Naija American Girl

My president sings!

2012-01-20T19:14:00.002-05:00

I went crazy when I saw this on the news today. I was so surprised.... Obama sings pretty well! At least that's what it sounds like after listening to those few lines. I wonder how long he practiced that. Cause when he came to Detroit in 2008 and sang a line from Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools," he didn't sound too hot. Hehehehe.......After he gets out of office, he could make a killing making music... LOL! Depending on how the election goes, that will either be next January, or January 2017. I'm rooting for his second term. Not because of his singing though, lol.....

Nigeria Not At Rest

2012-01-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

I remember last year when Egypt was in upheaval to get Mubarak to leave office. My mom was amazed at the way change was taking place, but was convinced that the same could never happen in Nigeria. "Nigerians love their lives too much," she said. They would never take to the streets and risk their lives in protest of the government. I mean, life is already unstable enough in the country, and its not uncommon for people to die at the drop of a hat, sometimes doing things as simple as going to the market.

But looking at what is happening now, I really question my mom's position. I'm not talking about the senseless killings of Boko Haram and the Muslim-Christian madness that's going on in the north. I'm talking about the protests against the sudden removal of the fuel subsidy. People are taking to the streets all across the country. Boys are not smiling, as they say. Could this really be the start of widespread change in Nigeria? Things are certainly coming to a climax, and something's gotta give. Vanguard Newspaper is a great resource to know whats happening. May I suggest a brilliant article that I just read titled UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF N141+ FUEL —1 by Dele Sobowale.
I encourage all my young Naija peeps to keep up and watch what's going on. This just might be history in the making. And don't forget to pray for Nigeria: for peace; for stability; for change.

Vote for Ebere Okezie

2012-01-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

Please take a second to vote for my bro, Ebere Okezie, who's applying for this scholarship essay competition. (Click below)

A year and a half ago, we met Ebere when he came to Detroit from Houston to participate in a youth talent competition sponsored by the Assemblies of God. He competed in the rap portion and did very well. In that short week, he stayed with my family because his parents are friends with my parents and my sisters and I took to him like a brother. They made so many inside jokes that they still laugh about today.

Ebere and my sisters (one of whom is also named Ebere - the one to his right, lol)

Now he's in his second year at Baylor University in Texas, he's applied to an essay scholarship and he needs your vote to win. Please click on his picture to the right to read the essay and vote for him. Thanks!

2012

2012-01-02T12:29:00.001-05:00

My sisters and I on New Years Eve at my church

My people, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I thank God for the blessing of seeing a new year. There are many people who didn't make it o! Yesterday I talked on the phone with my uncle and my grandma, calling us from Naija to wish us Happy New year, and also saying happy birthday to my sister, a new year's baby. She's the one in the purple dress in the pic above. She's 18! Oh my goodness, I still remember the day she was being born. My dad took us to one of our family friend's house and we watched Free Willy and slid down the carpet stairs on our bottoms for fun.... Man! Those were the days.... Anyways, the girl is a senior in high school and applying to colleges and what not. Wow! Time flies...

I love talking to my grandma though. She's my mom's mom and my only living grandparent. I always feel special when she calls me Ijeoma, the name she gave me. Ijeoma means "good journey" and she said they gave me that name because my mother's journey to marry my dad was a good one, me being the result; I was her first grandchild. :) Yesterday when I talked to her she told me that they're praying for us, like always and that for me in particular, she's praying for marriage, since that's the next thing a woman of my age would want... Lol... Got to love grandma. I just said amen. Hehehehe.... We'll see what God brings in 2012, and I'll leave that at that!

I think this is the year when we'll finally be going to Naija, mainly for my grandfather's burial, but it will be really good to see all my family. I'm expecting some great things this year, by God's grace. I hope you are too!

Hilarious!

2011-12-29T23:29:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I just stopped by to post this video by my friend Chinonso of Purely Lovin and her sister Chinyere. It is so funny.... You gotta watch it!

Two Years Bloggin'!

2011-12-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

Isn't Photoshop cool?

Today makes exactly two years since I started blogging.... Wow! When I started this thing two years ago, I really didn't know what to expect, but I'm glad for the warm reception I've gotten. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my readers , those who comment and those who don't ;), for stopping by from time to time. And just to let you know, I REALLY appreciate comments, so thank you to those who do drop a line or two on my posts.

Looking back, I've enjoyed talking about books I think are cool, events at my school, my trip to Haiti, a bold online suitor , Nigerian nurse syndrome , graduating, my deep desire to visit Nigeria, dollar choppers, heart-shaped potatoes, my mom's Facebook habits, and much more! Lol...

I've found it somewhat therapeutic to sit down and hit the keys to talk about a random subject or something that just pricked my heart. Sometimes it was out of sheer boredom. On the Facebook fan page for this blog I felt like the page was just sitting there collecting digital dust. I wanted to engage my page likers, so I put out this message:

I had a lot of fun making silly poems for my friends, so I kept it up for a few days:

Then my cousin decided to make one about me:

LOL! Yeah, there have been some fun times with this little blog here. Definitely won't be stopping anytime soon!

Tosin Oyelowo.... Suicide? UPDATED CONFIRMED*

2011-12-16T15:49:00.004-05:00

Right now, the case of Tosin Oyelowo doesn't look good. Police have found her car with her purse inside parked on a highway bridge, and people have reported seeing a woman jump from the bridge and into the river. The police have yet to find a body, or confirm if it was Tosin. Click here to read the rest of the story.

*UPDATE*

Charleston City Paper released an article last night saying that police have identified the woman who jumped the highway bridge on December 9 as Tosin Oyelowo, though they haven't recovered her body from the water below. Click here to read the rest of the story. Quite a sad end to the story, if it is indeed true.

**FINAL UPDATE**

Tosin's body was found Wednesday; today it was confirmed that it was her body. Click to read. A very sad end indeed.

Tosin Oyelowo, Missing from Charleston, South Carolina... Have you seen her?!

2011-12-15T07:56:00.004-05:00

This beautiful young lady, Tosin Oyelowo, is missing from the Charleston, South Carolina area. Please click here for more information.

Chinedu Ikedieze gets married

2011-12-10T09:22:00.001-05:00

If you know me, you know my favorite Naija actors are Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze, better known as Aki (Chinedu) and Paw Paw (Osita). The actors are grown men who have very small statures. Thy often play little children in Naija movies and they are HILARIOUS to me. Well, Aki just got married! Vanguard Newspaper posted pictures of the ceremony on Facebook, and they are quite beautiful. The event was held in Lagos and attended by many Naija stars, including P-Square.

Picture from Vanguard News - Click the picture to see the entire album

It's wonderful that Chinedu could see this happy day. I know many will be speculating that the woman is a gold-digger, but we can't assume that. Love is a pretty strong force, and it can cause people to do things that the rest of the world would see as foolish. So let's just assume that she really loves him and wish them long life and happiness together....

After all, one man's meat is another man's poison... One man's trash is another man's treasure. Osondi, owendi!

Weekend Wahala

2011-12-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

My people, what's going on? Your family, kwanu? Your children, nko? Lol.... Let me tell you what happened last weekend. No be small thing o....

Last Friday I attended my friend's induction into an academic honor society. It was quite a lovely event with a live saxophonist, a keynote address from one of Detroit's well-known pastors, and a candle-lighting ceremony. My friend even ordered meatpies and fishrolls from me, so I got me a little cash. She failed to plan the logistics of the night, so afterwards, the people who came to see her ended up eating the stuff in the parking lot. We won't talk about that. Lol....

Saturday is when the real wahala started. People had come from Abuja so that we could renew our Nigerian passports or apply for them for the first time. It's a shame because even though there's an embassy in Washington D.C., they basically ignore anyone who contacts them by mail or phone. So you have to travel there if you want to do anything with a passport. It's a hassle. So it was great that the necessary officials came from Nigeria for people in the Detroit area to do their passports.

The problem was that it wasn't well-organized. Many people didn't know that they were coming until the day before or even the same day. Some people didn't know all that was required and had to leave and caused confusion when they wanted to come back to the front of the line while others were shouting for them to go to the end. There were only two people processing applications and fingerprints. So it was a. . .l o n g . . . . s l o w . . . . p r o c e s s. . .

But on Saturday, we had other obligations. So after waiting for some hours, we had to leave. One of my sisters was competing in a scholarship pageant, Inkster Distinguished Young Woman, which she won!!! Next it's off to the state level :)

Sunday was the second day of passport processing, so we went back there to finish up (and missed church because of it). It was supposed to go faster for those who had come the day before. Not! We were there at 9 a.m. like they told us to, but they were late (of course) and it still took forever before we were called. One good thing that came out of it was that I got to see one of my childhood friends that I only see every once in a while now.

My dad, my mom, and I were able to complete the passport process, but my three sisters were not. We had to leave again because my sister who won the competition had to attend a meeting for all local winners, I had a meatpie order to make and deliver, and my other sister had to perform in a dance concert at her school. After we left, people that we knew were calling us and said that the passport people had called my sister's names to process their application. But it was too late.

Anyways, my sister's performance was fabulous! She even had a solo in the beginning.They do African dance from central Africa. Here's a little clip...

That's her you see when the video first comes on

It's funny because growing up, my sister was always to shy to dance in public, but look at her now! It was a great end to a hectic weekend. This weekend it's all about doing some hair and birthday parties/dinners, so not as hectic but still fun. Bye!

Heart-shaped potato

2011-12-03T00:37:00.001-05:00

Yesterday while cooking, I reached into the bag of potatoes in my kitchen and I pulled this out...

a heart-shaped potato! Such a unique thing. My sister was like, "That's a GMO." I was like, "A what?" "A GMO," she said, "a genetically-mutated organism." I told her I didn't think so. I really think it's one of those rare occurrences. But does it mean anything?

Who knows? I'm not superstitious or anything, so I don't think it necessarily means something. Still it would be nice if this was actually a symbol of things to come.

Seems this time of year always makes me want to find that special someone a little sooner. Maybe it's the cold weather, perfect for snuggling; maybe it's the Christmas movies and specials that they play on TV. Or maybe it's how the end of the year makes me reflective about every area of my life.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm dying to be with someone. I'm single by choice. I just can't bring myself to be with someone for the sake of it. My heart really has to be in it. I'm content with the wonderful people that are in my life. And It's great to be able to pursue my goals uninhibited.

It seems that lately though, I keep meeting guys who're like, "What's a lady like you doing single?" One of the oldest lines in the book (rolling my eyes). So it doesn't really move me much ;). Sometimes I lie and say I've got someone just so they'll leave me alone quicker. Lol. It'd just be nice not to have to lie anymore. So is 2012 going to be my year for love? I guess I'll see :) Who knows, I might be singing this...

Facebook....smh

2011-12-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

I had just gotten back from the gym and was eager to get in the bathroom and take a shower, but I found that it was currently occupied by my mom. Being the good and patient daughter that I am (lol) I decided to wait around for her to get done. What other choice did I really have? So I got some water, and turned on my laptop, expecting to spend just about 10 minutes waiting.

25 minutes later I look up, and she's still in there. So I go to the bathroom door. The shower's not running; there are no signs of activity on the other side of the door. Then I hear a "click" of the variety that only cell phone cameras make. "I'm waiting for you," I said through the door. She quickly opened the door, cell phone in hand, snapped another picture of herself before gathering her stuff and making her way out. "Ha! Faaaacebook!" I said, as she laughed. She knew she had been found out.

You see, since my mom joined Facebook about two months ago, she's been constantly trying to take "good" pictures of herself. I say "good" because it's not like any of her pics are really bad, she's just remarkably picky. Mainly because she's not the toothpick of a girl that she was when she left Naija. And she was apprehensive about reconnecting with old classmates. That was her excuse for the longest time and it kept her away from Facebook. Yet her first profile pic, the one on the left below, was one she had had in her phone for a long time. Quite lovely, isn't she?

When her father died in September in Nigeria, connecting with people in Naija became very important to her because she saw first-hand how time could rob you of the human connections you cherish the most, if you're not careful.

So I'm glad that she's joined Facebook. She's reconnected with many of her friends from Naija and people she went to school with, even some family members. But she ain't gotta be hogging the bathroom just to take pics. I mean, come on! That's the only place the rest of us can take a shower, but she can take a picture anywhere.... LOL!!!!

Most Unique Naija Videos

2011-11-28T20:40:00.001-05:00

In my browsing of Youtube over the past few years, I've come across some videos that stand out to me because of the creativity of the music, the video, or the overall concept. Here are a few of my favorites.

Plenty Nonsense by Trybesmen
The first time I saw this video, I couldn't stop laughing. I think it's so brilliant how they poked fun at situations that would make anyone upset.

Never Far Away by Lagbaja
This video combines excellent vocals, musical composition, and story. And of course, Lagbaja in his famous mask. Truly world-class.

Necessary by Zule Zoo
Everything Zule Zoo does is unique, but Necessary was the first video I saw from them, and I was truly intrigued. The language that they spoke was new to my ears. It wasn't Yoruba, I didn't think it was Hausa, and it definitely wasn't Igbo. After doing a little search, I found that they were from the Tiv tribe. I also found that one of their videos was banned in Nigeria because it talked about adultery. The video and song, I think. No such thing as freedom of speech in Naija. Lol.....

Lee Lee by Resonance
I definitely fell in love with this song and video the first time I saw it because I loved how it combined Igbo and English. And the white lady singing in Igbo was quite charming, I thought. :)

Naija Luv Thing
Though the video is only a stream of pictures, the song is quite funny and kinda cute. It describes the shakara and forming between a guy and girl who are really feeling each other. Makes me laugh, cause it's so real...

If There's Any Justice by Lemar
First name Lemar, last name Obika; that makes him Igbo baby! Though he's based in the U.K., he's got that Naija blood, so I'll include him here. The first time I heard his voice, I absolutely melted. And the song? I feel like I could have wrote it myself. Sigh...... It's all good though. :)

I think that's enough for now, right? What are some of your favorites?

Extremely good weekend

2011-11-28T00:04:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving weekend was extremely good this year. Certainly I thank God for all of his blessings in my life, in the form of people and things. Lol. Really though, family and true friends are really part of what makes life worthwhile. We ate and ate until we couldn't move, watched movies, talked. It was awesome!

The next day my three younger sisters woke up and went Black Friday shopping. I didn't join them because I just said, make I keep my small money! Lol.... I did give them a little money to buy me some new black shoes and they brought me back something nice.

See, I don't even try to fool myself; I know I have shop-a-holic tendencies, inherited from my mother, so I decided to not even go shopping. Don't get me wrong, I'm very practical when it comes to shopping. I like my stuff cute and cheap for the most part. Lol. Not really one for name brands. So joining a long line of eager deal-seekers at 4 a.m. is definitely not my style. It seems when I go shopping, it's either for a couple very specific things. Otherwise I'm on the other end of the spectrum, looking to revamp my entire wardrobe. I've actually done that a few times in my working life. My wallet and bank account cries, but my closet thanks me. LOL! Won't be doing that again though, for a long time. I've slowly learned how to manage my money better.

I've been contemplating my next steps as I'll be finishing with my video, graphics and web program in February. Juggling a few options, but I know things will work out in the end.

Does the end of the year make you as reflective as it does me? It seems like every year, from September to December, I reflect on the year, the past few years and the path I've taken to where I am. Also get clarity on my next steps during this time of year. And many personally significant things happen in this time of year for me. This year is no different. I'm kinda excited for what God is doing, but pensive at the same time.................... Oh well, bout to go take care of some business... Take care!

Milestones

2011-11-11T09:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday my mom directed me in cooking my first pot of okra soup, and to me, it was quite monumental. And it was very spur of the moment too. She had just came back from the African food store and was in a hurry to go out again so she was like, "Ok, since you already know how to cook everything else, it's time for you to learn how to prepare a simple soup." She didn't know it was already on my to-do list, so that was pretty amazing :)

The soup, complete with smoked turkey and fish turned out great. I was nervous because she had to leave before the soup was done, but everything went well. Guess the Naija side of me is coming up ehn! Hahahahah....

I can cook almost anything I put my mind to, when it comes to American-style cuisine, from different styles of chicken and fish to beef, potatoes, pasta, and stir-fry. Except don't ask me to make macaroni and cheese cause I've never gotten that down, and don't really try, probably cause I don't really care for the stuff. Lol

When it comes to Naija food, I've got jollof rice, fried rice, rice and stew, and meatpies, down. I'm alright on moin-moin, mainly need more practice. Throw in some meat, plantain and some vegetables (gotta add something healthy) and you've got a meal! But I couldn't be fully proud of my knowledge of Naija food until I learn how to make some soups. So I got okra down now. On to egusi! Lol.... The pounded yam or garri that goes with is is a no-brainer :)

I guess I'm just now learning to make these soups now because for years, I would not eat them. It was strange because when I was little, my mom said I ate them all the time. But for some reason, around age 5 I stopped, even though my parents always made it. It was like that with all of my sisters too. Maybe it was due to exposure of American foods at school and coming home with a different attitude to traditional Nigerian food. Or something like that. Only a few years ago did I start eating egusi and other soups every now and then. It's not that often though. Still, it's good to know how to make these traditional foods. Gotta keep the culture alive in me so I can pass down as much as possible!

Oh and, if you're looking for pictures of all the tasty food I just mentioned, you might as well stop your search. I don't take pictures when I cook because, well, I'm very practical when it comes to cooking. I'm usually in a hurry to fill empty stomachs when I cook, no time to be snapping away. Food is meant to be eaten, not photographed. Unless you're advertising it, like I did with The MeatPie Girl. Lol. But seriously; I roll my eyes whenever some chicks on Facebook make statuses about what they're cooking and/or post pictures of it. I'm thinking "Woo hoo! Good for you! You can cook huh? Clap for yourself!" Hahahaha.....!

FAZE!!!!!!

2011-11-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

Did he cut his hair??? He still fine anyways :)

I may be late, but I just saw this yesterday and I love my FAZE!!!! :)

Roads

2011-10-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

For some reason, I'm fascinated with roads. Roads that we travel everyday lead to different cities, towns - places where people live a parallel existence, as oblivious to you as you are to them. I'm often excited when I find myself on a familiar road far away from home. I'm intrigued as I follow the road, passing landmarks, homes and businesses that are different from the ones I know. Sometimes I even take the long way home from just to see different sights.

Now don't get me wrong; I don't just go crusin' carefree whenever I get the whim. Gas is already far too much of my budget. But skipping the high-speed freeways every so often can be quite satisfying. And I've really got no other choice. I live in the part of the country that put the car on the road en masse: the Motor City. If you wanna get around here, you've gotta have a car because public transportation is not reliable. So since I'm gonna be on the road anyways, I might as well enjoy the ride :)

Gadhafi Dead

2011-10-21T00:32:00.000-04:00

I know Gadhafi was a dictator, mercilessly killing his own people, but the videos of him with blood dripping from his body while people celebrate all around, are quite sickening. I mean, people were jostling his dead corpse as if it were a toy or something. I understand that Libyans feel vindicated for the many wrongs committed against them. And while I definitely don't support the man or what he stood for, but there should be some sanctity in death. That is all...

Naija people get mouth

2011-10-13T12:02:00.000-04:00

(Continued from the previous post, Nigerian Hospitality)

On the other hand, I can't pretend like Naija people can do no wrong. That would be, well..... dilusional. Hahahaha..... One thing I've noticed growing up: Naija people get mouth. In other words, they say what they have to say, whether you like it or not.

In America, where politicians and advocacy groups fall over themselves to be politically correct, Nigerians are one group of people who don't always play by these rules. They often say what they have to say bluntly. It's usually not to hurt anyone's feelings either. That's just the culture, I guess. However, those who have assimilated more into the way things are done in America have learned how to have a little more tact. Still, there are those who sabi open mouth. They haven't quite learned the skill of self-censorship.

I can't count how many times an uncle or auntie has said something that has made me want to bust out laughing because of its harshness. Most of the time I do my best to stifle the laugh by biting my tongue or cheek because I know they weren't trying to be funny. Here are a few choice lines I can remember...

Tha'ts me on the far right almost 11 years ago. It was at this church, around this time that I heard...

If you embarrass me, I will slap your head on the wall!

Said by one lady at our old church to a group of us who were preforming a dance that she taught us. As if the point ouf us dancing was to praise her. Mcheeewwww.....

In 2009 I cut my hair, and I loved it.

Ah ah, Chichi. We're trying to hear wedding bells, and you're cutting your hair?
Said by one aunty in 2009 when I cut my hair. Smh. Can you imagine? So because I cut my hair short, I become so unattractive that no one would want to marry me?! Who said I'm catering my hairstyle to get a mate? Who said I'm even ready to get married, all of 21 year old at that time. I of course didn't say these things, but I sure thought them. I've noticed a similar complex with older Naija people, particularly women. I think it stems from the fact that many of them, when they were in school in Nigeria, were forced to cut their hair so that they wouldn't be focused so much on trying to be cute. As with most things that any young person is forced to do, they hated it. And for girls, it's quite understandable that they would be unhappy with being forced to cut their hair. And they had to go way short. We're talking boy, close-shaven short. So now that long, glamorous hair is available to all, they can't understand why someone would choose to sport short hair. I used to feel similarly, but when I cut my hair in 2009, I saw the light. I was fly, and you couldn't tell me nothin'! Lol. As my hair grew, I found that it took more time to maintain it than I had. So for now, I've gone back to weaves and braids. But my natural hair is now an option, where I didn't think it was before. And I now know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hair long or short, weave or no weave, I can feel and look beautiful. Anyone who says otherwise is silly.

You people are wasting away in America eating hamburger!

Mr. Vincent C. Anigbogu, founder and director general of the Institute for National Transformation, spoke at the African Christian Fellowship National Conference back in July. He chastized both the youth and the adults for getting comfortable in America and forgetting about the state of their home countries. Really had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing on this one. He made some good points though. He had actually lived and worked in the United States for 30 years before he went back to Nigeria and has since been making great impact through his organization.

No wonder you are this big.

My dear uncle actually left this comment on a Facebook picture I had posted. It was a picture of a guy holding a bowl of chips at a surprise party for one of our friends. The guys is, well, quite big, as my uncle so "tactfully" observed.

No wonder it was somehow unrounded
Ummm... no pic for this one. Even if I had one, I wouldn't post it. Lol. My friend told me that her mom was looking at her backside and wondering why it didn't look as round as she remembered. It was due to her change of underwear (a thong) ;) Hehehehee....

And these are only the ones I remember right now. My mom told me that before she came to the U.S., she was walking down the street in Lagos. She had tied her headscarf in a particular way. One man along the road called to her, "My sista, you think you look good. You don't look good o!" Hahaha... Then another time, when she went back to Naija to visit, she was walking with my dad's older brother, her brother-in-law. Their car had broken down and they were forced to walk. Some "keen" observer called out to her "What are you doing with that man? He's too old for you o!" Hehehee... see our people o. Chei!

Nigerian Hospitality

2011-10-11T16:41:00.000-04:00

Man, I swear, I love my Naija people. We have our negatives and we have our positives, but in the end, there's nothing but love for them in my heart.

One contrast between Americans and Nigerians was made so clear to me a few years ago. A few of my friends and I were spending the night at one of our other friend's house. We stayed the night, woke up the next morning and were with her throughout the day. Do you know that she didn't offer us anything to eat the whole time we were there? I know we were there to hang out and help her with the event she had the next day, but I was like, come on. The night we got there we went and bought ourselves some food and the next day, we just went hungry until we ate at the event.

My friend obviously wasn't Naija! I mean, how can people come to your house, spend the night, and you won't offer them anything? Tufiakwa! It could never happen. If you enter a Naija person's house, you won't be there more than 10 minutes before they start bringing out little snacks and drinks.And don't be surprised if they start bringing out a full meal for you. Forget offering - they set it out before you and you're expected to take a little, at least, to show your appreciation (and that you trust them enough to eat their food).

My dad scolded us when we were young when we didn't bring out something for our guests, so now it's like second nature to me. I have to remember though, when I'm at the home of one of my American friends, that this is not always the custom.

Americans can even be eating right there in your face and won't even offer you anything. I'm thinking, "No, I didn't come to your house to eat, but are you really gonna sit here eating chicken in my face and not offer me some?" Lol. Not all Americans are like this though. Some will conscientiously offer you something, but they certainly won't insist if you're hesitant. Hahahaha......

Grandpa's Gone

2011-09-29T22:28:00.000-04:00

Left to right: unknown aunty, Uncle, Aunty and cousin, Grandma, Grandpa

When my mom got the news last week that her father had died, she was devastated. She didn't know that he was sick and was still expecting to see him when she finally traveled home. It had been 19 years since she saw him last.

I was very sad too. Though I don't really remember that much about my grandfather from when I visited Naija years and years ago, I remember talking to him on the phone over the years. He was always expressed his eagerness to see us... Now that will have to wait until we all meet in heaven. Chei....

You see, it's very easy for people to forget the original intent of coming to this country, America. No one plans to lose loved ones in their quest for a better life. But the reality of the situation is that it happens. People in Nigeria and other parts of the world dream of coming to America so they can just drink from the sweet waters that they believe are flowing here; but when they come, they are met with a bittersweet taste.

True, life in America affords us many things considered luxuries around the world: general security and safety; a somewhat reasonable justice system; the ability to go to school and get an education without the fear of strikes interrupting courses; constant light and internet. But life here can be difficult. Debt seems to be the way of life and as bills stack up, it seems many live to work instead of work to live.

The constant fight to keep from complete financial ruin can make it hard to live up to the expectations of those back home. They expect their lives to be transformed from grass to grace because they have a relative in America. But it's not always that easy. And as time goes on, people forget what's important. They don't want to go home because they are ashamed that they haven't achieved what they had hoped. They don't want to be ridiculed. And even if they wanted to, they couldn't afford the trip. Heck, it's hard enough scraping together funds to send home every pay period. So time passes and whole generations grow up hardly knowing their family overseas. What a painful existence. And when it comes down to it, it's all because of money.

I have decided, so help me God, that I will not perpetuate this cycle. As soon as I'm able, when I finish my program, I'm going to Naija to see my family. At the end of the day, the love for family surpasses anything that could deter harm.

This situation also spurs me on to excel in my field so that I can make a difference in my family's life. I refuse to accept life like this.

An excerpt from my poem, Ada: Statement of Responsibility

Before I was born the prayers of my grandmothers
were going forth on my behalf,
beseeching God to do something new:
Now, here I am.

I am Ada:
First daughter of my family’s
Nigerian dream
to cross the ocean and fulfill the
American dream
and carry it back home.

I’m not here to live for myself
or just to have fun;
I’m on mission to improve the lives of my family,
both here and there.

Too many sacrifices have been made
Too many prayers have been prayed
Too many tears have been cried
Too many have longed to see, but died
waiting for the dream to be fulfilled;
And too many yearn for it still for me to forget them.

Excerpt, Ada: Statement of Responsibility by Chidinma Ogbuaku

What a way to get a job!

2011-09-22T17:19:00.000-04:00

I saw this story on TV today and it just blew my mind. This 24-year old guy, Matthew Epstein wanted to work for Google as his dream job. So he made this video:

And guess what? Gooogle called him! So did Microsoft, Amazon, and a few other companies. In the end, he landed his dream job with a company called SigFig.

So creative, isn't it? Talk about creating opportunities for yourself, huh?

High-quality Nigerian Movies

2011-09-16T15:55:00.000-04:00

Usually when I watch Naija movies, I gravitate toward ones that have Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Nkem Owoh, and/or John Okafor in them because I like funny Naija movies the best. Those ones wey sombody dey do juju and all that kind of stuff.... I no like am. But I've just been awakened to some really high-quality Nigerian movies, in terms of video picture, acting and plot. My only problem is that they're not yet available to me to watch or buy.

While browsing Nollywood Forever I came across a movie called Anchor baby that really caught my interest. I guess it's showing in the UK.

Then I stumbled across Black Gold, which is showing in Nigeria and at a few film festivals in the US, according to the IMBD website
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Now that's what I call a movie! Does anyone know how I can get a hold of any of these?

Boaz

2011-09-13T21:26:00.000-04:00

A friend on Facebook posted this... Thought it was so funny, but true :)

To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married, a piece of Biblical advice: Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz." While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for any of his relatives; Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, , Goodfornothing-az, Lazy-az, and especially his third cousin Beatinyou-az. Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz.... Repost if this made you smile

ACFYA Detroit

2011-09-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

This weekend was madly busy, full of multiple trips to the grocery store, cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring my sisters around, trying to do some homework, doing my hair, church, guests at the house, and such. Yesterday though, my friend Emily and I did a video announcing the start of African Christian Fellowship Young Adult Chapter, Detroit. To find out more about ACF, here's the national website.

And here's the video:

Hahaha... We had fun making it. We played the music out of Emily's car and turned it up, dancing on the sidewalk. Some of the neighbors must have thought we were crazy..... Shout out to my awesome friend Shavar who shot and directed the video for us. I'm looking forward to what God is doing. :)

Doing business with fellow Nigerians

2011-08-31T19:36:00.000-04:00

So yesterday I was talking to one of my lifelong buddies about business and such and we got on the topic of doing business with Nigerians. She's an Igbo girl like me, but she does hair and sells Avon (her blog is here, )while I've been selling jewelry my mom makes, along with trying to sell meatpies. Eventually, I plan to have my own web and graphic design business. And before any of you start talking about Igbo people and business, just chill out. That is just a stereotype, though we seem to be fulfilling it. Lol...

Anyways, we were talking about how our people always insist on ridiculously low prices or discounts when buying something from each other. Lines like,"Come on, I'm your brother now?" or "I will give you $25" for a service that's actually worth $50 can be a real pain. And if you're dealing with your elders- forget about it. They want to treat like a child and you're supposed to 'respect' them by allowing them to run you over. In my teen years, another of my friends (also an Igbo girl) swore off of doing Nigerian ladies hair because they never wanted to pay a fair price.

One thing I know though, is that if an American was to charge the same price for a good or service, Nigerian people will pay, though with a little haggling. But when it comes to their own people, they want an unreasonably low, unfair price. They want to talk about, oh I'm your brother, I'm your sister; but why won't that brother or sister do right and support their brother or sister's business?

My friend did mention one thing that's true, though:

Africans won't sue you; they'll just cuss you out.

Homegirl had me straight rollin' when she said this. It's true though. And that might be the one advantage of doing business with our people. Hahahahaha........

Healing Music

2011-08-30T13:32:00.000-04:00

On Friday morning when I woke up confused from a dream that I had interviewed Gadhafi, I knew I'd been watching too much CNN. Lol. Seriously; I literally dreamed that I was in my office at work interviewing Gadhafi and he was wearing some jean shorts and a T-shirt, complaining that Libyans were just copying what they saw in Egypt.... Yeah, definitely to much CNN.

To keep up with going-ons in Naija, I read Vanguard newspaper online. But watching and reading news can often be draining. I like knowing what's going on, but its often depressing. Bombings in Abuja, floods along the U.S. east coast, shootings in Detroit... Add all of that on top of my personal problems and it can really bring a girl down! Thankfully, the Lord is always there to pick me up again and help me face the world.

Music always helps too. It has unexplainable power when it comes to healing souls and touching hearts. Here are a few artists who have music that is really great at lifting spirits.

From You Hold My World, to Friend, and I Am Not Forgotten, If Not For Your Grace Israel Houghton is skilled at making music that praised God and uplifts people. The dude is really talented. I don't think there's a song of his that I don't like. If you're not familiar with him, do yourself a favor and Youtube him.

Then we have Mr. Sonnie Badu. Hailing from Ghana, my brother is now based in the UK an makes amazing African praise and worship music. When I first came across him on Youtube, I was floored by his talent and anointing. Baba is one song that I love to play when I need to cry out to God. In fact, let put that on right now.... :) All of Sonnie Badu's songs are awesome, and he does a really great job at bringing Africans together in worship by singing songs from several African countries. His Africa Worships series is an example of this. Also, there's his song African Medley, a beautiful upbeat worship song that mixes together songs in different African languages.

Though I don't understand Yoruba, when Lara George sings, my heart listens. The first song I heard by her was Ijoba Orun, and it brought tears to my eyes. My mom, who understands Yoruba, was able to translate for me, so I now know that the song is about how a car, money, and so many other things can't take her to her home, heaven. Another song I really love by Lara George is Ko Ma Si and of course, I can't do without her song Hallelujah, a very danceable praise song that I truly love.

I first found out about Coffey Anderson when he came to my church last year. He opened up with his fun remix to Umbrella. Love that song. From seeing him in person, I saw his energy and charisma firsthand. Truly a great artist. I bought the two CD's he was selling on the spot after hearing him. The acoustic one, Worship Unplugged is awesome. His song You Are My Strength is another one of my favorite.

Needless to say, there are countless musicians who make music that I love, but if I sit here and keep listing them, I probably wouldn't be able to finish and you'd probably get bored, so, I'm done (for now) :)

Rain + Wind + Lightning = Rainbow

2011-08-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

Pic courtesy of Google

I saw the most amazing thing on Saturday. I was driving with my sister and some of her friends, taking them to dance at a wedding reception.

Heavy thunderstorms clouded the evening sky and pounded the roadways with sheets of water. Lightning flashed frequently. After the rain died down, the clouds moved back and we caught a glimpse of the sunset.

In one part of the sky, the clouds were orange and purplish. Lightning lit them up periodically and in the midst of all that, part of a rainbow was visible. It was the most amazing thing. I really wish I could have taken a picture of it. My passengers scrambled for their cameras, but they missed it too because we were driving on a freeway ramp and I had no opportunity to stop.

I'm always amazed at wonders of nature like these. Even the routine sunrise or sunset still strikes me as breathtaking. But a combination of so many beautiful elements - clouds lit by sunset, flashing with lightning with a side of rainbow - that's downright spectacular!

I don't see how anyone can really believe that this world and all its beauty just came together just by coincidence. The earth is too majestic to have been created on its own. Things like this are proof that there is a God and He's much too awesome for any of us to understand.

God spoke to me through what I saw though what I saw: after the heaviest storm comes the most beautiful scene; the heavier the storm, the more beautiful the outcome. I took that to heart because I'm facing some tough storms in my life right now. I know for sure that God will bring me though and on the other side, I'll be much better than I ever was. Faith is a fight, but I keep coming back round after round. Can't keep this girl down!

Work Week

2011-08-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

I work at a very small newspaper where I did an internship during my undergrad. Working there has it's pros and cons. The biggest con is the pay. It's, ummmm...... Well, let's just say that it's less than desirable. Lol. Someone with a bachelor's degree should definitely be making more, but I know it's just a stepping stone to greater things :)

On the other hand, the pros are that I don't have to work nights or weekends (love that!); I'm getting a thorough understanding of how city governments work (useful stuff); I get to meet all kinds people; I write things that make a difference in the community; the work staff here is like family, so my boss is very flexible and I have no problem getting days off if I need them.

This week I decided to have a little fun and take a picture each day of the week at my desk...

Monday I was feeling refreshed from church. I even wore (almost) the same outfit as I did to church the day before (sshhhhh, don't tel anyone. Lol). I go to Detroit World Outreach. My Bishop, Ben Gibert, preached an awesome word called "Have Faith in Your Faith." It was truly awesome, as is every message he gives. Here's a link to all the videos of services ahttp://www.dwo.org/VideoOnDemandArchives.php

On Tuesday I got fancy with my eye makeup and used two tones (green and a purplish-brown) to match my outfit. Of course you can't see it that well. It was a pretty good day from what I can remember. Oh yeah, that's right. I got to talk to one of my good friends who moved out of the state. He always makes me laugh... :)

On Wednesday I was ridiculously exhausted because I stayed up all night making jewelry. On top of that I had to go to school in the evening. Ugh. But that leads me to another pro of working at the paper. It's really encouraged the entrepreneur in me. Since I make so little; it's forcing me to get my hustle on! Lol. I'm finally having a jewelry party to sell stuff my mom, my sisters and I have made over the years. On another note, I can't even explain to you how glad I was to see my bed when I finally got home from class.

On Thursday I threw on some pearls and black slacks for my meeting with the mayor of River Rouge, Michael Bowdler. Can you see the difference between Wednesday and Thursday? Chei, sleep is important o! Lol. I also got to interview Kiante the Sneaker Man over the phone on Thursday. Before his publicist called our office, I had no idea who he was. After finding more out out him from his website and interviewing him, I can see the guy is young and doin' it! Happens to be the name of a show he hosted in New York and a magazine he runs. To find out more about him check out his website. Click on his bio to read his amazing story.

Today is Friday and I'm soooo glad about it! It's pay day (yay!) and I can take care of some things. Not the least of which is my hair. Ugh. I just did it last week but I didn't take as good care of it as I should have. And you can't mess around with long curls. They'll tangle up on you in a second. So I'm going back to straight hair for now.

No chop my dollar o!

2011-08-04T14:57:00.000-04:00

Nkem Owoh is famous for his song, "I go Chop your Dollar"

The other night while doing my hair, I decided to watch some Naija movies to get me through the long process. Lol. I went on Youtube and searched for Nkem Owoh and found a host of films. I started watching FIFA Agent 1, then 2; Osuofia in World Cup 1. When I got to Osuofia in World Cup 2 (it was a long night, lol. I paid for it dearly the next day) I was surprised by the intro to the movie, an anti-piracy public service announcement.

Nollywood stars Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Osita Iheme (Paw Paw), Nkem Owoh (Osuofia), and John Okafor (Mr. Ibu) had a short message for viewers. The stars thanked their fans and supporters the world over for their patronage. Then they got down to what they had to say: people selling counterfeit copies of their movies was causing them to lose money. I found their ad quite humorous.

Click here to go to the video on Youtube if it doesn't work here.

Na wa o. See as they just dey beg people to stop buying pirated movies. Dem say, no chop my dollar o! "We no dey eat again, all because of piracy!" Chei. I think that's a huge overstatement. Sure, they're losing money. But to say that they are starving is not believable. I'm sure most Nigerians would not take these guys seriously. The average Nigerian who is suffering probably won't have much sympathy for these rich actors claiming that they are going broke.

The irony is that these very same actors are always making movies about some scheme to cheat people out of their money some way or another. Nkem Owoh is famous for his song, "I go Chop your Dollar." I can't count the number of movies where Osita and Chinedu have played little thieves, pocketing money that doesn't belong to them. In fact, the very film series where the ad was placed featured Nkem Owoh running a huge scam, claiming to be a FIFA world cup official.

I understand that these are movies and the roles the actors portray may not match their true character. But the abundance of these types of dealings in movies shows that it has become so much a part of Nigerian mentality: "Take what you can from who you can, right or wrong, to sustain yourself and even get rich, because after all, I'm suffering."

Government officials, 419ers, and yes, those selling pirated DVDs are all thinking like this. It's wrong, but it's accepted as a way of life. Making an ad against piracy is not enough to change a deep set mentality. I think these actor's efforts would be better used to create some kind of initiative to give people jobs. At the end of the day, that's the reason why most people turn to crooked ways: poverty and lack of income or greed for more.

Summer Happenings

2011-07-28T19:08:00.000-04:00

So dudes, yeah I'm back! What have I been up to? Ooooh, just weddings, and baby showers, and beaches, and picnics, and barbecues, and swimming, and chilling, and graduation parties, and working out, and dancing to loud music and all the fun that is summer :)

A couple weeks ago I went to Los Angeles for the African Christian Fellowship and it was awesome. ACF is a national organization where Africans grow in Christ and fellowship together in small groups all across the country.

My sisters, our childhood friends/cousins, and I

When I was a kid the Detroit area had a pretty good sized chapter. The people I grew up with there are like family to me. But as families moved away for jobs and such, the chapter kind of died. When I was in Cali though, I went to the young adult sessions, sang on the praise team, and connected with so many outstanding African young people. I felt led to bring ACF back to Detroit, the young adults section anyway. There's so many African groups in the Detroit area, and all over Michigan really. But so few of them are Christ-centered. Teaming up with my friend Emily and our sisters, we've begun the planning phase of ACF YA Detroit. Our Facebook group is here. I'm excited to see what God will do.

My trip to Cali was also interesting because it was the first time that me, my mom, my dad, and my three sisters have flown together. For two of my sisters, it was their first time on a plane. Traveling with all of them was a little hectic. It was kinda funny too, especially with my dad always worried that we would miss our flight and us getting to our gate at the last minute and then finding somewhere to stuff all of our carry-on luggage when we finally got on the mostly-full plane, people giving us dirty looks and all. Heheheee....

It's really been a time of new things for me... going places I've never been, doing things I've never done, meeting people I never knew before. I've discovered one thing for sure...... I LOVE TO TRAVEL. In state, out of state, out of the country, it doesn't even matter... as long as it's somewhere new, I'm down. I got a chance to go to Ft. Meyers, Florida earlier this year and that was quite lovely. I may have the chance to go to Washington D.C, in a few weeks to cover the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr., memorial for the newspaper where I work. Exciting! And when I'm finally financially stable, I'll be in a different city every weekend!

Meah Tweh

2011-06-09T02:02:00.000-04:00

I love when I come across people doing things in creative new ways, so I was enchanted to find out Meah Tweh.

Meah's a Detroit girl publishing her own book of poetry Color Me Beautiful and Other Poems about Life, Love and Dreams and is doing via her own publishing company, Zealot Press.

The book is a collection of Meah's recent poetry. It aims to uplift women of all races, especially black women, to stand up and be who you are. It's a message that black women in any part of the world can appreciate. Ms. Tweh happens to be born of a black American mother and a Liberian father, making her a Liberian American girl :).

Another unique aspect of this project is that Meah is using Kickstarter.com to raise a portion of the funds. Kickstarter allows people with an idea to put it in front of the world and receive pledges from backers. The person sets a goal and if met, Kickstarter collects the pledges and gives the money for their project. However, if the goal is not met, Kickstarter cancels all pledges. It's all or nothing! Either way though, Meah's book release party is set for July 22.

So far Meah's got $370 of her $500 goal and Tuesday June 14 is the last day. I know she can do it! If you're interested in supporting Meah you can do so on her Kickstarter page by clicking here or going to Kickstarter.com and searching Meah Tweh. To find out more about Meah you can go to her website www.meahtweh.com.

It's funny because I only found out about Meah because of a Facebook suggestion to like her fan page. It turns out that we both graduated from Wayne State and have quite a few friends in common. It's a small world indeed :)

Today was a good day... (Icecube) Lol

2011-05-19T22:32:00.000-04:00

Today was a pretty great day for me, I must admit. Early in the day I went to meeting for this business meeting and it was pretty inspiring. I came away with these words of wisdom:

The way you do anything is the way you do everything
Character isn't compartmentalized. The kind of person you are in one area of your life is the kind of person you are in all areas of your life.

Successful people are never busy people
Because they plan, and plan, and plan so when the time comes to do things, they've got it all figured out and it goes smoothly. No rush, no fuss, no bother.

It's not who you know; it's what you know
Definitely heard this one and it's true.

Later in the day, I went to a Zumba class for the first time and it way HYPE! I had so much fun, sweated like a Christmas goat (lol), and hope it's the beginning of a new workout habit. I've been doing workouts using videos on Youtube and stuff on my own, but being in a class full of people gives more motivation to keep going.

I went with my sister and my best friend. They played some really good Latino music, including a Latino version of Waving Flag. You may be familiar with the Naija remix with K'Naan, Banky W, and M.I. Love that song. They also played Jessy Matador's Décalé Gwada which made my sister and I smile. That song's a bit of a legend around here cause two years ago the guys in our African student group did a routine to that song that really put them on the map.

Anyways, like I constantly remind myself, it's really the little things that make me smile....... :)

3 Months Plus

2011-05-18T02:36:00.000-04:00

Yep, that's how long it's been since my last post. Terrible, I know. One of my friends called me Sunday and lamented my lack of updates. So I just thought I'd let anyone interested know that I'm still alive and kickin'. Hehehee....

So what's been up? I've really been focusing on some personal goals and learning a lot in my new school. The world's really a changed place since I last wrote. So many things have happened, no need to repeat the news broadcasts here... Just makes me grateful for the life I have. Though imperfect, it's not hard to see that many are in far worse positions than I. Baba God, I thank You.

On another note, I'd like to share a few Naija artists that I discovered on my hiatus and have been jammin' to ever since. Tim Godfrey & Xtreme Crew. A highly skilled gospel musician, Tim Godfrey and his crew mix Igbo and Naija praise with modern instrumentals for a very impressive effect. "Igbo Melody", a medley of several Igbo praise songs, was the first one I heard by the group and it's awesome (as are the group's other tracks) Click the picture to take a listen!


Tim Godfrey & Xtreme Crew

Then there's Axios Choir, whose main instruments are their own voices. Their song "Ibu Ngalaba" is the only one I came across on Youtube, and it's desperately beautiful. The words of the chorus, "Ibu ngalaba jisi ndu mu eeeh" mean "You are the pillar that holds my life," referring to God. The song has been a real encouragement to me. I also found the disclaimer they put at the beginning of their video quite charming,"Axios Choir will set you free from the habit of bad vocal chords." Hehehehe....

Those of us familiar with the Nigerian church scene know that whenever it's time to sing, our people like to sing loud, no matter the quality of the voice: from average to cracked. And often times those singing the loudest are those with the worst voices (aka those aunties with the high, shrilly, screeching voices LOL!). You can even find some of these individuals in various praise teams and choirs, oddly enough. It's good that our God is a loving God who doesn't put any stipulations on the praise that we give Him other than that it comes from the heart. :) Anyways... Click here to listen to Ibu Ngalaba. Bye for now!

Amazed at Egypt

2011-02-11T16:27:00.000-05:00

Watching the turn of events in Egypt, I can only be amazed. It seems a new way to overthrow leaders who have held their grip on power for so long has been discovered. Everyday as I watched the news, I held my breath and prayed that the protest would not slide into uncontrolled violence among the protesters or just as bad- that the government would retaliate mercilessly, tired of having its power challenged.

But even after small battles between pro and anti Mubarak protesters, the overwhelming tide of the desire for change swept through Egypt and won. It's truly amazing to me. Now that Mubarak has stepped down, my prayer is that as people are rejoicing, their joy is not turned to sadness. Peace is what is needed, no matter what. I pray that Egypt stabilizes and the next rulers of Egypt rule the country with justice and respect for the desires of the Egyptian people.

One of my friends posted a status on Facebook saying that if Nigerians knew that they could oust a president through protesting, they would have brought an end to Ibrahim Babangida's regime. It's an interesting thought. But the victory for Egyptians came because of a combination of things, including the president's unwillingness to unleash violence on his citizens and a multitude of international media attention and pressure on Mubarak. Would the rest of the world care as much if it was a country like Nigeria? There are crises all over Africa, but look at how little coverage they get in western media. Also, so many governments are willing to use harsh violence against their citizens, which is a quick way to put down a revolution of people who are poor and have little to fight with.

Still, it leaves me wondering if this is a new pattern that will be continued across the world in places where people are unsatisfied with their government. We shall see...

Lessons in integrity

2011-02-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went online to check my bank account for my paycheck, which was due to be deposited. I logged onto my account and to my surprise, more than twice the amount I was expecting had been deposited. Chineke me! Instead of to ask for money, dem go even add extra to my account? This na reverse 419!

At first I was like "Oh my goodness! My pastor was prophesying double portion over us on Sunday...Maybe this is it!" Hahaha... That only lasted for a second, though. Though I definitely believe the man of God, I definitely know that anything God gives to me will be done decently and in order with honesty and integrity, not by trickery or mistake. So I decided to just make sure with the payroll office today.

It turns out that somebody's entire check (one Igbo guy named Chi-something) was deposited into my account in addition to my own. Ehhhh wooo. See me see trouble o. The lady that does payroll mixed our names up and put his hours in my name.

You see, I worked at two university departments last semester. One of the jobs ended when I graduated in December, but the other will last until June. I got paid as usual by the department where I still work now, but my old department accidentally put that Chi-something guy's hours under my name, resulting in overpayment. Now I have to make a check out to the department's account.

I knew I had to do the right thing, but chei! That money was looking good in my account oh!. I had some things I could have really taken care of with it. God I know you've seen me oh! Please bless me for this act of integrity. I know He will though. And my double portion will come another way. The right way. :)

Back to Bookish

2011-01-29T00:50:00.000-05:00

Before I was ever a writer, I was a reader. As a child, I devoured book after book as a favorite pastime. One auntie even seemed worry about me. "Chichi, go play with the other kids," she would say when she came to visit us. Her kids and my siblings would be tearing up the house (inside and out) in a crazy frenzy of raucous noise, but I could still keep my focus on the latest paper treasure that I had found.

As I grew older I got more social, but I still loved to read all the way though high school. Then came college.

No longer was I able to spend vast amounts of time reading books of my own choosing for pleasure, for I had huge reading assignments from textbooks that could put even the most avid reader to sleep. No more free reading for me! At least, not much of it.

Now that I'm done with undergrad, I can read again! I'm excited for that. Reading is a true love of mine. My favorite books are autobiographies. To me, it's just so amazing to hear a person's life story, with all it's twists and turns, and see the person they've become.

Right now I'm reading Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, his autobiography.

Please excuse the silliness. Lol.

I can remember about four years ago my friend Louise was braiding my hair. She had won the book in a drawing, but she wasn't particularly into it. It was sitting on the floor of her room and I picked it up. I started reading it, but didn't get far. We had no idea who the man would become. Now that we all know who Obama is, his story is even more fascinating to me. How did he become who he is? So far, the book hasn't disappointed. Obama is eloquent and his written voice tells a story that makes you want to keep reading.

I'm a big fan of the library, so that's where I got the book. I also checked out this book:

Investing Online for Dummies. So far I've learned that I have no business investing money in the stock market until I build up a solid savings. I'm working on that right now. Bringing my lunch everyday instead of buying, buying gas from Kroger because they give great discounts to their customers, not going shopping for those new pairs of jeans, and getting books from the library instead of buying them. Ahhhh frugality.

But anyways, Yaaaaaaay reading! Lol. I sound like a supernerd. But that's ok. :)

Visiting Nigeria: My Rationale

2011-01-16T18:49:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!!! Yeah, I know I'm extra late. No, I haven't been in a coma or under a rock. Lol. But this does happen to be my first post in 2011 so I just thought I'd start it off right.

The year's gotten off to a good start for me. This is the time I was contemplating visiting in Nigeria, but I'm still here in the States. Things didn't work out, so I'll go when the time is right. Everything happens for a reason...Hopefully though my grandparents could come and visit before then; that would be awesome.

When I was little my grandmother (dad's mom) visited us from Nigeria. She stayed for maybe two years. She only spoke Igbo so it was hard to communicate with her and I was too young to realize the importance of trying to. She was over 90 years old and had lived through Nigeria gaining independence from the British, the Biafran War, and so many milestones in the country's history. But to a kid of 10 and 11 it didn't mean much.

My grandma with me and my two younger sisters at the hospital after my youngest sister was born.

I remember being annoyed when I had to walk slow with her holding my arm because she was a little frail. How silly and impatient, but that's the mind of a child. Now I realize what a living treasure people like that are. And that's the main reason I wanted to go to Nigeria so bad. My dad's mother has been dead for over 10 years, but my mom's parents are still alive and well, though they are of course getting up there in age. I really want to see them both while that is still the case.

Almost three years ago one of my mother's youngest brothers died from malaria (or so the doctors said) in Nigeria. She was so surprised, so sad when it happened. I remember her first telling me when she found out. She started crying, which made me cry too. It was sad to see my mom like that. I imagined what it would be like to lose one of my siblings. The worst part was that she hadn't seen any of her family in over 15 years. I started to really realize the importance of prioritizing what's important. Family is important, and even though when they are overseas it takes extra effort, it's worth it for children to have interaction with their grandparents and of course their uncles, aunties and cousins.

I now understand that people don't want to go back empty-handed; they don't want to go back unless they can do so in style like a big madam or a big oga with lots of money and goods to hand around. They want to be able to build a house for the family. They don't want to be looked at like a failure. While I understand all of this, not seeing one's family for such a long time is not acceptable. In my mom's case, and so many others, it's the expensiveness of the plane ticket that has kept her away for so long, but even that can be overcome with careful budgeting and saving.

Either way, I have made it my personal mission to visit Nigeria as soon as I'm able. For now I will help out from here in the little ways that I can and continue to educate myself so that I can do some big things for them one day. God knows best. In His timing, it will all happen.

This time of year...

2010-12-25T00:05:00.000-05:00

Whew! Finally have a chance to get my fingers to a keyboard..... Happy Christmas Eve everyone, and Merry Christmas in advance. It's been a busy few days, but some happy ones.

On Monday I took my last test EVER as an undergraduate student..... WOOO HOO!!!!

Tuesday, December 21st marked my one year bloggiversary.... One year bloggin', oh yeah! I remember how my journey to becoming a blogger all started....

It was 2008 and I was in the beginning stages of my self-imposed Naija discovery. Mostly I was Youtubin' it up on all the latest and greatest Naija tunes. I took a particular liking to Faze. The first song I heard by him was 'Need Somebody' and I was from then on hooked on the dude. Lol. I loved the reggae beat, the the storyline of the video, and Faze isn't hard to look at either, quite a handsome fellow. Hahahaha....

So I began listening to all-things-Faze and I eventually cam upon 'Letter to my Brother.' In the beginning he uses the phrase "Khaki no be leather." Though I know now that it means that something fake can't be compared to the real thing, I was puzzled at the time. After spending some time trying to figure it out (months, I think), I typed the phrase into Google and found exactly what I was looking for.

A blog post titled "Khaki no be leather" was one of the Google results. I clicked on it and found what has now become my favorite blog: Good Nigerian Girl , or Good Naija Girl as she's now called. The blog post explained exactly what I wanted to know, but after that stayed around to read her other posts and I found myself tickled, smiling and literally laughing out loud. Good Naija Girl so eloquently writes about experiences that many Naija girls raised outside Nigeria share. I could relate to many of the things she wrote and I kept coming back to read about what she was saying.

When I was getting ready to start my blog, I emailed her to let her know I had been stalking her for over a year ( Lol) and that she was my inspiration to start blogging. She responded to my email and was so friendly. Now I consider her my big sister in blogging. :)

A couple weeks ago Good Naija Girl held a contest on her blog: the first 15 people to request would get a specially-made Christmas card from her in the mail. I got mine two days ago. Thanks GNG!

Lovely, isn't it? The message inside is just as nice. :)

Well, I've done all my shopping and wrapped all the gifts I bought (unlike last year when I was up 'till 4am wrapping). I've written the blog I've been itching to write for the last few days and my sisters are over here joking that Santa Clause is coming.... Lol. It seems to be Christmas. Which means there's nothing left to do but to wish you all a Merry Christmas. God bless you and your families. :)

9 Things I learned outside the classroom

2010-12-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

We've all heard that you can't learn everything in a classroom. Things you learn outside of the classroom can be just as important, sometimes even more so. Now that I'm done with undergrad (almost, still got two tests; go figure! o_O) I realize that there were plenty of things I learned outside of class that I consider valuable:

How to parallel park
It's funny, because I almost failed my road test because of parallel parking. But during freshman year of college, I learned how to parallel park BY FORCE! Hahaha....At my school parking is crazy expensive. I'm talking $3 a day or $200 a semester for a parking pass. Highway robbery! Lol. After my first few months of paying for parking daily (it was $2.25 then) I saw cars parking for free on some side streets and I joined them. I remember the first day I parallel parked. I texted my best friend, I was so excited. Lol. You have to walk farther to the main buildings on campus, but it saved me a lot of money. And built some necessary exercise into my routine. Lol.

How to speak pidgin English
I just dey listen to my friends wey dey for this place. And e get many videos for Youtube wey I just watch and pick am small small. :)

A ton of gospel songs
Freshman year I was part of my school's gospel choir. Drama in the ranks was my main motivation for leaving, although I still sing in my church choir.

Directions
I've learned how to get all over the place in Michigan without getting lost. A trait inherited from my dad. Lol.

A few words in Creole
Courtesy of my trip to Haiti.

How to function when my emotions are out of whack
Sometimes I really question my stability because of the range of emotions that I can experience in a short period of time. Lol. But I'm always able to pull it together and do what I gotta do. Usually. :)

What my real values are
I've had opportunities to do things that would have benefited me, but would've been wrong. I've also been in situations that really tested my beliefs and values. I'm glad to say that I came out of them with my integrity intact.

The value of real friends
There's people you know will always be there for you. To me, that's the definition of a real friend.

That God will always come through
I've learned that God is faithful, that He is merciful, and that He is powerful from firsthand experience.

So it was a productive four years, in and out of the classroom. I wonder what life lessons I'll learn next... Hmmmmm....?

I graduated, naps and all!!!

2010-12-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday the ground was clear; by the time I woke up this morning, heavy snow covered the ground and continue to fall as my family and I made our way to my graduation. I was still on time though!

When I first started at Wayne State University, I thought it would take an eternity to finish, but here I am, a four years later, and I realize how fast it went by. It's almost scary; I feel just as young and tender as ever, yet I am now a Bachelor's degree holder.

It's funny because strangely enough, I didn't feel that excited, initially. Heck, I was more excited for finishing simple high school!! Lol. I think it's because I realize that this is only a small step in my journey. There's sooooo much I still want and need to do. Nevertheless, I am grateful to God for allowing me to see this day. I know much more is in store.

Frohawk

But for real, I even forgot to make time to get my hair done for graduation! These days I been rocking a frohawk-type 'do mainly because I haven't had time to get it done or coerce someone into doing it (my mom and my sisters can do hair. I, for some reason, cannot. Lol). But I never planned on going to graduation with a frohawk! Lol.

It was all good though. I just put on my graduation cap and let it be!

My sisters and "anty." Naija people, you know how we do

My parents and my uncle. He's actually blood related, my dad's brother. Lol.

Nappy, but happy. Lol.

As I've said in blogs past, my next step is to attend a school where I will learn video, graphics, and web design. But thinking back on my undergraduate years, there were so many opportunities, events, and people that shaped my experience. It's mindblowing to think of it. That's a whole 'nother blog in and of itself! I'll have to do that one next.... :)

But for now, I have to end by saying that the Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever. The milestone marked today is only a reflection of that fact.

Now I have to get back to writing my last paper!

In the meantime, look at this video of some adorable African kids!! My sister put me up on it. Lol.

Big Shout Outs!

2010-12-07T14:48:00.000-05:00

On the right hand side of this page when you scroll down, there's a little box with the heading "Live Traffic Feed." It lists the last 10 people that have landed on my page. It even shows the website they came from. I added it almost two months ago and since then it has said that visitors to my blog have come from such diverse places as Iceland, Turkey, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Israel, Nigeria, Ireland, Scotland, Cameroon and cities in states all over the United States. I'm not sure if the thing is accurate, but if it is I'd like to shout out a big

H E L L O !

to all you lovely people from around the world! I think it's so cool that you stopped on my blog and hopefully something you read here makes you laugh, smile, or think. I've been on a mini hiatus because of one killer paper that I'm working on in order to graduate, but I shall return shortly with more of my thoughts. : )

The Final Stretch

2010-12-02T11:37:00.000-05:00

Graduation in 10 days
head spinning, in a daze
This thing has gone by oh so fast,
compared to how I thought it'd last.

I'm fighting now, to finish strong
Can't worry about things gone wrong;
Just gotta make sure these last ones go right,
the end and beyond is in near sight.

Dear God help me
Cause heaven knows,
the end presents the rockiest of roads
But that's OK, I have determined,
That for victory, I am predestined.

Nigerian American Girl?

2010-11-18T15:45:00.000-05:00

I came across the news that the Nigerian Minister of Information, Dora Akunyili, has condemned the use of the word 'Naija' in the place of 'Nigeria' two days ago. I wasn't sure it was true until I went back today to search for it on the internet, which confirmed it.

I'm like, "What?" Wahala dey o. I mean, I the whole thing is silly. I respect Mrs. Dora Akunyili. That's Dr. Professor Dora Akunyili to be exact. (You know Naija people and their titles. Lol). From a project I've been working on for a while, I know that she has done a lot for the country. She has helped remove a lot of fake drugs from the market. She also spoke out at a critical time earlier this year. Her words were instrumental in the peaceful continuation of power in Nigeria, when Goodluck Jonathan took the presidential seat instead of a military takeover. But COME ON! Really now.........?

As a Nigerian born in the United States, I see the word Naija as a cool way to refer to the country and it's people. There's nothing negative about it. But apparently, Dr. Professor knows better than me and all the people who use the word. Just read this article on the matter. But my question is, how can you tell people what to call themselves?

In a country where so many things are going wrong, the government should be happy that people can still find something to feel good about: a name coined by only-God-knows-who, but that cuts across ethnicities and status. She's afraid that this 'corrupt' verison of Nigeria is unpatriotic. "We have to stop this word because it is catching up with the young," Prof. Akunyili said, according to the article. Catching up??? Hahahahaha.... It has spread profusely. Even for America, self, I dey take and begin to use am. I am the

Naija American Girl

and that will never change.

Abeg, the woman should sit down for there and try to find a real problem to solve, not an imagined one. Or maybe because Nigeria's problems are so great she decided to settle for a smaller task. But I'm not feelin' it.

That's what I think of the supposed condemnation of 'Naija.' Abeg o.

2010 ain't over yet

2010-11-14T21:59:00.000-05:00

The leaves have fallen from the trees, the radio stations are playing Christmas music, and I've taken to tea drinking: the end of the year is upon us! As I sat at a restaurant after church today with some friends, I listened as they marveled about how fast 2010 has gone by. The year really has flown by. I can clearly picture this time last year and I remember everything that happened..... but the year's not over yet! Before this year is out I want to:

Visit my cousin in Ohio

Go shopping to augment my wardrobe

Type all of my hand-written poems

See a play

Go ice skating

Have more friends visit my church

Read a good book

Bake cookies

Get together with my three friends from high school

All things I've done before (except ice skating). Just small simple stuff that will create nice memories and happy feelings. Lol. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's festivities automatically come with this time of year, so they're not on the list..... What do YOU want to do before the year is out?

I said 'I wanna go to Naija," my mom says, "No, no, no" ...... Lol.

2010-11-04T14:43:00.000-04:00

When I graduate in December, I'll have about two months to entertain myself before I start my new school. I'll still have my part-time job, but other than that, I'll be free. Thinking about this fact, a novel idea surfaced: Why don't I go to Nigeria? I mean, as a Naija American Girl I don't think it's right that I haven't been to Naija since I was about..... ooooooohhhhh............... 6 YEARS OLD!!! I am now 22.

That's me in the neon jumpsuit. (I have my mother to thank for the ridiculous get-up. But it was in style then, I guess???? lol) I'm there with my dad and my cousins. Check the date in the bottom right corner. Yep, it's legit. Over 16 years ago.

Money's been the main reason why my family hasn't visited as often as we should, though my dad has been back more often than all of us. My parents send home money frequently though. So I was thinking, why don't I go back and visit my family? See my grandparents while they're still alive. See my uncles, aunties and cousins. Get more familiar with a country I claim to care about.......Sounded like a good idea to me.

After thinking about it for a few weeks, I brought up to my mom. She was like, "I don't know o.... It's dangerous...." Then she started talking about how my dad's family lives in the east and that people are always getting kidnapped there, and armed robbers, and though her family lives in Lagos, my dad's family won't be happy if I don't visit them, but that if I go, I should fly to the east and not go by road because there's a high chance that armed robbers will strike and that when people see armed robbers on the road they jump out of their buses and cars and run into the bush, and on and On and ON! My mom even said that she would only go back home now in the case of an emergency. She told me to wait. I'm thinking, wait until when?

The thing with me is that once I've decided that I want to do something, it's just a matter of time; more of 'when' than 'if''.

I've been trying to plan a trip to Naija for the longest time, it seems. In my discussions with my dad, he's basically said OK, though I could still detect worry in his face. That's how it generally is with my parents. My dad really gives me room to try new things and get new experiences, even if the circumstances are a little uncertain. My mom, on the other hand, thinks of all the things that could go wrong and comes up with a long list of why I shouldn't do whatever it is. She did the same thing when I told her I planned to go to Haiti. I this area, I tend to be more like my dad.

So right now the question for me isn't "Should I go to Nigeria?" It's "How can I get the money for the ticket?" My action plan is going to be to save as much as I can (after I pay some outstanding *cough* obligations *cough*). Maybe my dad can supplement the rest.... It's long overdue.

I'm not thinking of winging it or anything. I plan to take plenty of safety precautions and stay close to those I know. Of course I'll make sure to do losts of praying and fasting, like my mom suggested (lol). But in the end I do believe that the good Lord will allow me to go and come back in one piece.

And the beat goes on...

2010-10-28T18:11:00.000-04:00

Just when I was getting ready to throw my hands up in the air and scream, "I'M DONE!!!" when I graduate in December, I've come upon other plans............. I'm continuing with school! I didn't think I'd do it, but I found an opportunity that I think is really worth it.

In December I'll graduate with my bachelor's in journalism. That's all well and fine. But I don't have a lot of the skills I want. Skills that I feel would really take me to the next level. I think I've gotten the basics of writing, but in today's world of journalism, you need more than that. So I'll be attending Specs Howard School of Media Arts when I graduate. I'm going to learn video production and editing, graphic design, and website design. Really cool stuff. If you can't tell already.....I'm excited!!!! The school is a hands-on kind of place and that's what I need. Theories and postulations annoy me. Give me some real life dealings!!! Lol.... The program is only one year, so I know that it will go by really fast.

P.S., I really, really, really love my friend Adora, who helped me figure out why I couldn't post pictures for a while.....I was in HTML mode!!! I guess Blogger switched the default up on me! It's really the little things that mean something to me. A piece of candy. A phone call to say hello. A funny Facebook comment. Helping me figure out my blogging frustrations. Yeah.................. :) Thanks Adora!

Me and my awesome friend Adora!

Feeling Poetic

2010-10-19T14:16:00.000-04:00

Today, for no apparent reason I'm feeling rather poetic. Maybe it's cause I just got out of my psychology class, where today's topic had to do with differences between males and females, sexually, emotionally, mentally and otherwise. That got me thinking about relationships...then love...which got me thinking about poetry because so many people write love poems...... But I usually don't. Lol. Anyways, here's a little somethin' somethin' that came to me.

The tide is turning,
a fire is burning,
it's getting hot
and pride is learning -
To give it up
and trust again,
If only I'd find
my long lost friend.

Games grow old
and I am told
that in good time
all things unfold;
the only question now is, "when?"
this long and drawn-out match will end.

Chidinma Ogbuaku 2010

Sumo Wrestling in Nigeria?

2010-10-16T07:11:00.000-04:00

I was on the Africa section of CNN.com, a subsection of their World section, when I found this story. At first glance at the title I thought it was just speculation, but once I clicked on it I found out it was real: Sumo wrestling in Nigeria.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/15/nigeria.sumo.wrestling/index.html

(For some reason I'm not able to post pictures or link a few words to another page at this time)

Anyways, what do you think? Sumo in Naija? Lol......

Naija people dey shine

2010-10-11T16:12:00.000-04:00

Good day to ya! I haven't written since Nigeria's Independence Day, but I trust that all the Naija people out there had a lovely one. Frustration set upon me that morning as the video message I made refused to upload before I had to leave the house. My day was so busy that I never got a chance to do it, and to me, uploading the video a day late woulda been kind of tacky. October 1 na Independence Day. I no fit load am for October 2 and come with one kin tori. Lol.

Anyways, that day the Naija students at my school held a celebration for Nigeria's 50th Independence. It was a really great event (click here for pictures). My dance group, Igbo Cultural Dancers danced and a local Naija hip hop group, Darkshades Entertainment, rocked the house. We also showed a mini video of the country's history and had a game of Jepoardy, among other things. We had quite a few Americans and other non-Naija people at the event, so it was pretty cool.

I'm really developing a love for sharing Nigerian culture (the little that I know) with non-Nigerians. Almost three weeks ago the we danced at an event held by a group called the Afrikan Village. Most of the members in the group are black Americans who are interested in African culture. They loved our dance, and it was our first paid event! (Woo hoo!!!). On the 22nd of this month we'll be dancing in an American play. I'm really excited. :)

We can shine a positive light on Nigeria (and her descendants) by being positive examples of excellence wherever we go. Many around the world see Nigeria as a country of scammers and terrorists, plauged with poverty and instability. But when those of us who are working hard to reach positive goals stand up and be counted as Nigerians, the country can be associated with better things. My Naija people: we must to dey shine. You never know who's watching.

A friend of mine shared this story, 10 Things You Can Learn From A Nigerian, from the Atlanta Post on Facebook. Just goes to show my point. Naija people dey shine. :)

I leave you with this. Hot, ain't it?

Nigerians and the American Dream

2010-09-29T23:58:00.000-04:00

Students in schools all over America are often asked to write about the American dream means to them. We are taught that traditionally, the description of the "American dream" was having a nice little house with a white-picket fence, a good job, a spouse, 2.5 kids and a dog. These days, people often describe it as having the freedom to be who you want to be and the opportunities to get there. People who came from poor backgrounds and go on to achieve greatness are said to have achieved the American dream. From grass to grace, as Tuface would say.

A big part of the American dream is having the freedom to live your life the way you want to. If you want to go to school: go. If you want to work all the time at the local grocery store and save all your money for a car: do it. If you like to drive through streets and pick up things that people put on their curb as trash: you're free to do so. If you want to pack up and move to California after you graduate high school to try and become the next biggest thing to hit the screens: go right ahead and try. The American dream says that you can make it.

When it comes to higher education, the American dream tells you to study what you love; work hard and you can eventually get to where you want to be. Whether you want to be a world-renowned artist, a doctor, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, the sky is the limit. I totally agree. I believe that whatever someone wants to do, they can to it if they are determined.

Many Nigerians who are the first generation of their family in the United States do not understand the American dream. For them, the decision to come to America was to provide a better way of life. Their definition of a better life: more money. This is somewhat understandable. Feeling a sense of responsibility to the family left behind in Nigeria, these people want to enter a field that will pay them very well so that they can help. They often go to school for medicine, health sciences, engineering and law: fields that are known to be high-paying. They force try to get their children to study these fields as well. There's nothing wrong with advising people what career path to take. And there's nothing wrong with taking that advice if you have no ideas on what you want to do. But when a young person has a burning passion to do something, I think they should be given an opportunity to try. Assuming that someone is not going to be successful in life because they didn't study medicine is silly. It's unfortunate when parents force their children to study something they aren't interested in. It has bred and epidemic that I like to call the "Nigerian Nurse Syndrome".

So many young Nigerian and African females (at least that I've met) are all going to school to be nurses. It's hard to tell whether they decided to do this because they have a genuine interest in the field, they have come to believe that it's the only way to make it, or they've been forced into it. And so many African women find themselves in various levels of the nursing field because of it's flexibility and the income it generates. This is understandable. The problem is that dreams are often abandoned as people pursue money. The result is usually an unsatisfying life. I personally know of a woman who spent over 15 years pursuing a nursing degree while working as a nurse's aide. After many unsuccessful attempts, she is finally going back to school for what she wanted to do in the first place: fashion. How did she get in the nursing loop in the first place? Her husband convinced her to study nursing when they first got married because she could make good money, work flexible hours and not put the kids in daycare, blah, blah, blah.... She reluctanly agreed. Who knows where she would be now if she would have stuck to her original plan.....

All I'm saying is that everything happens for a reason. It's not an accident that people have certain skills, talents, and abilities; they are God-given. These natural talents are good indicators of what a person would excel in, if proper care is given to training and development. I think that Nigerians, especially older ones, should embrace this portion of the American dream and be more optomistic of what their children can accomplish if given a chance.

Movies and More

2010-09-11T21:06:00.000-04:00

When it comes to Naija movies, funny ones are my favorite. I'm not too fond of the ones where someone does juju to have power over another or where someone poisons a person they're angry with and kills them. One time I watched a movie where a woman was cheating on her husband and poisoned him so that she could be free to live with her lover. As the her husband was dying from the poison, he started reminding his wife of how much he loved her and the woman was so sorry for her actions. The man of course died. I can't tell you how angry I was after watching that movie!!! Lol.... The movies where a man or woman fakes love to steal money from their lover are very annoying. And I especially hate the ones where things go from bad to worse and end on a bitter note (the overall summary of many of these movies). I guess growing up in America and seeing movies where things usually ended up good in the end has spoiled me. I like movies where thigs end up good, or at least where the good outweighs the bad.

I was thrilled when, almost two years ago, I stumbled across the higly popular "Osuofia in London." If you're not familiar with the movie, it tells the hilarious tale of Osuofia, a villager, who goes to London to collect an inheritance his late brother left him. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. If you just type the title in Youtube, the whole video lineup will come up. Otherwise, here's the link to the first clip. The main actor's name is Nkem Owoh and any movie with him is usually funny. I stayed up until 4 'o' clock in the morning watching this the first time, laughing through most of it.

(Left) Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme (Right0

My favorie actors to watch though, are Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme. Though small in stature, the duo are both grown men. A quick Google search wil reveal a wealth of information on the two and how they met. In movies, they often play the role of mouthy, mischevious boys. I can always get a good laugh from any movie they're in. From Lagos Boys, to Onye Obioma, to Awilo Sharp Sharp (where they played a small role) I've never been disappointed.

A few weeks after I came back from Haiti I found myself watching one of their movies and I was struck by something....

To me, Osita Iheme really looks like Alton, a little boy from an orphanage in Port au Prince that I can't forget. Take a look:

In the span of only a few days, that little boy really grew on me. I still find myself thinking about him and everytime I do, I say a prayer for him. It's funny because Alton, about 5 or 6 years old, acted like a little man when I first met him. He walked around telling the other little kids what to do and wouldn't let me carry him. But by the end of my stay in Haiti, he clinged to me and whined everytime I tried to put him down.I still remember one moment when I was playing with him. I was holding him, and I said "Alton, mwen bebe," which means "Alton, my baby," translated from the Haitian Creole. He replied "Oui," (pronounced: we) the word for 'yes' in French and in Haitian Creole, which is based on French. My heart aches everytime I think of that. I pray for his well-being and that of the other kids at the orphanage and I'd really like to see him again and be able to really help him... Maybe even adopt........? Time will tell : )

At an orphanage in Port au Prince.
I'm squatted, holding Alton.

Na wetin you do when wahala dey?

2010-08-31T02:01:00.000-04:00

Pondering the perplexity of my personal palava

Leaves me wandering in worry at the wicked wahala;

I can dwell in despair or huff and say "Haba!"

But I tire for that one,

I go leave am for my Father.

-Chidinma Ogbuaku aka Naija American Girl

Internet Romance

2010-08-27T17:16:00.000-04:00

When it comes to relationships and such, I'm pretty old-fashioned. I believe in the guy being the one to initiate things in the beginning; I believe in abstaining from sex until marriage. I believe in getting to know someone on a face-to-face basis, letting the relationship grow to a point of maturity where both people involved feel very comfortable around each other. My old-fashionedness has served me pretty well: I've been able to avoid most of the heartaches and pitfalls that plague the average young lady my
age.

As a condition of my old-fashionedness, I do not believe in online dating. At all. I don't mind having conversations with someone I don't know online. That's cool because you can make contacts in places you've never been to and learn interesting new things. But when a guy online wants to be more than friends, I'm always skeptical. Its hard enough getting to know someone you see often, let alone someone you never see. It's cliche, but people can be whoever they want to be on the Internet, so you never know who you're really talking to. It's one thing when someone you know and love moves away and you use the Internet to keep in contact. But developing love over the Internet???? I don't think it's possible. You can't love someone you don't know, and you can't really know anyone on an Internet basis alone. It's fine if you initially meet someone on the Internet, but you need that face-to-face contact to really know who you're dealing with. And for me, if someone lives too far away, we needn't start anything on the Internet cause the face-to-face thing probably won't happen, ya digg? :)

I'm suspicious when a guy (and he's usually African, Naija almost always) comes at me with flowery babblings of how he sees a potential for love that will shake the mountains (or some nonsense like that) between us. I'm like, "What? You like my pictures and that's why you think we should get married?" Hahaha... No, I have stopped dignifing their messages with a response because honestly, it always leads to a pointless debate that can never change my mind. Neither do I degrade them with rude comebacks because they're still humans beings and I will always respect that. But do they really think they're going to make me fall in love over the computer screen so that in a few months time I'm typing, "Yes, baby. I love you so much too; let's get married"???? Hahahahaha... Yeah right! Get the heck outta here!

And especially when it comes to African guys, and especially those that live in their respective countries, I always think they're after one thing: GREEN CARD!!!! Lol... It may or may not be true, but I'd rather not take my chances.

You may wonder why I decided to write on this topic, me: the Naija American Girl who never talks about relationships or anything even remotely related. If you go to the Facebook page I have for my blog, you'll see why: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=25716412#!/pages/Naija-American-Girl/216419493860?ref=ts. This dude was bold! He posted his own on my wall instead of sending me a message like the others. He had me choking with laughter!

Native Attire

2010-08-23T17:42:00.000-04:00

When I was growing up, you couldn't catch me dead in traditional Nigerian clothes. I don't know what it was: the pattern of the clothes, the contrast between them and the American clothes I wore everday, or the oversized styles my mom would sew for us. Either way, I never wanted to wear native attire. It's not like my mom wanted us to wear them to American events. It would only be when we were going to some Naija event or our old Redeemed church that she would want us to wear native, once in a while. But with so few options and so much struggle, we rarely did.

Over the years though, a transformation happened. I think it started in the 9th grade when we had to do a project on an African or Asian country, and I of course rushed to sign up to do Nigeria. The day of the presentation I wore one of my mom's big robes and the headscarf to match.

Since then I've worn traditional clothes to fashion shows, presentations at school, and Naija events. Most of the clothes are big on me because they're my mom's. But I've really come to appreciate the beauty of traditional Naija/African clothes. Before the year is out I want to get some dresses and skirts made so I can be styling and profiling in native gear that fits me really well.... Hehehehe..... ;)

Nigerian names in America

2010-08-16T18:53:00.000-04:00

My friend posted this as a note on Facebook. It made me laugh, so I though I should share it. :) By the way, I agree with the writer.

HAVE YOU ABBREVIATED YOUR NIGERIAN NAME TO A FUNKY ENGLISH NAME?
Oh yes, I'm on the case of the Nigerians in my neck of the woods. Why not? They keep on giving me reasons to write about them. My goodness, they never cease to amaze me. This group of Nigerians are very clever in many respects even when it comes to abbreviating their fine and meaningful Nigerian names to English names in an effort to avoid identification as a Nigerian or simply to avoid been asked to pronounce their names over and over by their American host. Most Nigerians with long native [first] names know exactly what I'm talking about. Sometimes, it takes several minutes before our American friends could pronounce our names and given the fact that some do not have the time nor the patience to guide these Americans through the pronounciation of their names, they resort to very un-orthodox English abbreviations which invariably eliminates the fine meaning of their names.

So let's take a look at some of these names whose abbreviations I have heard over the years and which have been adopted by some of the Nigerians in my neck of the woods. I am sure you have heard them too:

1. Babatunde---------Barry. This means the Jazz legend, Barry White, is actually Babatunde White.
2. Adebayo----------Baylor. Come on, now. Is Bayo so difficult that we have to adopt "Baylor" as its abbreviation?
3. Chukwuemeka---------Mickey. Could you imagine, Lt. Col. Mickey Odumegwu Ojukwu? Or Disney cartoon character called Chuwkuemeka Mouse?
4. Tamunoami-------Amy. Why abbrievate such a beautiful name?
5. Adenike-------Nikki.
6. Nwankwo-------Wanny. Could you imagine, the football commentator shouting at the top of his lungs, "O' Wanny Kanu has just scored for Nigeria." "Wanny who?", fans would ask.
7. Kayode-------Karl. So Karl Marx was actually Kayode Marx.
8. Taiwo-------Tyrone. God help us on this one.
. Oladele------Dale. Oladele sounds sweeter, doesn't it?
10. Oladapo-----Daps. He must have gone off the deep end when he adopted this abbreviation. What happened to "Dapo"?
11. Tijani-------Tikki. Get used to Tikki Babangida of the Super Eagles.
12. Abdullahi--------Abby. Hmmmmmm.
13. Olusegun-------Lushia. President Lushia Matthew Aremu Obasanjo of Nigeria. Interesting.
14. Uchenna-----Cheney. Vice President Dick Uchenna of the US. So a Nigerian is VP of the US. Very good.
15. Chinyere-------Chimerie. How about "Chichi?"
16. Seye----------Shawn. It might as well be "Shenaynay".
17. Adebanjo-------Baggy. What a laugh.
18. Garba----------Gary. Why not just call it garri as in eba?
19. Haruna------Harry. This is not far-fetched, but isn't Haruna a unique and sweet sounding name than Harry? There must be a 100 million Harrys in this world why add another?
20. Tamunokuru----------Kerry. Now, this name means, "God's power." The abbrievation, "Kerry", has done injustice to it.
21. Ipalibo------Libby. O sweet heavens, what is happening to Nigerians?
22. Tonye ------Toni for female and Tony for male. Hmmmm, why not just leave it as it is?
23. Ikechukwu-------Ike as in "Ike Turner."
24. Yetunde------Yetty. Oh Lord.
25. Omorodey-----------------------Moe. What "Moe"?
26. Ajike------Jake. What then is the short version of Jacob? "Jike"?
27. Oluwole------------Wally. Whatever happened to Wole like in Wole Soyinka?
28. Ronke--------------Ronice. Is Ronke really difficult to pronounce? Even for Americans?
29. Olufemi------------------Lulu. Give me a break.
30. Osazee--------------------Zigi. I'm dying of laughter.
31. Olatunde-----------------Larry. Am I hearing right? Larry for Olatunde?
32. Tohan-----------------------Tobby. Sounds like the name of a family dog back in the 80s...
33. Yinka------------------------Kiki. Please, let me hear something. What "kiki"?
34. Eberechi--------------------------Bebe. Don't underestimate the creativity of Nigerians.
35. Ngozi-------------------------Goslet. I am shaking my head on this one. Mine! Mine!!.Mine!!
36. Uzomah---------Zouk. Isn't that a type music that originated in the Caribbean?
37. Kehinde----------Kelly for women and Kenny for men. What then is the abbreviation for Kenneth?
38. Modupe----------------------Molly. "Molly" as an abbreviation for this beautiful and sexy name? If you ask me I would its takes the appeal right out of it.
39. Tamunoboma-----------Boomer. Why don't we just call them "Boomerang"?
And last but not least...
40. Rotimi-------Tim. What an insult to such a fine and enchanting name.

Hey, friends, if you are one of those fortunate to have a Nigerian first name, I say leave it the way it is or abbreviate it to something meaningful like "Femi" for "Olufemi", "Ana" for "Adanna", "Ugo" for "Ugochukwu" or "Emeka" for "Chukwuemeka", etc, and let others learn how to pronounce it. Afterall, if they can pronounce with ease jaw-breaking Polish and other names like the name of the head basketball coach of Duke University, Mike "Chef-Chef-Ski", something like that or the general who led the Gulf war, Norman Shwa-something or movie star and husband of Maria Shriver, Arnold Sh..., you know the rest, why not yours. This might be the only identity you have, a reflection of your culture, value and meaning. So I say, don't let them take the easy way out. Let them pronounce it and pronounce it right. They owe you that much. YEAH!!!

It's been a long time, friends!

2010-07-26T15:08:00.000-04:00

Just when you thought I had fallen off the face of the Earth.............. I'm back!!! Lol.... Yeah, summer has been wildly busy, mostly because of this summer job, but I think I'm shifting back into school gear, so I will be around more often.

Last time I talked to you, I had just been back from Haiti. Now that I've been back for over a month, I still think about my trip everyday. An article on my trip is featured on my friend's blog, Olamild Entertainment.

The purpose of the trip was to bring medical care on the island of La Gonave. But for me, it was to open my eyes to how people were living in a part of the world I had heard so much about.

I met so many people, most of who didn't speak English. But I was able to connect with them. I'm not sure what it was, but I felt comfortable sitting amongst the people, with or without a translator, and trying to communicate.

I think it all started on the first day in on the island when I was trying to talk to the children in Pointe-a-Raquette. Kids, by nature, are very curious, so while I was observing the what was happening as translators helped collect information from people who came to see the doctors, some of them stood around me. I greeted them with a "Bonjour." Haitian Kreyol is based on French, and many of the words in the language are similar to French, or the same as in French.

In Haiti, people assume that anyone who looks like them speaks their language. From the time we reached the airport in Port au Prince, people were walking up to me, speaking Kreyol, to which I could only nod and smile. Lol... So from my greeting, the kids thought I spoke Kreyol. Before long I learned how to say "I don't speak Kreyol" and "I speak English and a little Spanish." :) But I was able to find a way to communicate with the kids. It started by writing down simple math problems in my notebook. I handed them my pen and let them complete the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. From there, I had them teach me some words in Kreyol by drawing a picture of an object and then having them write and pronounce the word for me. Then I taught them the English translation. It was lots of fun.

In the mountain town of La Plaisance, I met a group of boys who performed some praise songs for me. They were led by Jin Will, the guitarist. From them I learned a beautiful song.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakhIa0WEXY

I also met people who I'll never forget, like Jania, a mother of two who was the first to come to the clinic area with her sick baby, before everything was fully set up. She was trying to explain to me that her son was sick, thinking that I was a doctor. Through a translator, I told her I wasn't a doctor, but that I would make sure she got to see a doctor. From then, she told me I was her friend. It was pretty cool that one of the guys there didn't speak English, but Spanish. Jania talked to him in Kreyol and he translated for me in Spanish. Those Spanish classes in high school and college were worth it!

I'll also never forget Milien, who was hired from the island when we needed more translators. Milien had studied English at school in Port au Prince and was in law school when the earthquake happened. He said that he lost 6 family members in the earthquake. His school was also crumbled. He decided to back home to the island and try to wait until it was rebuilt while trying to make money with different businesses.

Most of all, I'll never forget Alton, a little boy I met at an orphanage in Port au Prince, where we stayed for one night before going to the island and also when we came back from the island. At first, the little boy ran away from me, but after interacting with the kids more and passing out stickers and other little things, he was stuck to my side, always wanting me to carry him.

There I am crouched, with Alton in my lap.

I had fun playing with those kids. The littlest things made them so excited. I started making fans from colored paper, and they had a ball with them. I saw how they were so grateful for the smallest things. The kids at the orphanage are fortunate because they actually have somewhere to live, food to eat, and someone to take care of them. But besides the basics, they don't get much else. The ladies who help there only have enough time to clothe and feed the kids and teach them their school lessons. The kids don't get the extra attention that their parents would have given them. So they cling to you when you show them a little love. It kinda broke my heart when I had to leave.

Overall, my trip was awesome. I definitely plan on going back to visit, bringing helpful things with me. I learned so much, and I really think that this is something I would like to do very often. I guess I'll just see where God leads me...

So much to say, so little time

2010-06-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

Man oh man, I'm in the process of writng about my trip, but I gotta go to work....Instead of leaving you empty handed, enjoy this video I took in Haiti on the island of La Gonave, it's a praise song.

And here's the second album of pictures!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2211431&id=25716412&l=807e107830

Back from Haiti

2010-06-24T13:51:00.000-04:00

Hi friends! I've been back from Haiti for a few days. I have so much to say, but in the mean time, here are some pictures I took there. I'll tell you all about it later.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2211269&id=25716412&l=b70ca9515b

Haiti Bound

2010-06-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

In a few hours I'll be heading to the airport to meet with the rest of the people going on the trip with me. It's official: I'm Haiti bound. I'll try to update if I have service and a laptop to use. If not, I'll be back in a week! Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. :)

World Cup 2010!

2010-06-11T15:06:00.000-04:00

As a Naija girl born and raised in America, soccer (football) really wasn't my thing. Even the fact that I call it soccer shows you how Americanized I am. Lol.

I don't really play sports, but my favorite one to watch is basketball. And I don't even watch basketball that much now that the Detroit Pistons are a shadow of their former selves. But I remember watching my dad play soccer at the all African 4th of July picnic and my mom warning him to take it easy cause he's not as young as he used to be. Lol. I also remember that my dad wanted me to try out for the girls' soccer team in the 6th grade, but I decided not to because I didn't want to. Hahahaha.....

Anyways,with all of my African friends so excited about the World Cup this year in South Africa, I decided to peek in on the first game to see what I could see. Of course I wanted South Africa to win over Mexico, but I guess we had to settle for a tie. When I started watching, the score was still 0-0. I dozed off, and when I woke up, it was 1-0 with South Africa in the lead. I saw when Mexico scored, and I saw that crazy shot where the guy from South Africa hit the goal post instead of getting the ball in the goal. I was kind of amazed. I mean, the bar is so narrow, but the ball hit that instead of going in the net. E be like say the Mexico team dey do one kin juju wey dey make the ball wey suppose enter net no dey enter. LOL!

My favorite thing of all was seeing Desmond Tutu dancing when South Africa made the first goal. I didn't get to see it when it happened but I saw it on replay. It was so cute! :) I was sad though, to hear that Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter died in a car accident. That man really has had a hard life but has managed to come out of it without bitterness. Truly a great man. I pray for comfort in this time of sadness for him and his family. And I can't wait to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day on July 18. More on that later.

Anyways, I will support any African team when they play non-Africans, but it comes time for Naija to play, I hope say they dey beat all other teams well well! Even South Africa. :) It is great though, to have something positive that is bringing Africans together and putting a positive spotlight on Africa.

By the way, did you see the Shakira music video of the official song for the World Cup? I love it!

YOU can help make the trip even better!!

2010-06-06T19:27:00.000-04:00

Here are most of the people going on the trip. As you can see, not all of us are Africans! :)

Hey, so our trip to Haiti leaves in exactly one week. Our group plans on doing a lot of great things for the Haitians when we go, including:

-Taking many medical supplies and medications to give excellent medical care
-Buying food supplies for the people
-Bringing clothes, toiletries, and other supplies for the people

We already have a good amount of supplies, but the more we can get, the more impact we can make. Each of the people going is just packing a carry-on donating their two luggages to be filled with the equipment we're taking.
If you would like to help out with these things, you can donate right here. Every little bit would be greatly appreciated!

It's becoming real.....

2010-06-04T19:20:00.000-04:00

Though I haven't talked much about it, my trip to Haiti is still in full effect. After waiting and starting to get nervous, three days ago my passport finally came. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Really, I wasn't even as nervous as my dad, who demanded to know if my passport had come every day when he came back from work...Hahahaha.... I'm still praying and believing that the grant money from my school comes in time for the trip.

Anyways, yesterday there was a gathering for everyone who was going to Haiti and that's when things started to become more real. We met with a representative from the organization that we're partnering with, Rays of Hope for Haiti. We got a briefing on what to expect and a packet of information with helpful phrases in Creole. We'll also have translators and security traveling with us, which is quite awesome.

The trip is a medical mission, so most of the people going are in the medical field. My job will be to photograph each child who comes to the clinics we set up. The pictures will be used in a project that this church does, where they fill a shoebox with nice things for the child and ship it back to them. I will also be chronicling the medical help being provided. I expect to get lots of great stories.

I'm really excited. After meeting all of the people going on the trip yesterday. I'm confident that some great work will be done, people's lives will be changed, and I'll have a great time in the process.

I always thought that the first place that I would go once I got my passport renewed was NAIJA to see my family there, but I guess God has different plans for me. I'm still trying to find a way to get to Nigeria this summer, but in the meantime, I won't turn down this opportunity. I pray that everything goes well, and I believe it will. I leave Sunday June 13th and will be back on the 21st. I probably won't have Internet service there, so I'll have to tell you all about it when I get back. With lots of pictures, of course!

Just for fun: The last time I had a valid passport was when I went to Naija as a little baby of 6 years old!

Michelle Obama Comes to Wayne State!

2010-05-29T03:27:00.000-04:00

Summer is in full effect and with it, many busy plans and a short, less-than exciting class. So this past Wednesday, May 26 when Michelle Obama came to my school and was due to speak during the time I have class, what do you think I did? Boring class......Michelle Obama.....Boring class....Michelle Obama.......I think you know which one won. Hahahaha..... If it makes it any better, the class was four hours long and I went to the second part of it. Anyways.....

The First Lady was in town for a rally to encourage mentoring. Of course, she was wonderful and inspiring. I expected nothing less. My favorite part of her speech was when she told young people that their job was to focus on their education, not playing video games or dropping beats. Hahahha, had me cracking up! Someone must have told her of the epidemic of young wanna-be rappers in Detroit. She said there's a time and place for everything, but that education should be the first focus.

At the rally were also Magic Johnson, Spike Lee, Kimberly Locke and local Detroit business owners and politicians. They all talked a little about how they got where they were and the people that had made a difference in their lives. It was quite a star-studded event at little old Wayne State. I didn't have a good camera with me, but the Detroit Free Press had some pretty awesome pictures. Here's my favorite.

My Vision: A New Model for Change

2010-05-15T23:38:00.000-04:00

Though sad, the recent news of President Yar'Adua's death in Nigeria didn't surprise me. He'd been sick for quite a while and with no appearances or statements from him for such a long time, it was clear that his sickness was severe. His passing will no doubt be sorrowful for his wife and entire family, as the passing of any human being is. But it got me thinking.......

In Nigeria, Africa and many parts of the world, presidents come and presidents go. Promises made for an improved life for their constituents go unfulfilled. For many leaders, the office is seen as a means of personal gain and they fill their pockets and hidden bank accounts as their country's infrastructure, economic and educational systems continue to crumble. People wait in desperation for the change that is needed to take place, but it comes slowly, if at all. Often the change is for worse instead of better.

The changes that are required for the betterment of life of people in Nigeria and all over Africa require major financial investments. Generally, in the civilized world, the government would be the ones to make these investments, realizing that it is for the eventual good of the whole country. As we can see, that is not happening. But what if there was a new model for change? What if, instead of waiting for the government to make the major changes needed for survival and advancement, another sector made a commitment to help their country?

I have a vision. And in it, the country's wealthy: musicians and movie stars; businessmen and CEOs; athletes and all else with the means to do so take it upon themselves to do something. But not just to do something: to change their country in a big way.

What's really required is a change of heart. Those with the means must care so much for the well-being of their fellow human beings that they are willing to give of their abundance of wealth. For most of these people, much of their wealth is due to the patronage and support of the average citizen. In a sense, those who get involved will be "giving back." But it will require a lot more than speaking to kids about the importance of education and supplying food for the homeless, though those could very well be components of the plan. But what I envision is bigger than that. I'm talking about hospitals and schools. Community development centers to educate whole villages in everything from common health care to skilled trades. Companies employing people in cutting-edge fields like sustainable energy. My vision includes all of this and more.

The task is too daunting to target a few celebrities and charge them with the responsibility of change for the better. It is one that will require the hundreds and thousands of a country's wealthy to commit to the change.

It is my dream to one day start an organization that facilitates this kind of change. Organize the wealthy of a nation and get their long-term commitment to help their country. City by city and state by state, the nation can change. I would of course want to start with Nigeria, but my vision is really for all of Africa.

Waiting for government to bring change is futile; those who know the work that needs to be done should just do it. In time, one hopes, the government will follow and do what it should. But change cannot wait until then. It must begin now.

Naija American Girl goes to Haiti!

2010-05-12T21:52:00.000-04:00

Haiti, 2009 (courtesy Ebere Azumah)

Hello my people! It certainly has been a long time....I've definitely been slacking on my blogging game, mostly because I was trying to finish the semester of school and plenty of running-arounds with my African group on and off campus, not to mention graduation parties and what not. Anyways...

One of the biggest things I've been working on this semester was the possibility of following a group, Africans in Medicine, to Haiti on a medical missions trip. The group went last year and already planned on going back before this year's devastating earthquake. My goal is to follow them and cover their trip as a reporter, taking lots notes and pictures to show what people there are going through and what a few medical students from Detroit were doing to help. It would be the ultimate experience for a journalism student preparing to graduate this December. When I got the invitation, I was so excited and knew I couldn't turn it down. But I faced some major problems: Getting there and buying a high-quality camera and laptop for the best journalistic reporting would require lots of money. Money that, as a college student, I didn't have. I applied for an Undergraduate Research Grant at my school, and all thanks to God, I GOT IT!!!! So I'm going to Haiti y'all!!!

This trip will no doubt be life-changing. I know I'm probably going to see some things that will make me want to cry; but I am truly grateful for this opportunity. And I really pray that AIM is able to do some good work for the better health of the people in Haiti. That's the most important thing. I will be SURE to keep you guys updated during my trip, from June 13 to June 20. If you would like to help AIM raise money for the trip for supplies and medicine, you can visit the website here and contact Ebere Azumah at eazumah@med.wayne.edu. Also check out our group on Facebook here.

Some AIM students with children in Haiti (courtesy Ebere Azumah)

Assumptions

2010-04-26T19:13:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday evening I was glad to have the opportunity to just chill at home. The TV in the living room was tuned to CNN and I ended up watching Planet in Peril with Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta. It was interesting at first, but then, I found myself getting angry. Here's what happened...

They followed men hunting for bushmeat in Cameroon and Central African Republic. The men were trying to find meat to bring back to those cooking at home. I guess they were going further and further into the bush because of food shortages. The reporters were traveling with a man who studies zoonotic diseases, diseases that can jump from animals to people. The man said that he was concerned about the meat that the men were capturing, saying that some of the species of monkeys carried certain viruses that could be deadly for humans. They also showed a market where the meat was sold, and showed what a big-seller it was.

I didn't have any problem with any of this. They were merely showing people trying to survive: hunting for food; cooking it; selling it. It's the next section that got to me.

They started talking about AIDS, saying that it's an example of a zoonotic disease that jumped from monkeys to people. They said the disease probably started when someone who came into contact with bushmeat had their blood mix with the blood of a monkey, maybe while butchering the animal in Africa somewhere............I was like WHAT?!?! As far as I know, AIDS is still a disease that is being researched; no one really knows its origins and what can stop it. I was so mad at how the report just casually said it, as if it has been proven.

I know that AIDS is ravaging Africa in a really big way, but I really hate negative stereotypes. Until it has been proven, I would prefer that CNN and others not assume that AIDS came from Africa. And even if it does one day surface that AIDS originated in Africa, it will hardly matter anymore; it has become a worldwide problem. More important is finding a cure than placing blame on wherever it came from. I really hope and pray that I live to see the day that a cure for the disease is discovered and when it is, that it is made available to all. How terrible would it be if greed would cause those with the cure to make it unavailable to many because of high prices? God forbid!

New Background

2010-04-19T20:01:00.000-04:00

So, this semester I'm taking a class that teaches you how to build a website. It's probably one of the most useful classes I've ever taken and I'm definitely going to be able to use all that I learned for years to come.

Anyways, in that class I learned that dark backgrounds can be hard to read and even depressing. I don't know about the depressing part, but after thinking about it for a while (months, literally) I decided to change the background. Hope it's easier to ready. And not depressing. Hahahaha....

Buddies in Business

2010-04-17T12:08:00.000-04:00

Being an entrepreneur is a great way to have control over your income. Instead of depending on someone else to tell you how much money you can make, what you have to do to make it, and when you can make it, you can be your own boss. I'm trying to get myself into the mindset of an entrepreneur. My Meat Pie Girl business could be doing better. Being in school makes it kinda hard to make those things everyday. I wish I could sell the recipie to some huge company and get a huge monthly revenue. I'm talking global, cause those things are really good! Hahahaha.......That would be ideal.....Lol. A girl's gotta have dreams, right? I know it's possible, though.

Another one of my dreams is to write books: biographies of people with interesting stories; poetry; a memoir of my family's history (after I get the whole story down) and so much more. An author is another form of an entrepreneur: they produce words and sell them in the form of books for what they feel is a reasonable price. I am definitely working towards this goal every day. It will come to pass in my lifetime. And the church says...........AMEN! :)

Anyways, a few of my friends have businesses of their own. I think they're all awsome.

Take my friend Chinonso, for instance.

It's kinda funny calling her my friend because I feel like we're more like cousins. She's just a few years younger than me and we grew up together. Lots and lots of memories. :) It was kinda sad when her family moved from Michigan to Ohio almost two years ago. But we still keep good contact, so it's all good. (Special shout out to her: Hey Nkwocha, remember "Come back hia. What chapta are you from?" LOL!!!!)

Anyways, Chinonso is the proud owner of a hairbraiding business, called Naija American Enterprises. Now, the name used to be Braidz by Nonso, but the girl changed it. She jockin' on me, the Naija American Girl. Lol. Chichi (short for Chinonso) can really do some hair. She was looking for a way to make some extra money and she found it using one of her many skills. That's always an awsome way to start a business.

Another one of my friends, Gael, has a business of his own too. Gael and I both go to Wayne State and are members of the Wayne African Student Society and he's the only person from Burundi I've ever met! Anyways...his business, Gael's Gift , sells all kinds of great gifts, from household decorating items to jewelry and a lot more. For our African group's Christmas party we did a secret santa and he gave my sister a gift card to his website. She bought some pretty cool jewelry. His business is cool because you can access it from all over the world.

And then there is Ms. Elizabeth, founder of so many African organizations in Michigan, known by most Africans throughout the state, and owner of Eliscoco Ventures African Entertainmaent. This business does it all! Not only does it sell Nigerian and African movies, music, magazines, books, and so much more, they also do catering and ushering services for events. I've seen Elizabeth and her team in action at many local events. They does the job, ya dig? Lol.....Eliscoco Ventures is definitely a superbusiness run by a superwoman!

As you can see, young Africans are taking over!

School.....

2010-04-12T13:18:00.000-04:00

So I'm convinced that spring weather is here to stay and with that has come the onset of a severe case of im-tired-of-this-stupid-semester-itis. I mean really, who wants to be in any kind of class when the sun is shining bright and the weather is so nice? Not me! And academically, this semester has been mentally exhausting. Always worrying about some project or paper that's on the verge of driving me insane. Add to that my very bad tendency to procrastinate, and it's almost inevitable that at least one disaster will happen. I'm just ready to take all my final exams and be done. I pray to God that I pass all my classes.

Anyways..................

A little over a week ago on April 1 Motown recording artist KEM stopped by my school and gave a little talk in honor of the school of social work's 75th anniversary. It was very inspiring because KEM, who grew up in Metro Detroit, has recovered from alcoholism, drug addiction and homelessness and has been clean for 20 years. What I appreciate even more is the fact that he gives God all the thanks. His first words when he came onto the stage were, "God is good" (crowd responds: all the time) "And all the time" (crowd responds: God is good).

If you're not familiar with KEM, here is the single that put him on the map, Love Calls:

KEM was so down to earth, he talked to all his fans after his talk, signed autographs and took pictures. You know I had to get one with him. Lol...

His new album is set to come out this spring with a single to be released shortly.

WASS Cultural Week in Review

2010-04-07T13:18:00.000-04:00

Last week, my group's African Cultural Week was awesome! I was so happy with how everything went: very smoothly; no glitches; no meltdowns. And great turnout. We had a lot of non-WASS members at each day's event: Monday's movie night, Tuesday's Taste of Africa, Wednesday's discussion forum, and Thursday's African dance class. Of these days, Wednesday will definitely be most memorable to me. We put on a discussion on the similarities and differences between Africans and African Americans. On the panel we had two African Americans and three Africans. The audience was a good mixture of the two groups, with a few whites and even an Asian sprinkled in there. Lol....

Anyway, the discussion was very interesting. Unlkike in the past when we've had professors and professionals, all of the panelists were students. People were really honest on their views and the discussion got really heated at some points. Hahahaha..... We got on the subject of education. The argument by some Africans was basically that Africans value education and when they come to America they are more motivated than African Americans. The Africans were saying that their parents always told them that education was the way to a better life, and they didn't understand why so many African Americans don't pursue higher education. One guy even said that African Americans were lazy. Yikes! His reasoning was that he was often the only black person in his advanced math and science classes for engineering and when he asked some of his African American friends why they don't major in the math and science fields, they said it was too hard.

The African Americans said that many of them didn't always have someone telling them that education was the way, pushing them to go to school. They said it's hard to be motivated when no one is pushing you, and the system is plotting their downfall. The African said who cares about the system? You can rise above. The African Americans said that they can only rise so far before they get pulled down by the system because of their race............It went on and on.

In the end we basically all came to the conclusion that our differences were based on the cultures in which we were raised. Everyone left with good feelings and I don't think anyone took anything personal.

As great as the discussion forum was, our main event, the Cultural Show on Saturday was the best!!! Again, I was so happy with the way things went. Last year, there was utter chaos behind the scenes. This year, things ran as if we had practiced several times when in fact, we didn't. I was sooooooooo glad that things went well because honestly, I was kinda scared. Lol. But it was really awesome.

We had so many awesome acts. One girl, an African American, sang Asa's Fire on the Mountain.

Awesomeness.

The guys in our group did a dance.

So did the girls.

There was also a hilarious skit about an African girl and an African American guy that were dating, and each of their parents didnt like it because of stereotypes they held about the other group.

And then we had the Black Angel's African Acrobats, and they were truly amazing.

I participated in the show by performing an Igbo dance with a group, I performed a poem, and I was in the fashion show. Here are some pictures:

Overall, it was a really great show and it was lots of fun. :)

WASS Cultural Week and Show!!!

2010-03-28T17:34:00.000-04:00

Over my years at Wayne State I've had lots of experiences. I've joined groups. I've unjoined groups (lol). I've participated in so many different activities and extracarriculars. But the best of them all has been the Wayne African Student Society. My fellow group members are like cousins to me and I love every single one of them. We've had some great times and when I look back, I'm, sure many of my best college memories will no doubt be tied to WASS.

This week WASS is putting on a cultural week and show. Each day from Monday to Thursday we have a different event:
- Monday March 29 is movie night and we're showing "Catch a Fire."
-Tuesday March 30 is Taste of Africa and Game Night.
-Wednesday March 31 is our discussion. We're having a discussion on the differences and similarities between Africans and African Americans with a panel of memebers from each group. That should really be interesting! Hahahaha.....
-Thursday April 1 we're gonna get down with an African dance class.

Then on Saturday we have the cultural show. This is is main MAIN event, and it's going to be off the hook! It was last year's cultural show that I performed my poem, "Naija American Girl" for the first time. This year I'm doing another poem. There's going to be skits, poetry, a fashion show, and lots of dancing. I'm also going to be in the fashion show and in a Igbo dance performance.

If you're in the Detroit area, you should definitely come. The show is on Saturday April 3rd at 5pm in Wayne State's Community Arts Auditorium. The building's adress is 450 Reuther Mall, Detroit, MI 48202. However, you cannot drive on Reuther Mall because it's in the interior of campus. But the building is also faces Cass Avenue, which is driveable. If you plan on coming and want further directions, just leave me a comment and I can definitely give you detailed instructions for how to get there and where to park.

Almost spring?

2010-03-18T20:58:00.000-04:00

Isn't this picture just lovely? I took it last year on a beautiful summer day, maybe July or August. The place is the riverfront of a city about 25 minutes from where I live. Today was so lovely that I really wanted to go there again. Like seriously, it's March 18 and I'm thinking summery thoughts. Could it really be.........SPRING? It's been about two weeks of spring-ish weather, and its got me thinking............. But, sigh. In Michigan, that's almost unthinkable. Most of us who've lived here for years know that we could see fluffy white stuff from the sky any day until about the end of May......But for now, I forbid those thoughts from crossing my mind. I even heard my jam for the summer of 2009 on the radio today, in the car with my best friend. It's "On the Ocean" by Detroit's own K'Jon.

Love that song. Anyways, today I went to the place where I volunteer The Dominican Literacy Center. I go there once a week and work with my student Nancy, to help her improve her reading. Nancy is a really nice lady and since I started in January, we've gotten along really well. Before getting to the lesson, we always talk a little about our personal lives and things. Today, Nancy started telling me more about her life, and it's pretty amazing. :)

She said that she was born in Mississippi (1 of 15 kids) and mainly due to a teacher who was so mean and scared her, she had a hard time learning to read. The woman also happened to be her stepmother. When she got pregnant at 15, any hopes of her finishing her education were gone, she said. Eventually she moved to Michigan and got married to a man who didn't want her to have anything to do with school. Looking back, she said she realized that it was because he wanted to keep her dependent on him.

Now she must be in her late 50s or early 60s. I didn't ask, but I know that since she's a black lady, she looks good for her age. She told me that although it wasn't easy, she's always had a job and was able to take care of herself. She said that right now, she has the best job she's ever had, making more than she ever has. She gives God all the thanks and credit. She said that she never could have done it without him.

I really love hearing stories like hers. I told her that she should write a book one day, even if it meant having a professional writer help her. She said she'd think about it. That would be one book that I would definitely read!

Jos

2010-03-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

I'm sure by now most of you have heard of the recent violence in Jos. If not, check it out here or here. The place is a hotbed of contention between Chrisitans and Muslims. The most recent violence was said to be committed by about 50 Muslim men and left about 200 Christian villagers dead. I saw some pictures, truly horrible, of burrned bodies. Women and little children. What can one even say to that? Why is it so hard for people to live in peace? Here is a little something written my friend:

LETTER TO NIGERIA by Blessing Igiogbe

Dear Nigeria,

I am one of your proud children, proud to defend you at any cost. Proud to call you my sweet wonderful mother, but lately I am forced to disown you. Why do you stand by and let your children invoke pain and suffering on their siblings? Why do you stand by and let your children die in vain? Why do you stand by and let your children drag your wonderful name in the mud? O Why my sweet wonderful mother?

My sweet mother, I beg of you to not let the children and mothers of your land be executed in the name of religion and power. My sweet mother come and free us out of bondage from the power elite. Don’t let the greed for money and power be the things that will destroy your children. Don’t let the poor and the children be butchered by those draped in cowardice. Don’t let the corruption and incompetence of those in power ruin your name. Don't let the powerless and the children be deprive of a future of success.

MY DEAR SWEET WONDERFUL MOTHER NIGERIA, PLEASE HEAR OUR CRY!!

Sincerely,

The voice of the forgotten

TO ALL MY NIGERIANS ABROAD, WE MUST COME TOGETHER AS ONE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEF ARE AND FIGHT THIS WAR. WE MUST STAND BEFORE OUR GOVERNMENT AND DEMAND ANSWERS TO ALL THESE KILLING. WE WILL BE THREATEN AND STOPPED, BUT WE CAN NOT LET THE OPPRESSION OF OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO EXIST.

Sometimes, all you need is a laugh

2010-03-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was an incredibly long day, or at least it felt that way. It was one of those days where the little things mean so much, like people in the office buying you lunch and the sunshiny pre-spring weather. I say pre-spring because I know Michigan weather too well to be fooled into thinking that these lovely 40 and 50 degree days are the start of spring. Knowing Michigan, tomorrow we could wake up to a foot of snow! Seriously though. But I am definitely enjoying it. Aahhhhhhh..... :)

As lovely as the weather was, my mood was still kind of off. I found myself in need of a good laugh by the time I got home. I found a few by watching this movie that my little sister put on called "The Wild."

It's some ridiculous children's movie about a lion who pretends to be from the jungle and really isn't and ends up having to find inner-bravery to find his lost son. Hahahaha.....The animals were so goofy. I was probably laughing the whole way through. :)

Speaking of laughs, on Monday I ran into this man at my office at school named Willie Johnson again. Willie does custodial work in the building where I have my office and he is funny!

He does all kinds of voice impressions, but he's most known for his Donald Duck impression. He told me that when Mason in the Morning used to come on radio station FM 98 WJLB, he used to call on there often and do his Donald Duck voice. Mason gave him the nickname Willie the Duck! Lol. He also does a Jamaican accent. Willie said that one time he was at a store and started talking to this Jamaican using the accent. He said the guy started asking him what part of Jamaica he was from. Willie then confessed that he was a native Detroiter. Hahahahaa......

Willie, who is also a ventriloquist, said that one day he would like to do animation and use all his skills in a full-time endeavor. I reminded him that Tyler Perry was once homeless, and look at him now! With God, anything is possible.

Check out this video that Willie made. It's pretty funny.

I really wish him a lot of success. Wouldn't it be amazing if he really does go national. I know it's possible.

This week, I've really realized the value of a good laugh and I really appreciate those things and people in my life that make me smile and laugh. They can really lift a mood. :)

Chineke Nna

2010-03-04T21:17:00.000-05:00

Eastern Uganda- People dig for survivors of a landslide that wiped out three villages.

On allafrica.com yesterday I saw a story that made me gasp. Literally. Just a few days ago a mudslide in eastern Uganda buried hundreds of people alive. The story I read told heartbreaking cases of children who went to take shelter in a school all being buried. Three whole villages were wiped out. Villages called
Nametsi, Namakansa and Kubewo.

Now people are digging through the mud to find survivors. Na wa oh. Can you imagine? Natural disaters are becoming too common these days. Haiti....Chile.....Uganda....I just learned today that there was an earthquke in Taiwan today.

All I can say is "Chineke nna" ..... "Father God"......Help your people ooohh.......

An old poem of mine

2010-03-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

The Mystery of Music

It’s odd how a long forgotten melody

can jog the dormant memory

and make the heart ache for times past.

If scent is the strongest sense tied to memory,

then sound is the second

and music in particular –

plunging the mind into a state of

wistful reminiscence

realizing that today has become yesterday

And yes, today, will become

another yesterday.

2 long weeks!

2010-02-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I've been away from my blog for two whole weeks! It's a crying shame. Shame, shame ,shame on me! LoL. But I do have I excuses, which I consider to be legit.....I've been extremely busy. Everytime I sat down to write a new post, I remembered something else that I had to do, so I stopped withoug finishing. Even as I'm writing this I can think of at least five other things that I probably should be doing, but it's time to break this negative trend....................... :)

Take last week for example. Last week I launched a new campaign for my business, The Meat Pie Girl.

I started selling meatpies last year after seeing how much my family, friends, and basically anyone who tried them told me how good they were. I sold a little for a few months, then I kind of let it go. I stopped advertising and everything and really didn't get any orders. But since I've been looking for ways to make extra money, I decided to wake the sleeping giant. Lol.....

I felt my biggest problem was lack or advertising, so for now, I've been using texts, Facebook status updates, and The Meat Pie Girl Inc. page on to advertise. I'm working on my flyer right now, and I should be done by the end of the day.

This is the first text ad that I sent around through mass text. I took it right after slaving in the kitchen in my bummy clothes. Next one I do I'm going to have to dress nice and make the ad look fly and stuff. Hahahaha.....The words that went with it were: Order your meatpies today! 5 for $3! Exclusively from The Meat Pie Girl Inc.

I'm selling the meatpies for 5 for $3 and so far the response has been pretty good. I make them every morning and bring them to school with me. Yeah, so that's taking a lot of my time. But I think it's gonna be worth it.

Along with all the things I pile on my plate to do, I've agreed to teach these little girls Igbo dance. I don't even know how I got myself caught up with that. Well actually I do. One of my friends knew a lady who was looking for someone to teach these kids, and he suggested my sister. But seeing as how she doesn't drive and can be a little unreliable (lol) I ended up agreeing to to do it. I told her that I'm not a professional; I don't even consider myself that well-versed in the art of Igbo dance. But she said she just wanted someone who was willing to do something. So I agreed.

Actually, the only reason my friend suggested us is because last year my sister, me, and two other guy friends did an Igbo traditional dance at our school's African cultural show.

That's me on the end. Igbo Kwenu! Lol...

It was fun and all, but I don't really feel that qualified me to be teaching anybody. Though I did teach my dance class some Igbo dance moves last semester. But none of them were Igbo, so they wouldn't have known the difference if I didn't do it quite right anyway! Hahahaahah....

Anyways, I met the little girls (and some of their brothers) last Friday. They were so cute! I can't wait to get started working with them. They showed me the dance the performed last time, a makossa dance.

Then their moms got up and started dancing. :)

After taking pictures, I joined in. If you know anything about me, you would know that I love to dance. If I hear good music, you can count on it! Lol...

On Saturday we had our Haiti benefit dinner and it was pretty good. Later that night, one of my friends had a birthday party. You know the kind, blasting Naija/African jams. It was really fun.

I danced myself silly and went right to sleep when I got home, as is my habit with events of that sort. Hahahahaha.....

So that's just a little of the stuff that's been keeping me busy these days. But I'll do my best not to neglect my blog anymore! :)

SNOW DAY!!!

2010-02-10T10:40:00.000-05:00

Wayne State University almost never closes school, but today we have a SNOW DAY and I am TOO HAPPY! Hahaha....... :))

Yesterday on American Idol the guy reppin' Naija, Bosa Mora, got sent home... :( I got a chance to interview him a few days ago, though. I put the interview on the post about him below. You should check it out. The guy seems very humble and genuine. I pray he finds other venues to his dream. Here's lookin' at you kid! ;) Lol....

Anyways, this past Saturday was Wayne County Community College's annual Passport to Africa. I was at the Downtown campus with my mom to sell jewelry that she and I make. There were lots of vendors selling jewelry, books, clothes, soaps, lotions, and even some African stores selling plantain and other dry goods. There was so much cool jewelry, African and not, that I couldn't help but patronize some other vendors.

My mom selling her jewelry. She's been making jewelry for almost 3 years now and this was her first show. She did pretty good. :) She also found out about other events where vendors can sell their wares, so this is just a start for her.

At the table next to ours was another mother/daughter duo selling all kinds of merchandise, from perfume and purses to stuffed animals and stationary. The mother was Terry, and her daughter Taylor was quite a little businesswoman. All of 11 years old, Taylor charmed many would-be passersby to stop at her mother's table. Terry said that Taylor had been helping her sell at various shows since Taylor was 5, telling people to come on over to her mother's table. Terry was really nice and gave my mom tips for selling at different shows. Thanks Terry!

The school did a good job of putting on this event. There was a fashion show with people modeling African clothes. It was kind of funny seeing the African Americans trying to dance to the African music that was playing. Lol....I guess the rhythms were kind of strange to them. There were also professional African drummers and dancers. After wowing the audience, the dancers pulled some kids from the audience to join them.

It was a pretty fun day. Wayne County is having Passport to Africa on it's other campuses throughout the month. Check out the schedule here.

Bosa Mora (interview below)

2010-02-04T14:45:00.000-05:00

I was planning on blogging about Bosa Mora the day right after his audition aired on American Idol, but by the time I got around to it, the earthquake in Haiti had hit, and seemed a little trivial to me to be blogging about an American Idol contestant. Then I lost sight of it for a minute. But I'm glad I didn't forget.

This Naija American guy is from Columbus, Ohio and he's got talent, for sure. He's been doing music for a while, both singing and writing music and playing the piano and guitar. I was just so excited when he started talking about how his parents (and by default, him too) are from Nigeria. And then I heard his audition and was like YEAH!!!!!!!!! Naija in the house! Brotha can sing.

I loved how they showed his family. His mother, ever a true Naija beauty, wore a big, bright orange gele. Hahaha.......I also loved how she, ever the God-conscious Naija woman, said "God is good, and we are grateful. Thank you," after son got the golden ticket to go to Hollywood.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he'll do in the long run. I really don't watch American Idol much after hilarious auditions, but I hope he goes far.

He's not the first Nigerian American to be on American Idol. If you can remember 2 years ago, there was Chikezie. Chikezie is an Igbo name that should be pronounced Chee-ke-zee-ay. The judges called him Chi-keezy, which to me, sounds like a name for some wack underground rapper. Hahahaha.....poor guy. Chikezie ended up going pretty far though. He was really great.

As for Bosa I hope he goes all the way. Bosa for American Idol 2010! Yeah, I'm biased. I might even vote for the first time ever.

Anyways if you go to Youtube and type in "Bosa Mora" you can find videos of him performing music. You can also go to his Myspace page to hear more of his music.

*******************UPDATE ************************FEBRUARY 10

Here's the interview that I did with Bosa:

Q: What is your full name?
A: My full name is Bosa Chukwudi Olisameka Mora

Q: What does it mean?
A: My name means "Bow to God for he is merciful"

Q: How old are you?
A: I am twenty two years old

Q: Where were you born? Raised?
A: I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio

Q: How many sibblings did you say you had again?
A: I have seven other siblings and I am child number five.

Q: How did you first get into music?
A: I first got into music when I was very young, I can't remember how old I was but I just got into it listening to it and singing along to songs on the radio. It was not until the end of high school that I started to see singing and writing music as a potential career for me.

Q: Where have you performed?
A: I have performed all along the east coast from New York to Boston, Columbus ,Ohio in the Midwest, and even LA in the west coast. My first performances were in high school and then I started to play in bars, restaurants, subways, streets, hotels, colleges, private events, and many other random places. I perform my original music with bands on occasion but for the most part on my own.

Q: Who are your favorite musicians? Your biggest influences?
A: I have many favorite musicians and influences, too many to name to be honest, but I would first say that I draw my own music from the music of West Africa and America. I listened to many African artists growing up, particularly Nigerian such as Prince Nico Mbarga, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, and Fela Kuti. In terms of American artists I love the music of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, and many of the soul pioneers and legends. I love anything that has a real emotion to it whether it is pop or independent, as long as it has soul I feel it.

Q:When did you decide to audition for American Idol?
A: I decided to audition for American Idol when a close friend of mine decided to go and I decided to try too. Neither of us were really interested in doing it but we decided to give it a try and see it as an opportunity to get out there. For me, it was a chance to show myself to people from all over and hopefully shed enough light by singing someone else's song for them to want to really see me shine with my own original music.

Q: How do you think you will do on the show?
A: I believe I have done very well already in getting out there an auditioning and being noticed. I am very grateful to have gotten so far and to have received so much support from Americans, people from all over the world, and Nigerians. To get any kind of exposure as an upcoming artist is something to be grateful for and proud of. In my eyes, I have already accomplished a great task even though as an artist I have an even greater journey ahead.

Q: Is music a full-time thing for you, or are you doing anything else, like school, work, etc.?
A: Music is a full time thing for me but it has'nt paid me enough yet for me to do it as my only form of work. I have worked in offices as an intern, buildings as a maintenance worker, sales, non-profits, and a bunch of random jobs. I also went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston and just graduated last year. At Berklee I studied composition and professional music. While I was there I worked to learn more about the music industry, collaborated with my peers, and grew as an artist, composer, songwriter, and performer. I received very little musical training growing up so I taught myself the piano and the guitar with a few lessons on the side. It was at Berklee that I really began to see that I could do music as a full-time career.

Me: Ok, my blog is Naija American Girl, so I gotta ask:

Q:What tribe is your family from?
A: My family is from the Igbo tribe.

Q: Do you speak your family's native tongue?
A: I do not speak my families native tongue fluently but my parents have always spoke it around my siblings growing up so we all have conversational skills. As for me, I am still enjoy learning to this day.

Q: What are your experiences being a Naija American guy? Were you ever teased in school, that kind of thing.
A: My experience being a Naija guy has been a good one for the most part but it has not come without some challenges. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio and going to a school predominantly white and African American, I stood out as being African because my family has never been ashamed of our culture and people could see that I was different. I used to struggle with not fitting in. Even though I was born in America, I was never really considered an African American because my family is Nigerian and my parents where born in Nigeria. I was teased about my name and all the things that made me different. In terms of Nigerians I have always felt welcome except in some cases. The fact that I wasn't born in Nigeria means to some that I am not Nigerian enough and I am more American, leaving me in the middle, being not Nigerian enough or American enough. Despite all of this I hold no grudges because I know who I am and I am proud and I feel someone in my position is only misunderstood because people don't fully understand and not because they are prejudice. What has been the best experience for me being a Naija guy is the strength and courage I find in my roots and my ancestors, It helps me as a musician to know that whatever may come I can handle it. Also, being more grown up, many of the people who did not understand me before and teased me are more than just accepting now, but loving. They can see now the beauty of being Nigerian and the wonderful culture of the country.

Q: Do you travel to Nigeria often? If yes, how do you like it? How do family members treat you? If no, do you want to? Why or why not?
A: I have not traveled often to Nigeria but I have been there and I plan on going back again as soon as I can. When I was there I will say that the first thing that struck me is how different Africa is than what some in other parts of the world who have not been there would describe it. Many times you see Africa on TV and think though nature's beauty shines bright on the continent, it is plagued with problems. There is truth to that, but there is also truth to the fact that there is so much more to Africa than meets the eye. I was inspired by my time in Nigeria and treated well by my family there as well as other Nigerians I met. Though I was singled out in some ways as an American I was never rejected or treated disrespectfully. There is a beautiful spirit in Africa which I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced.

Q: How do your parents react to your desire to pursue music? Did they ever give you the "this is not a stable career path" speech? Lol.
A: Yes! My parents did react at first to my desire to pursue music with hesitation and uneasiness. I definitely got the "this is not a stable career path" lecture and "how will you make money" speech. lol. Its funny because I look back and can laugh even with my parents because we all know that something is happening and its bigger than American Idol or any TV show. For me, I am learning more every day that my gift as a musician is bigger than me. I never asked for it but I've been blessed with an opportunity to learn so much about music. My faith is that I will get a chance to share my gift on a grand scale with people all over the world. My parents are with me now along with my family and I am fortunate because that is not always the case. It was very good that they did not accept it at first because I got a chance to experience a setback and I showed them that it would'nt stop me. That has prepared me for this journey as an artist because there are many setbacks to come and peaks and valleys to overcome but I believe I have what it takes to persevere through challenges even more now with my family behind me.

Q: Lastly, what is one experience or event that you will never forget? It could be funny, sad, profound, or just random.
A: One experience I will never forget is my first musical. I was a basketball player for most of high school and focused on being the best basketball player I could be until I got stung by the music bug and never recovered. I remember skipping practices to write music and slowly transferring all the energy I put into basketball into music. One day my coach called me to his office and rather kindly told me he noticed I had not been as focused as before with basketball and could tell my mind was on other things. He was really kind about it, and I could not disagree because I knew that my basketball days in high school were coming to an end. After a long talk he told me he thought it best for me to leave the team and I told him I understood. I did'nt know what to feel and for the first time in my life I really didn't know the next step. The next day I was in math class listening to my math teacher who was also the drama director when an announcement came on that called for men to dare to be a part of the musical "Les Miserables" because the school needed men to pull it off. I considered but not enough to make the move to audition that day. Later on, I was about to leave to go home when I went back into the school to get a drink of water and there at the fountain was my math teacher who was also a drama director. We talked a little which was interesting because we didn't talk much out of class and she was not the type to push conversation but this time we talked quite naturally. Before I left she looked at me and said, "You should audition for the play, you look like you can carry a note." That pushed me enough to do it and I got the lead role and a part in the biggest musical our school had ever seen. It was one of the best experiences of my life convincing me even more to follow music and also to pursue acting. I will always remember that trip to the fountain and ever since I've never hesitated to stop for a drink when I'm thirsty. You never know, that drink might change your life! Chidinma thank you so much for the interview. Its my pleasure to be on your blog and all the best to you.

Good luck to you Bosa, God bless you!

The African Union's new chairman

2010-02-02T17:45:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to stay somewhat current with what's going on in Africa (not just Naija) I try to visit allAfrica.com frequently. Of course there's the stuff about Nigeria's ever-absent president, Yar'Adua, and the militants attacking greedy oil companies in Nigeria's delta region.
But today I read a story about the election of a new chairman to the African Union yesterday. Bingu wa Mutharika, president of Malawi, is in. Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan president, is out. From what I was reading, it seemed like Gaddafi was quite upset for losing his seat. And that he's scheming a whole bunch of other summits to gain a name for himself.

As for the African Union itself, aside from numerous conferences and reports, I don't really know what they "tangibly" do. In any case, in the midst of Gaddafi's sulking about his loss, calling himself Africa's "king of kings," Bingu wa Mutharika said something that caught my attention:

"Let us reflect that Europe and the much of the Western world developed using wood, meat and fish from Africa, but Europe and the Western world did not develop through resolutions, and declarations. They took action - concrete action. So I appeal to you for action, action and more action."

-Bingu wa Mutharika, president of Malawi

Those are some great words.To me, when it really comes down to it, it's about doing, not talking. I like how he acknowledged what Europe did to Africa without desiring to linger in a helpless victim state. Action! I'm big on that. I really hope and pray that this man actually plans on standing by his word and not letting them be mere sound waves bouncing off the air and falling, forgotten, to the ground.

Good February 1st to ya!

2010-02-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

Good February 1st to ya! Every time this time of year comes around, I start thinking about my birthday. Or continue the thought. The month change always makes it's closeness more apparent. My birthday is on the 14th. Yes, Valentine's Day. Only God know why, and that's a whole different issue, which I probably won't be blogging about. Hahahaha.......

This year, I 'm turning 22. Hmmmm......let me think back a little..........As a kid, every birthday was exciting for me. Even if I didn't have a party (which usually was the case) my mom still got cake and made sure the living room was decorated, and got the birthday girl at least one present. And pictures are a must. Here are some from my 8th, 9th, and 11th birthdays respectively.

She still does that for all of our birthdays, even if it means sending the birthday girl (me) to the store to get the required decorating items when she (the birthday girl) doesn't feel like it and insists that it isn't necessary. Oh, mommy :)

Thinking about it, I was glad to turn 19; I was almost out of the teens. I was excited to turn 20; I had finally left behind that wretched suffix '-teen' from my age. I was thrilled to turn 21; I was 'technically' an adult. But 22? That's something altogether different to me. It just sounds old! Lol....I'll get over it though. And get used to being 22. I guess. Hahahahaha.......

ANYways.......

I'm involved in the planning of an event called "Help for Haiti" on February 20. The event will be at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. I invite all who are in the area to come. It will prove to be a great event with musical performances, words from Haitians and people who have been to Haiti recently, a great dinner, and so on. 100 percent of the proceeds are going to the Red Cross for relief in Haiti. Here's the flyer. If you look up 'Help for Haiti' ion Facebook, you should be able to find it. But if you have any questions about it, let me know.

That's all for now. Have a great day!

Don't sit with her. She's from Africa.

2010-01-24T19:37:00.000-05:00

Ms. Olamide (on the left) with her sister

I think I'm going to start a series on people (Naija, African, and maybe others) who are doing things I think are great/inspire me/ I admire/ so on and so forth..... The first intallment will be: Ms. Olamide.

This weekend (Saturday January 23, to be exact) the African Student Association of Michigan had and excellent leadership conference. Click here to read a great post about it.

At the conference, Ms. Olamide of olamildentertainment.com gave a short little talk and told about her first day in high school, fresh outta Naija. But there was one thing she said that really stood out to me. Kinda made me drop my jaw a little and gasp....Ok, maybe my reaction wasn't that dramatic, but I definitely did feel a bit of indignation. Hahahaha......

She said that on her first day, she walked into the class room after class had started, kids giving her strange looks. Another student walked in a little after she did and was about to sit next to Olamide, when another classmate suggested that make a different choice.

"Dont sit with her; She's from Africa," is what Olamide told us the fellow student said. I wanted to go back in time and give the person a good slap.

This cold reception would have been enough to make anyone hide in their shell and count the days until graduation, but not this chick. "My own confidence in myslef was way up there,"she said.

It wasn't long before she started getting recognition for excelling in classes. She also began to join all kinds of school school clubs: swim team (without knowing how to swim; she learned on the team. lol) track, badminton, drama, dance tennis....In short she didn't let the initially intimidating situation stop her from shining.

Right now she's doing a lot: she's involved with the Yoruba Youth Corporation, her website olamildentertainment.com, another website speakup9ja.com, writing poems, skits, songs, designing websites for others, and so much more. And she's humble too. I gots ta give props where props are due. You're going places girl. Keep on!

Martin Luther King Day

2010-01-18T07:52:00.000-05:00

Today is Martin Luther King Day, and unlike years past when I was mainly just grateful to have a day off from school, I am truly in awe when I consider a man like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His convictions were so strong and he proclaimed them so fearlessly, even knowing that he was risking his life; but he didn't care. He didn't back down. He didn't stop. One useless excuse for a human being couldn't take it and he shot Dr. King. However, as I wrote in a speech on the subject a few years ago: the bullet that took Dr. King's life did not, because it could not, take his dream. The Reverend King was definitely an instrument of God, used to forever change the minds of Americans into believing that equality was possible. He is certainly not the only one who deserves credit, but he is definitely among the greats.

Every country in the world needs a Dr. King. I thank God for giving us ours.

Anyway......I'm getting ready to leave for a march in Dr. King's honor. I'll post pictures later. :)

**********Update************Update*******Update**********

So I went to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march here in Detroit. The march started at the high school named after the Reverend and there were about 200 to 300 people there. The march took about an hour and a half and took us a few blocks in the area around the school. It was really an awesome time.

I went with some friends of mine, all of them members of the African Student Association of Michigan. Here are some pictures:

As you can see, we wore traditional Nigerian head gear to represent our African heritage. That's me in the pink gele if you can't tell. People seemed curious to see who "those Africans" were. Hahahahaha....... A couple of people took pictures of us. I personally think it was a great way to show solidarity between Africans and African Americans. It shows that we recognize greatness from wherever it comes.

Anyways, the walk was a great way to remember Dr. King. May his legacy live on. And in every corner of the world, may more like him rise to change the human race for better. Amen.

One of my favorite renditions of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGWsqR6UbGk

On Haiti

2010-01-15T14:04:00.000-05:00

Click to go to http://www.yele.org/ to donate to their relief effort

I hate seeing stories of devastation in the news. I have a tendency to internalize them and it makes me feel sad for a long period of time; tears are not uncommon. So at first, I tried to avoid watching too much of the news on the earthquake in Haiti. But of course, my curiosity and heart for the human race can't let me ignore it.

There's not really much I can say in the wake of such pain and suffering. Haiti was already a very poor country, the poorest in the western hemisphere, from what I heard. This earthquake devastated an already struggling country.

For me, the worst part is seeing the massive piles of bodies, many of them unidentified by loved ones, dumped in mass graves. It's not that the people doing this don't have any compassion or respect for their fellow humans; it's just that they have no choice. Right now, they are just trying to survive. Also, seeing people in makeshift hospitals trying to get medical treatment, knowing many of them will die, is heartbreaking.

The most encouraging part is seeing the videos of people on CNN trying to let their family and friends know that they are still alive. Also, the database on cnn.com of missing and found people is truly amazing. I love it when I hear of one more story of someone who found a missing loved one because of video on TV or information online. I think this system is the first of its kind; it will go down in history. Also, the rescue teams who are still pulling people out of rubble are doing great work in their heroic efforts to find those who might still be alive.

I was fascinated when I saw troops of people marching through the city, singing and clapping, trying to keep spirits up. This also truly amazed me. I haven't every seen anything like that in my life and I think it says some very positive things about the Haitian people.

All I can say now is, pray for Haiti. Donate to charities that are doing the necessary work there. God is great. Let us not doubt what He can do through us.

Oh say can you Lift every voice and Arise oh compatriots?

2010-01-08T14:44:00.000-05:00

I love music. From the age of about 13 I've been in some form of a choir or the other. Even before that, I've always loved to sing. When I was younger I used to sing at the top of my lungs and annoy everyone in the house, especially while doing the dishes. Hahaha.....still do that sometimes :)

As youngsters, most of us learn our country's national anthem. I vaguely remember learning the American national anthem"The Star Spangled Banner" sometime in elementary school. Around the age of 14 I was in my 'black power' phase. Hahahaha......I was reading every piece of African American literature I could get my hands on. This is when I learned "Lift Every Voice and Sing" the black national anthem. I loved the words of this poem-turned-song and I made myself learn it.

But just a little while ago (maybe a month and a half) I began to realize, I don't even know the Nigerian national anthem! Well, not all of it, at least. I knew the first three words (Arise oh compatriots), the last two words (Peace and unity) and the general tune. I even asked my mom, but she hardly remembered herself. So I took matters into my own hands. As a Naija American girl, I felt that I must. I looked up the lyrics on Google and found videos of the music on Youtube. Now I know the anthem, and I think its a very beautiful one. It's a call to action; short, sweet, and to the point. From what I see, it has two verses, but I've almost always only heard the first one sung the few times I've been somewhere where it was sung. Of the youtube videos that I found, my favorite version is by Beyonce, of all people. Imagine that. This akata woman dey come for Naija and sing anthem well pass any otha person. Hahaha.... I'm really not a big fan of hers, but I love this version because she puts her own style into it with that amazing voice!

Here's the link:

Great, isn't it? And the crowd is really soaking it up. Beyonce performing in Naija and singing the national anthem? No be small thing oh! Hahaha.......I hope I get to sing it somewhere someday, even if it's at a small, chaotic and disorganized local Naija event! :)

Naija American Girl....................speaks Spanish!

2010-01-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

Though my parents are both Igbo (a major ethnic group from Nigeria, for those that don't know) the language I know the most of, after English, is not Igbo, but Spanish. Whenever I think about this fact it makes me laugh. Kinda sounds like a riddle to me: Who's Nigerian by blood, American by birth, and can carry on a pretty decent conversation in Spanish? The Naija American, that's who! Hahahaha.............

You see, my parents, probably not consciously, didn't do the best job at teaching my sisters and I their native tongue, Igbo. Since we were all born in the U.S., we've had so much more exposure to English than Igbo. But we were raised in an environment where we learned a little bit of Igbo from Christian praise songs. There was even a woman who taught Igbo school on Saturdays for the children of Igbo immigrants that wanted their children to learn more Igbo. And of course there were the ongoing in-home lessons where our parents took teaching into their own hands.

Performing with my Igbo school classmates at the tender age of 9. The blue arrow is pointing to me.

Little by little, I've gained more appreciation of the culture which I was born into; it is my heritage, one that will be passed down for generations. If they taught Igbo in school, I would have surely taken it. But of course, they don't. French, German and Spanish were my only options in high school; I chose Spanish. From the first year of taking Spanish, I loved it. It just kinda clicked with me and it was always easy for me to learn the next concept or a new set of words. In high school I always seemed to have one Latino friend somewhere and my best friend to this day is Boricua (Puerto Rican). Plus, I've always had a little thing for Latino guys....... :) I took four semesters of Spanish in college and was even considering making it my minor. But when I found out how many extra classes I would have to take ( a year's worth) I decided to continue my education in Spanish on my own!

So, I'm not ashamed to admit it: I know more Spanish than Igbo. I believe that having an understanding of as many cultures as possible makes for a more interesting and enlightened person. But I am a firm believer in exploring one's own culture first. Thus, I will continue my adventures in learning Igbo!

2009.....Na wa oh! You don finish?!

2009-12-28T17:29:00.000-05:00

2009 was quite a year for me, but the most memorable thing that happened took place on Wednesay January 7.

I was driving my sisters and I to church around 6:45 pm. It was snowing outside, so I was trying to drive carefully. I got in the left turning lane and and got ready to turn on a yellow light. The snow must have impaired my vision because to me, it looked like the cars coming straight were slowing down. But as I turned, one of the cars that was coming straight hit my car on the passenger side.

I screamed "JESUS!" as soon as the car hit. We ended up in the left turning lane of the street I was turning into. I got out of the car and started screaming, praying, crying. I saw my sisters. In the front passenger seat, my second sister appeared to be alright. In the back seat, the two younger ones scared me the most. The youngest one's eyes were rolling in her head. I kept praying aloud and trying to calm her down. At some point I called my parents, 911, and all that. The man who hit us was also there trying to calm everyone down.

When the ambulance came, they took the youngest two away, just to make sure they were ok. As they put the youngest one on the stretcher, she was saying "God, why, what did I do?" over and over. Then she started saying "God, please forgive me of all my sins...." like she thought she was going to die. I was trying to calm her down the whole while, telling her that she wasn't going anywhere. She was going to be ok, and I knew this, but it broke my heart to hear her say things like this.

After going to the nearby hospital and getting tested for various internal problems, my sisters were released and all was well. My car was totaled, but the Lord God, Jehovah, saved our lives. I could never thank Him enough for that. The story could have ended a very different way, but God was merciful to us. I'm glad, because I don't think I could have lived with myself if things didn't turn out the way that they did.

The four of us a few days after the accident.

The next day, after spending time praying, thanking God, it dawned on me again, how blessed I was to be alive and to have all my sisters with me. I turned on some music, and we all started dancing like mad, praising God. Hahaha.....I've always loved to dance, but I think that this event really gave me a new appreciation of the expression of joy through dance. We danced mostly to two songs; one called "So Gi Bu Chi" by Paul Agubata. The title means 'Only You are God.' The song gets some criticizm because it's basically Awilo Longomba's "Carolina" set to new lyrics. I couldn't care less because the man took the song and a beautiful new version. He can work out all the copyright issues with Awilo. Hahaha.... As for me, when I dey hear good music, me, I go dance. Also we got down to "Na God" by BNG. Both songs are by Nigeria-based gospel artists. Click on the links below to see the videos.

So Gi Bu Chi by Paul Agubata

Na God by BNG

My name, Chidinma, means "God is good." I can truly say that He has been good to me, every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year of my life! :)

Chei!

2009-12-26T07:48:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful Christmas. Had some "fam" from our church over, and just had a good ol' time with them. Talked to my grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins in Naija on the phone. Cooked. Ate. Laughed. Got some nice stuff.

After the festivities at my house were over I went to my best friend's house to do our normal gift exchange and then just hang out. I had some good Puerto Rican food over there (that's where her family's from). Anyways......we were talking and she got on her computer to check something. She saw a story on some kind of terrorism plot on her home page and clicked on it. I went to the screen and started reading it, and my jaw dropped as soon as I ran across the word 'Nigerian.'

My initial reaction was one of surprise and displeasure. "Oh no," I said. "Now Nigerians won't be known just for scams, but now for terrorism!" I was shocked to find that this man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted his plot on a plane landing in the Detroit Metro Airport, 5 minutes from my house. I groaned again. The plane was coming from Lagos, Nigeria after making a stop in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

After I got home and did more research, I learned that the man claims to be linked with al-Qaeda and said that he got the explosive in Yemen. I'm glad that the story ended the way it did, because if the man had succeeded, lives would surely have been lost.

But I can't help but think that people, if they haven't already, will begin to say, "Nigeria! Can anything good come from there?" As the Naija American Girl, I feel that I must do my own part to answer with a resounding "Yes!" But we have a long way to go before Naija gains a better reputation in the world. What I want people to know about this particular situation, though is that:

1. This man is a Muslim, but not all Nigerians are Muslims.
2. Not all Muslims are terrorists.

My Naija people, we need to showcase the great aspects of our home country. We do not need anymore negative stereotypes. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and the 419ers are a disgrace to Naija and we can't let that continue to be the first thing to cross people's minds when they think of Nigeria.

I can't help but think that by his act of foolishness, Abdulmutallab has made things just a bit more difficult for Nigerians world wide. How many legitimate international businessmen will lose deals that they'd been working to seal? How many students will be turned away from universities abroad? How many people who would have otherwise gotten Visas will be denied? Sigh.......

Christmas Day

2009-12-25T01:36:00.000-05:00

It's after 3 am on Christmas morning and I haven't wrapped a single gift that I bought. But Merry Christmas, anyhow! I am thankful to God for the gifts of life, health, strength, and wonderful family and friends to share them with. As has been said, but can't be said enough, Jesus is the reason for the season. He's what this whole thing is about!

I'm thinking ahead to this time next year.....I will be 22....I will have gone on my long awaited trip to Naija.....I will have just completed my bachelor's degree at Wayne State University....I will be getting ready to start a new chapter of life. I'm excited, but at the same time, I'm kind of like "Woah, 1 year?!?!" I know just how fast a year can go by. I'm still seeking the Lord's guidance on exactly what I will do after I graduate. I know He'll lead me, so I'm not worried.

But I think I'll use it as a point of reference: December 25, 2010. Only God knows what I'll be up to then! Hey, that rhymes.......Hahaha....I need to go wrap these gifts and catch some shut-eye before the Christmas day traditions and festivities begin. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! God bless you and yours.

A Really Cool Book

2009-12-23T14:05:00.000-05:00

On my way into work one day last month there was a traveling bookstore in the lobby. Looking around, I was immediately drawn to a book called A Day in the Life of Africa. This book is amazing. On February 28, 2002, about 100 photojournalists took pictures in 53 African countries. The book shows their fascinating pictures with captions. I learned so much from that book and I continue to learn more every time I pick it up. It's a big, heavy hard cover book that would be a great coffee table book for starting conversations. It would also make a great gift for anyone even remotely interested in Africa. The funds from the book go to help an AIDS educational fund.I encourage you to look it up! Here's the link to the website:
http://www.ditlafrica.com/

"So I put my hands up, they're playing my song, the butterflies fly away......Yeah, its a party in the...."

2009-12-23T06:14:00.000-05:00

Picture the scene:

After a long and hard semester, African students of the Detroit area are ready to socialize and have a little fun. So they decide to attend a little end-of-year dinner hosted by Wayne State University's own Wayne African Student Society (WASS). The hosts spend hours in their respective kitchens cooking for the potluck-style dinner: fried rice, rice and stew, chicken, spaghetti, plantain, meatpie, cake. As partytime draws near, fine young ladies and gentlemen get dressed in some of their flyest gear, making sure to check that their swag is turned on. Last-minute people buy their gift for the secret Santa exchange, get cans for the food drive and make their way to the event. They find a place to park and after one last look in the rear view mirror, they get out of the car. In the cold of the late-December night, well-dressed young men and women arrive on Wayne State's campus and walk quickly to the venue. They enter the place. Some take the elevator; some climb the stairs to the third floor. When they get to the room, a DJ is spinning the latest and greatest in popular African music. A table in the back has a spread of food that makes one hungry just looking at it. All around are clusters of beautiful black people that hail from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana (and other African countries), the Islands, and the United States, talking and eating. After a while the dancefloor opens up and people proceed to break it down. But after some time, noise patrol comes to see why the room is so noisy. He opens the door and can't believe his eyes. After picking up his jaw that has dropped to the floor, he talks to those in charge. He tells them to keep it down. After all, this is a LIBRARY! Hahahaha...

I kid you not. My school's African group had our end of semester dinner/party in the school's undergrad library, in one of the rooms they have there for workshops and small lectures. I'm the public relations officer for the group, and when I went to book a large room in the student center a few weeks prior to the event, I was told that because the university was about to be closing for Christmas break, we couldn't use the room because it was being closed. So, I thought, we'll just use the room we usually use for our meeting. It's a good size. We can make it work. So I booked a room in the basement of the student center and thought it was all good. But to one of my fellow board members, it wasn't. He didn't think the room was good for a dinner where we were inviting non-Wayne State people. So he booked the community room in the library. I didn't think it was such a bad idea. That was until I realized that he invited a DJ. The music we were playing in the room before the DJ came was already loud. Imagine when the guy came and hooked up all his equipment to speakers and a mike. It was really a crazy situation. All I could do was throw up my hands and laugh, joining in on the madness. I'm still tickled just thinking about it. Lol. I was afraid that we were going to get kicked out, but they actually let us stay until the library closed at 10 pm. Some of the library staff and noise patrol came in at 10 and made sure we cleaned up and left. I know they probably thought we were crazy. I don't blame them!

During the normal school day, the first and second floors of the undergraduate library (UGL) are notorious for being unthinkably loud. On any given day of the week from around 10 am to about 8 pm you're liable to see all types of stuff. Baby mamas with their small children or crying infants trying to finish their papers at the computer. Large groups of people feasting on fast-food at the long tables and having loud conversations about things you don't want to hear about. Homeless and mentally disturbed people walking around talking to themselves. People playing music from cell phones and computers and having their own mini karaoke session. People arguing with bill collectors on the phone. I am not joking. You can ask anyone who goes to Wayne State. It's endearingly called Club UGL. I call it a zoo.

Our party was on the third floor though, the floor reserved for quiet study. During the school week, Wayne State hires noise patrol people to walk around and make sure no one is eating, talking, playing music on speakers, or even appearing to be having any kind of fun whatsoever. You have to go to a separate room if you want to do any of those things. This is where the serious people who actually came to the library to study go. I do want to mention, though, that it was the last day of finals and the library was relatively empty at the time this wahala went down. If that makes it any better......hahaha.

In conclusion, I would like to say: Some of you may have partied in Miami or Vegas. You might have gotten down in London. You might get it in on the Lagos scene. You may be a queen/king of the night life in wherever you live. But I bet you ain't never partied in no library, though! Ain't no party like a WASS party 'cause a WASS party can happen at any place and time. Na wa oh!

And so on...

2009-12-21T12:22:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm done with school until January, I must admit that I'm feeling quite bloggy...... So let's talk about how this Naija American Girl thing started.

It was about this time last year when I first started the title poem. Can't remember exactly how the idea came to me, so it must have came from God. :)

I started writing the poem and stored it away, bringing it out periodically to add to it. I do this with many poems that I write, sometimes spending months before finally finishing a poem.

However, one event sped up the whole process and forced me to finish the poem: my African group's cultural show. At my school every year our African student group puts on a show for the whole school. We were kind of short on acts, so I volunteered myself to do a poem, and I had the perfect one....I just had to finish it! Hahahah

So I finished the poem and performed it for the first time at the show in this year April. It went over really well. Thus, the Naija American Girl was born. Lol.

Looking back, I feel like 2008 was the year that I enrolled myself in "Naija Awareness 101". It's the year I really began to dive into popular Nigerian music on Youtube and found some stuff that I really fell in love with by people like Faze, P-Square, 2Face, the now broken-up Resonance, Eben, my favorite, Timaya, and the list just goes on.

My self-education was sparked by curiosity after watching hilarious remakes like "Crank dat Naija Boy" by two different groups. But I wanted to find out what the real music that people in Naija were moving to these days. Also, being ridiculed by a friend when I didn't know who P-Square was also prodded me to find out what I was missing. Hahaha. I mean, it wasn't like I didn't know good music when I heard it at a Nigerian party or wedding reception or anything; I just didn't know the names of the folks making it!

I also read books that really gave me a better understanding of Nigerian history, Igbo history to be specific. I learned the most from one book, "What Will my Mother Say?" by Dympna Ugwu-Oju. I would recommend it to any Igbo young lady.

I'm still discovering more, learning as I go. It's amazing how much Igbo I've learned from Youtube, asking my mom when I don't understand. Also recalling all the old praise songs we've sung since my childhood and analyzing them helps too. :) I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't know a lot. It's when you admit that you don't know everything that you can learn something.

The poem that inspired it all

2009-12-21T07:01:00.000-05:00

So after debating with myself back and forth for days before officially starting this blog, I have decided to post my poem. I've had many mixed feelings about this because I know that plagiarism is alive and well in the world. As a writer, I value my work and don't take the threat of plagiarism lightly. Even so, I believe that some (Naija peeps and others) may be able to relate to it and it might stem an interesting conversation. So without further adieu, I present to you my poem, Naija American Girl. I would hope that any reputable contest or person with common sense would do a simple Google search to verify that submissions are not listed on the Internet as someone else's work. And to anyone who would try to pass any part of this poem off as your own: Na only God go help you oh! Everything done in the darkness shall come to light! .....Hahahaha. Seriously though, don't commit copyright infringement; use your own brain cells!

Naija American Girl by Chidinma Ogbuaku
© Chidinma Ogbuaku 2009

Naija American Girl
complex mix of two worlds
Who knows the things that cross your mind,
the solace you seek but seldom find?

Many people born in Naija,
their hearts burn so bad
to come to America
and when they get Visa they’re glad

But for those of us born here,
Na wa for us oh!
Because of the many things
we should but do not know

“You mean you can’t speak Igbo?
You don’t cook fu fu?
Why are you not studying
medicine in school?”

And when we go to school
and the teacher takes roll
We hear a very familiar phrase
that we’ve all come to know

“I’m really gonna mess this one up,
please forgive me in advance,”
Then they struggle through our name
But they don’t have a chance

“Chi-chi-deen-num-muh…
O-o-ga-bu-ah-ku..”

They struggle and struggle
with all their might
and when they’re finally through
we raise our hand and let them know
just how to say our name
some of them will hardly try
which really is a shame

We can get down with black Americans
'till they start talking ' bout slavery
Then we feel the need to boldly interject
“Oh no, that wasn’t me!”

“My ancestors were never slaves,
they weren’t forced across the ocean,”
Then our black friends look us up and down
and start a small commotion

“Oh so what, you think you’re better than us?”
they ask with animosity
They roll their eyes and start to cuss
And we wished we’d just let it be

We can hang with our Naija folk
till they start speaking
their native tongues
We catch a few thing here and there
while they all joke and have fun

Now having a foot in two worlds
isn’t 100 percent bad
for few can do the things we can
We can switch our greetings from
“Ndewo, sir” to “Ay, what up doe fam?!”

The line we walk is a fuzzy one
from what we do to what we say
It’s a very curious little thing
that really comes with age

Naija American Girl
complex mix of two worlds
Who knows the things that cross your mind,
The solace you seek and sometimes find?

What do you think? For the full effect, you really have to hear me perform it, but I think you can get the gist, right?

Intro

2009-12-21T03:44:00.000-05:00

And so a journey begins...

There was once a time when I never thought I would count myself among those that freely spew their thoughts on the Internet for all to see; now here I am. I guess you can say I've had a change of heart.

Who am I? I am the Naija American Girl. What, some may ask, is that? The answer is simple. I'm a person born in the USA of two Nigerian parents. The first generation of my family on both sides to be born here. I represent thousands of descendants of Nigerians born in the United States; millions born in countries around the world. I won't deceive myself into believing that our group is a homogeneous one; we are as diverse as any group can be. But we do have many things in common, from the experiences we have when it comes to teaching others how to say our name, to our family structure.

This blog, though, will be mostly my personal view on a wide variety of topics on, from music to literature, to current events and just stuff that's happening in my life. It won't be limited to just things that affect Naija Americans, Nigerians, or Africans, for that matter, but I'm definitely going to go there.

So come with me on my journey.....and feel free to chime in whenever you feel the urge!