Nigerians In Diaspora And Their Misplaced Priorities – London As A Case Study.

 Nigerians In Diaspora And Their Misplaced Priorities – London As A Case Study.

Before you read this piece.  I am not just a Nigerian but someone that appreciates and embrace his culture, tradition and close to his people. Having lived outside Nigeria for nearly two decades and lived, worked in the midst of various tribes and nationals – it’s natural and easier to cross reference our actions and reactions.

There is an epidemic going on amongst Nigerians in Diaspora – this is a widespread issue that’s not limited to the City of London but across the UK and Europe, from Manchester to Liverpool, from Bristol to Birmingham, Paris to Dublin, Milan to Amsterdam etc. I am sure the story won’t be any different in North America.

African culture is a very unique and rich culture, just like how rich the Asian culture is – the influx of western culture into the continent of Africa has done more damages than good to Africans, same western culture has effect on the Asian culture but they are adamant and refuse to let go of what makes them unique and different. Africans on the other hand are selective, they choose what they are comfortable with from the western culture, even when it doesn’t fit and refused to let go some part of their culture which are actually against their own development.

People are getting into serious debts – all in the name of living up to “standard” and making the society happy. In London, no weekend is complete without multiple parties to attend; there is never a short for those in the city, ranging from birthdays to naming ceremony, burial to remembrance etc.

It’s only a Nigerian that will rent a hall to celebrate first birthday of a child! Rent a hall to remember a father or mother that died 30years ago! It’s absolutely fine if one can afford it and they feel the need to throw some money away in the name of celebrating. But majority of the people on this wagon can’t really afford it. I have seen people that lives like pauper and their children not well kept organising a “Remembrance party”! Such party on average won’t cost anything less than £10,000. In most cases, such people are living on welfare or doing some menial jobs like a cleaner or a security guard to make ends meet – no disrespect to hardworking people in those fields.

Many people have been caught in that web of lies, living a life that they really can’t afford – anything for the glam. I refuse to comprehend with a family whose children are still in school, they all live in a cramped council flat, driving a financed car, working night shifts – now planning to have a party, not to celebrate one of their children, not for a college graduation or work promotion but a burial ceremony of a dead loved one in Nigeria! Without this family knowledge, they have just mortgaged the future of their children and increased their hardship.

Mothers and wives competes for what to wear to parties at the weekends which in turn is having a negative effect on their marriage or relationship with their children. To attend a Nigerian party in London, you really don’t have to know the celebrant or have their direct contact – in fact, you don’t have to know what they are celebrating. Nigerian parties are known to be generous with foods and drinks; they would leave no stone unturned to make their guests comfortable. It really doesn’t matter if they have to soak garri next day or have bailiffs knocking on their door. As long as the party is a success then mission accomplished!

You don’t have to be rich to have a party; the system is conducive enough to give you the necessary need and support – people are known to max out their credit cards, overdrafts and some will even go as far as taking a loan from the bank or from personal friends in order to organise a successful party.

I know a personal friend who got married on a loan from the bank, took a loan of £30,000 to get married, it was a success, hall rented, limousines rented and hotels, social tabloids were present and it was a success indeed. Wedding is for a day and for the society but marriage is personal, a life time experience and the real deal. His marriage only lasted for 6months and they went their separate ways – I agree that there was no guarantee that it would last if he had a low key wedding but he won’t be in debt afterwards coupled with a broken heart.

So, here comes the twist – I purposely had the Asian part included earlier. Out of all these parties taking place all over the city every weekends. To some people it’s a big business and those people are the Pakistanis and the Indians – The word “Nigerian” to them ignites a smile and business.

Nigerians spends about a billion pounds on parties and shopping annually in the UK. Smart Asian businessmen are on hand to secure a chunk of this. For you to have a party in London, be it on the east, southeast or north. All the party halls are usually fully booked for months, they are so busy that Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are fully booked that people are now having parties on Wednesday and Thursday – yea, they are that busy and all these halls are owned by Asians.

These Asians will own the halls, own the butcher shops, own the cash and carry warehouses that sells all the drinks and cutleries, own the exotic cars rental companies, own the taxi companies that ferry guests to the halls – These Asians in turn will lodge their money in the banks daily, to the banks and the system – they are in business and active in the society. The government and the bank will provide support for them to grow their businesses; they will have access to loans and business programmes and incentives from the government.

These Asians will go ahead and buy a massive land to build residential estates with the support from the local council and loans from the banks and once these houses are completed, they will be rented out the people at exorbitant rates – mostly Nigerians – are you feeling the money circle yet?.

These Asians don’t joke with education so they will send their offsprings to the best schools and colleges and they value not just their privacy but enjoy life, they won’t live among their customers but most will own palatial homes in Surrey or in West London away from their party going lovers cum customers.

Both the Asians and Nigerians are immigrants on a mission to make something for themselves out of nothing. They both have the same opportunities but different priorities.

The irony is – Asians love parties too, mostly weddings but the parents pick the bills after working their ass off and investing rightly and smartly at early years. The plan is to train the children, build a business and hand over the wealth when it’s time – the circle continues with the new generation of Asians.

Nigerians on the other hand, it’s not about building wealth, neither are they concerned about the next generation but how to live life right here, right now. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that is now epidemic and everyone is hiding under the umbrella of “Culture and tradition”. Educating your children and investing in their future is also part of culture and tradition. Of course you only cherry pick.

Not to worry, if I send you an invitation to a party – please don’t come because it won’t happen and if it ever does happen due to one pressure or the other, it won’t go beyond the function and the purpose – maximum three hours and I do not plan to satisfy the people over my own happiness or comfort. Be late at your own peril. Adios.