4 Reasons Why I Hesitate to Say I'm Nigerian

Admitting I am Nigerian is hard when the popular notion of my fellow countrymen is confined to four categories:

1) Fraud: the verbose stranger with bad grammar sending out speculative emails claiming to be wealthy yet asking for your money in the well-known 419 scam.
2) Crudeness: A loud, brightly-attired, rotund woman/man with a thick accent speaking/gesticulating/arguing loudly on the bus/airport/shop/street
3) Corruption: Very wealthy Nigerians who siphon millions from their country's oil wealth into offshore accounts when 80% of their people struggle to make ends meet
4) Education: Individuals with multiple degrees, Masters and PhDs (education is a must in order to be taken seriously by other Nigerians)

OK, so the last one isn't so bad but the first three are a source of embarrassment to me. These attributes are often sensationalised by the media, and I've seen the general crudeness described in number 2) too much around London (Peckham, stand up!)

This leads to my innocent answer of "Surrey" when someone asks "Where do you come from?"

Of course I know what they mean. They want to know where I'm from originally, and often ask if I'm Jamaican. I shake my head no. So knowing I'm not West Indian (which means I'm African) yet being unable to place my lineage because I don't have the familiar multi-syllabled African name, or the recognisable 'African look,' I finally say I'm Nigerian only to be met with surprise.

Let's be clear: When non-Nigerians think of Nigerians they are in fact thinking of someone from the Yoruba tribe, as Yoruba people, often from Lagos are the most visible in the UK and thus exemplify what being Nigerian is in terms of their names i.e. Oluwadamilola Agunyele, fuller facial features and boisterous personalities.

A funny but stereotypical view of Nigerians on British TV

So as someone from northern Nigeria born into a Fulani/Muslim family, I don't fit the stereotype. My name is Western, I have a Fulani appearance: narrow features, slim build and the reserved mannerisms of the Fulanis.

A Fulani couple

People thinking I'm Jamaican used to be great back in secondary school when being African was uncool. But as an accomplished adult proud of my Northern roots, I will not lie. Although after seeing 'The Look' flicker over too many peoples' eyes after telling them I'm Nigerian, a pre-judging look of "Oh, I know what your people are about" or "Oh Gosh, really?" I often hesitate.

Sometimes I try to explain the difference between myself and 'normal Nigerians' by saying I'm from the North, i.e. we have different cultures, attitudes and religious origins because the north is predominantly Muslim and the South Christian. This sometimes works when describing to non-Nigerians why I don't fit the stereotype, although sometimes I'm not sure they get it, especially those that think all Africans speak the same language. But to my fellow countrymen, saying I'm Fulani explains most things. They are still shocked I'm Nigerian though. One Yoruba man kept saying "Really?!" when I told him.

I've been tempted to say I'm Ghanaian. People usually have a more favourable opinion of Ghanaians and like their easy-going, cheerful natures. Also, many people from around the world have travelled to Ghana to explore their long-lost African heritage, to see Elmina's Castle or for an exotic holiday. You'll hardly find any non-Nigerian holidaying in Nigeria.

But luckily, my commitment to sincerity always trumps my reticence. I cannot let the minority that embarrass honest, cultured Nigerians of all tribes make me deny my heritage. In fact, I'm on a mission to give the people around me a more positive view of my country.