I CHOOSE TO BE A NIGERIAN by John Johnson

I CHOOSE TO BE A NIGERIAN

In my quiet moment, I thought within myself the Impact of western civilization on Africa, precisely Nigeria. And this question kept flowing through my mind, and I ask you.

Did we truly gain independence in 1960? A question that seems simple, yet complicated when truly analyzed.

In 1960 we simply became more dependent by moving from Dependence to being In Dependence (which explains the depth of our mental dependence).

When they left our land, they did not leave with their language, their ideologies, their systems, their beliefs, their values, and the worse of all their identity. Little wonder, we always want to talk and act like them. The very reason why we have made them our standard for measuring almost everything.

We undermine the uniqueness of a true African and have not taken seriously the fact that our culture is preserved in our local languages. For instance, "Thank you" in most Nigerian languages would mean: "I'm kneeling down" or "I'm lying down" which portrays respect, a true African culture. But in English language it's simply "Thank you" which has no significant dramatic display of a true African.

With our eyes open, they have infected us with several foreign diseases which includes:

Vulgarity, Nudity, Immorality, Liberalism, Democracy, Gender Equality, Employee system of Education, Suites as official wears, safe sex for our youths, Western curriculum for our schools, etc

It is time to hold unto our values, our beliefs, our culture and our identity. You don't need a British/American accent to be accepted across the world. Hold dearly to your Nigerian accent. Consider wisely the importance of your mother tongue as it has a lot to do with who you are. Do not throw away your identity to gain acceptance.

I love Americans, I love the British, but I choose to be a Nigerian.