As we approach the start of a new academic year this fall, I couldn’t help but be reminiscent of my first time attending school in the U.S. It was exhilarating. People were so fascinated by my being Nigerian. My name being Gift made the fascination all the more extreme. You name it, I’ve probably heard the “Gift” pun. I always find them amusing, quite frankly.
But the fascination often leads to endless questions and comments about where I’m from.
Teammates, coaches, classmates, professors, etc. everyone had their questions based on their understanding or lack thereof about Africa as they call it. It can occasionally be a good conversation starter. I for one am always delighted to talk about my culture and nationality. In some way, talking about it makes me feel closer to home mentally. But that is of course when the questions or topics are substantial. Some of it can be rather infuriating. I get flabbergasted by the thought process behind some of these questions and statements. Like “why would you even say that?”
When it comes to ridiculous questions and statements I have an exhaustive list. But For the sake of brevity, here are a few things you shouldn’t say to an international student.
- Wow! Your English is so good
Please stop it. English is in fact our first language. Thanks to our lord and saviour Great Britain. And the same is true for many other African countries as well. It is always funny to me when people equate my fluency in English to the amount of time I’ve spent in the U.S. Respectfully, no. The dictions and pronunciations may differ significantly, but we do speak English in Nigeria for the most part.
- Do you speak Nigerian?
Nigeria is described as “one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world”. While the official language is English, we have hundreds of other native languages as well. Some major languages spoken are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Tiv, Ibibio… So, no, I do not speak ‘Nigerian”. Mainly because “Nigerian” as a native language is nonexistent. You’re better off asking if I speak broken English.
- You don’t know this American movie/book/music/celebrity?
How dare I, a Nigerian not have a vast knowledge of American pop culture when most of my socialization took place in Nigeria? Shocking!
- Omg you don’t look Nigerian
To whom it may concern, this is not the compliment you think it is. This particular statement always baffles me. What are Nigerians supposed to look like? Also, what exactly are you implying when you say this?
- Do you know this Nigerian?
It’s always “Oh, I thought you would know the other Nigerian because you are both Nigerian”. Asking a Nigerian if they know another Nigerian simply because they come from the same country is ridiculous. It’s just like me asking if you know everyone in Alabama, talk less of the U.S. Nigeria has 36 states with over 200million citizens. It is outrageous to think we all know each other.
- How did you get here?
By a plane. Not a boat or a camel. I purchased a plane ticket, got on an airplane, and voila!
- Say this word/phrase in your dialect
Do not ask me to say something in my dialect while you all laugh and stare. This is not a puppet show. I am not here for your amusement.
- You have a weird accent/You talk funny
If I do, then so do you. The fact is that everyone has an accent. Quit making fun of people because of how they sound when they speak. So what if I say banana differently? Everything does not have to be a test of superiority. No accent is better or more superior than the other.
Recently, I was privileged to speak in a panel about how to ask international students questions without being offensive or sounding ignorant.
My advice is Google. Yes, the most famous internet search engine. Before you ask the question or make that statement, consult google first. It not only makes you less ignorant, but it saves us some time educating you on things that would appear to be common sense. Google will let you know that there are over a 200million people in Nigeria. This can allow you to refrain from asking me if I know the other Nigerian student, and talk less to the other African student.
Also, let go of that assumption you’ve held as a result of a myopic media representation. The poverty, fraudsters, and uneducated, rhetoric are outdated. Yes, we have huts, but we also have bungalows, mansions, flats, duplexes, etc. You get the gist.
I am simply a student trying to get an education. I am not a relative of the Nigerian prince you gave all your money to. Before you approach a single Nigerian with these stereotypes, remember that there are 200millions of us. And no, we are not a monolith.
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