their fellow Nigerians, and they love to esteem white people. I feel like a white man can go Nigerian and practice as a medical doctor just because he is white and wearing a white coat. gosh!I hope that is not possible. lol

[onyenmehieihenagarankeoma]

I believe its not so much racism, as it is 'Economics'. Most times the 'Oyibo' tips better.That then tends to influence most people in the service sector to prioritise them over Nigerians.

[Twilightblue]

You wanna know what I think? Hell, pretty-much the same thing be happening over here too. And I'm not just referring to the influx of Africans that's been steadily coming to New York over the years. I'm talking about the Sisters and Homies born and raised here too. And don't let me get started on how Caribbean Blacks would blatantly diss you to appease White customers. The self-hatred that runs among us is strong and now I see it's going on heavily in the continent too, damn. Videos and pictures of extremely beautiful women proudly going around wearing wigs and bleaching their skin? My God, it's a horror show.

[Rebmetpes]

I wouldn't be surprised the racism in Nigeria for us AA Collectives!