End the demonisation of Nigerians

I love Nigeria and Nigerians. I know I may be in the minority, but if so, then I am in a very proud minority. Like most Black nationalities, Nigerians are the victims of vicious stereotypes and racist tropes.

Unfortunately, those stigmas aren’t just in the bigoted imaginations of Whites and Asians. Black brethren, in Africa and the Africa diaspora in the West, propagate those hateful gossipy canards against our Nigerian brothers and sisters.

We – Black people – need to look deeply into our souls and expunge, or excrete if you will, our bilious hatred of Nigerians. Then gang up on Whites and Asians to force them to respect the humanity and dignity of Nigerians – and Nigeria, the African global giant.

I am sick of all Nigerian ethnic and racist tropes. “Nigerians are born thieves.” “Nigerians are congenital conmen.” “Nigerians are inherently cheats.” “Nigerians are unreliable, shifty, violent, pushy, loud, uncontrollable.” I have even heard it said that Nigerians are inherently anti-democratic and autocratic.

Equality

Bigots who say, and believe, these vile things do so as though it was a matter of fact. Indisputable. But they do so to deny Nigerians opportunity, equality, and access to goods and services.

In the West, in Europe and America, many Whites have a reflexive, Pavlovian reaction to Nigerians. Their psyche is trained such that the sight, or mention, of a Nigerian triggers fear or hate.

I will admit these stereotypes of Nigerians at home and abroad aren’t unique. In East Africa, Kenyans are viewed with frightful jealousy by Ugandans and Tanzanians. Our neighbours admire Kenyans for their industry but think many of us are pickpockets, or pilferers.

In South Africa, many Blacks hate Africans north of the Limpopo. Incredibly, some South Africans have killed and persecuted innocent Black migrants while leaving White migrants alone.

Because of the legacy of Apartheid, which demonised other Africans, they blame non-South African Blacks for their economic woes. I find the whole thing psychotic. My point is that it’s not only Nigerians who are demonised, but the vilification of Nigerians is unparalleled and of another order of magnitude.

Nigeria and Nigerians are giants. If that’s also a generalisation, so be it. I stand by it. Nigeria is the largest Black nation on earth. One out of every four Africans is a Nigerian, and one of every five persons of Black African origin is a Nigerian. Let that sink in.

Most educated

Nigerians are everywhere. I bet you there isn’t a country on earth where you won’t find a Nigerian. I’ve been to most countries – I believe over 100 – and always run into a Nigerian.

I remember finding a Nigerian in a small village in the island nation of the Bahamas. I found another in Prague, the Czech Republic, or Czechia. He spoke perfect Czech for all I could tell.

Nigerians are world conquerors. They are the most educated Black people on earth. In America, they’ve done exceptionally well and are the largest African migrant group in America.

But that’s not the most important statistic about persons of Nigerian origin in the US. Nigerian-Americans are the most educated ethnic group in America.

They are more educated than all racial or ethnic groups in America, including all White groups – 29 per cent of Nigerian-Americans have graduate degrees, compared to only 11 per cent of the overall population. Three times as many Nigerian-Americans have PhDs than any other group.

The statistics about the success of Nigerians everywhere, including the racist West, tell you about their resilience and brilliance. Those statistics are not of a people who are lazy, cheats, thieves, uncouth or uncivilised. The numbers speak volumes about the “giant” nature of Nigerians.

I agree; Nigeria as a post-colonial country has endured more downs than ups. It has struggled, like most artificially created African post-colonial states, to foster a vibrant democracy. But that’s not unique to it. In fact, Nigeria’s mark as a state in the world is indelible.

It has played a leading Pan-Africanist role on the world stage, helped liberate Africa from colonialism and Apartheid, and led ECOWAS and peace missions to stabilise collapsed states in West Africa.

Finally, Nigeria played a key role in pushing China to stem racist attacks against Africans in Wuhan and other cities. The image of the Nigerian diplomat loudly berating Chinese officials is one for the ages.

While Ambassador Sarah Serem of Kenya was cowering somewhere in Beijing tongue-tied and unwilling to confront the Chinese, the Nigerian diplomats protested without fear.

Those are the Nigerians I know. They will defend another Black person anywhere without fear and damn the consequences. I saw it at JFK in New York where a Nigerian was almost arrested for defending a Black woman who was being harassed by a screening agent.

That’s why Nigeria, not South Africa, is Africa’s giant.

@makaumutua.