5 African Books You Should Definitely Add To Your Book List

Since COVID-19 came in and changed our lives for good; where we went on a lockdown and during that time, some of us might have gained some new habits. It might be from baking, fitness, drawing or even reading! I know I personally read more during the lockdown so I’m sharing some of the amazing books while I was locked down. If you’re curious and need something different to add to your library, then this is for you!

“Stay With Me” by Ayobami Adebayo

This book is about a Nigerian couple who go through trials in a struggle to have children in a judgmental society. This story is important because it describes the effects of validating a family using children, especially in African societies where it is the norm. This novel is by far my favorite novel so far and it has an amazing twist at the end, if you read enough to get that far.

“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi

This story follows the lives and experiences of the descendants of an Asante woman (a tribe in Ghana, Western Africa), the descendants story begins with her two daughters whom are separated by circumstances; one is sold as a slave to the United States, while the other is sold as a mistress to a white colonial officer. It is a historical fiction and touches on slavery and segregation.

“Happiness Like Water” by Chinelo Okparanta

If you’re a fan of short stories like I am, then this one is for you. The book is a compilation of short stories exploring topics dealing with women as victims of societal issues in a patriarchal society like Nigeria. Topics like marital rape, domestic violence and colorism are some of the themes touched on in the book.

“Everything Good Will Come” by Sefi Atta

This story follows Enitan, a young feminist woman in Nigeria. It describes how her feminist identity clashes with her family, friends and most of all the Nigerian government, especially as she fights for women rights. The story is a eye opener and helps you realize the struggles of being a feminist in an African country.

“My Sister, The Serial Killer” by Oyinkansola Braithwaite

I love this book because it is the first Nigerian thriller I’ve read. It follows two sisters– one an impulsive serial killer and the other, the protective one who cleans up her mess. It shows how far one would go to protect their loved ones even if they are a wanted criminal.

(BONUS) “Americanah” by Chimamanda Adichie

This is a very popular novel which I’m sure most book nerds would probably have read by now or at least heard of; but I’m putting it on this list because as much as it is popular, it is also important story. This story is one which every immigrant in America can relate with. It is a love story which also touches on topics of racism, immigration, natural hair and many more. Fun Fact: The mini-series adaptation of the book is currently in the works and Lupita Nyo’go has been casted as the main character.

Dealing with Culture Shock As A Freshman International Student

I have been in America studying for almost three years now as an international student, and it is a delight to say that I have grown to become a confident and social person, which is something no one, even myself, thought would ever happen.

I remember how socially awkward I was when I first got into college as a freshman. I had always wanted to participate in my classes to get extra points, but I always struggled to get my words out. One incident that I would always remember was during one of my literature classes. I had just gotten into class, and I had sat at the back to avoid bringing attention to myself. I was still very conscious of the fact that I was very new and I didn’t want to talk to anyone or even the professor. But that didn’t go according to plan. I was not familiar with the “introduce yourself to the class” ritual all professors made their students go through during the first week of classes, and my professor had asked us to do this before we could start lessons. The idea of standing in front of unfamiliar faces, talking about myself made me super nervous because I knew that they would find it hard to understand me with my accent.

When it finally got to my turn to introduce myself, I stood up and talked as clearly as I could. I finished, thinking that everyone understood me, but they were all just staring at me with blank expressions. When my professor started asking me questions about myself and what my “unusual” name meant, I assumed she was just trying to clear the air. She continued to ask questions about my home in Nigeria, and these questions made me uncomfortable. I knew that she wasn’t being rude, but she put me in a spotlight that I didn’t want to be in, which is where my social awkwardness began. It became so bad that i would avoid places where i was required to speak to people, which basically meant not going out in public at all.

Things get better though… very much better.

After about one semester of studying here, I was able to get used to the way Americans talked and pronounced words. I no longer felt embarrassed about my accent anymore, mostly because I realized that I was not the only international student going through culture shock. With practice and more social outings, I began to be able to be comfortable with my American friends, but I do still have my days where the difference in cultures makes me feel awkward and different but I have to remind myself that being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Studying as an international student is basically a new experience every day, but it has become a beautiful pride of being diverse and experiencing something completely new.

The Value of Friends While Graduating in a Pandemic

By this time next month, I’ll be five days away from walking the stage and finally getting my degree.

By this time next month, I’ll finally be finishing up four years of my life as an undergraduate student.

Growing up in Nigeria, graduations are a huge part of your life which you celebrated with your family and friends. I had watched older cousins walking the stage getting their degrees and I had imagined my own graduation day severally, where my family would cheer me on as I walked the stage.

Sadly, the pandemic has made it impossible for this dream to come true. Rather than watch me live from the audience, my family would have to applaud and celebrate me all the way back home in Nigeria from a computer screen. All the years I had spent hoping that I would get to share my last day as a student with my family did not prepare me for the pandemic that would come and make this not to happen.

But one thing I’ve learnt through my years in college is to always look at my glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Instead of focusing on the fact that my immediate family whom I had been looking forward to celebrating this special time of my life with won’t be physically present with me, I have rather decided to focus on the special people around me whom I’ve been blessed with. The friends I have made throughout my time here have been as important as my immediate family and being around them is soon becoming to be the same as being with my family.

And the fact that they are also graduating seniors makes this extra special because we get to share this new and lonely experience with each other. A few people might have sadly been unfortunate to deal with the uncertainties of this pandemic lonely and anxious, but the friends around me has become a comfort that has made dealing with the added stress from graduating college more bearable. From figuring out where to relocate to, to preparing for job interviews to figuring out how to deal with potential adulting responsibilities, being able to share this experience with them has been a gift I didn’t know I would need.

The pandemic came with a lot of uncertainty and also dashed one of dreams, but I am still grateful for the people around me who has been able to share this experience with me and make it a little less stressful than it should.

Perspective on the American Presidential Election from a Non-American College Student

In three days, America will be finalizing their decision on who their next elected president will be. Now, I’m not an American citizen so I cannot partake in the elections but I’ve been following each of the candidate’s campaign, and based off of what I’ve observed so far, I would like to share what I think of these candidates and how I feel they would impact the presidential office if they are elected.

DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE IN NO WAY FACTUAL, THEY ARE ALL JUST OPINIONS BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS ONLY.

DONALD TRUMP

The first time I heard about Donald Trump was during his first presidential campaign in 2016. I was just fresh out of high school and was preparing for my SAT exams so I wasn’t really focused on anything that was not related to my exams. Every time I came back from my SAT lessons, I would see my mum seated in front of the tv watching CNN like she usually did, but this time, because of the presidential debate, she was more involved than she usual. She would become agitated every time a blonde-haired man in a red tie came on the screen, and this became a cause for concern for me and piqued my interest in American politics. So I decided to do my research.

I found that this man, Donald Trump, had been a former reality television superstar which I found funny because I didn’t think one of the world’s greatest countries would ever allow that to happen. I also found that this man had a major impulsive problem especially with his use of rhetoric. He degraded women and condoned members of his party mocking ethnic names (this I especially have a problem with, having an ethnic name myself). His term in office has shown that his policies only protect the American elite. A scan through his twitter page will also show you how unprofessional he takes his official position. He has also handled several major events like the current pandemic (America has currently reached a million cases with almost 250 thousand casualties) and protests against racial discrimination in the justice and police systems very poorly.

If Trump is re-elected, America will be thrown into another four years of having an unprofessional as their leader. The incidents in 2020 alone has shown that this presidency does not really care for its people as long as they make money. The next four years might be a repeat of this same incidence, or even worse.

JOE BIDEN

Being an international student, I wasn’t really familiar with American politics until I came over here to start college. Of course, I knew the very popular first black president, Barack Obama, but nothing was hardly ever said of his VP, Joe Biden. Till he announced his run for presidency last year. The buzz this created, especially with his connection with Obama, made a buzz on all of social media which made him seem like a credible candidate to run for the position.

When I watched the presidential debate, Biden seemed like a soft-spoken person who had a lot of things to say about his proposed policies but couldn’t speak because of Trump’s constant bullying. Compared to Trump, Biden seemed more professional, both in his proposed plans for the country and the way he replied the debate questions when he was asked. Some of these plans included, free COVID testing, affordable healthcare, and raising taxes of high money makers. These plans show that Biden’s America cares more for its people than Trump’s America, and this is the epitome of what America is known for– why it is such a revered country.

Don’t get me wrong, Biden also has his own problems with his tenure: he and Obama were known for attacking middle eastern countries with drone bombings, in the name of “fighting terrorist attacks.” However, the difference between then and now is that Biden was a VP, now he will be a president with full control over decisions made on behalf of the country. I can’t vote, but if I could I know I would vote for. Based on what of written and what you’ve observed, who would you vote for?

Ignorant Questions You Should NEVER Ask An African Person

Whenever I introduce myself to people I am always asked where I am from because of my accent and unique name and after replying that I am from Africa I’m always bombarded with the usual questions about my country like clockwork. Sometimes these questions are genuine, which I love to answer and sometimes the questions are so ridiculous the only thing I want to do is to just roll my eyes and ignore them. There is something called the Internet now, which could be used to research about other countries, so there is really no excuse as to why such ignorant questions are asked. However, in order not to sound like an idiot the next time you talk to an African, here are some questions that would help you think NOT to ask.

1. “Do you have a shorter version of your name?:” I have had so many people ask my friends and I this question and i think it is quite offensive. African names are not complicated and not every African wants to shorten it to please anyone. What you can do is ask for the right pronunciation instead.

2. “Can you speak African?:” There is no language called African. Africa is a continent with about 60 countries in it, and these countries have over thousands of languages so it is quite ridiculous to ask an African to speak African.

3. “How come you speak English so well?:” English is one of the official language in most African countries which means that most Africans are quite fluent in it.

4. “Do you guys have electricity?:” I actually laughed out loud when I was asked this question. Of course Africa has electricity! We use electricity like every other modernized country and also use the internet too.

5. “Do you know how to hunt?:” No I don’t. Though hunting is legal in most African countries, it is not a common hobby you will find. I personally cannot stand seeing animals killed so I cannot say that I like the practice, however, others who do hunt only kill animals that can be used for food like goats and rams.

6. “What do you guys wear?:” We wear everyday outfits like every other people. Jeans, t-shirts, pants, any kind of outfit you can imagine, we wear it. The only time traditional African outfits are worn are during special occasions or an assigned day of the week.

7. “Is America different from home?:” America is not really different from home. Apart from my family and friends whom I miss a lot, the environment here wasn’t really a shock to me. I have quite enjoyed seeing a lot of different monuments that made America what it is today, but that is the only thing I have found that is different from my home country, Nigeria.

#ENDSARSPROTESTS: What’s Going On In Nigeria?

The Nigerian youth are currently engaging in a protest against the Special-Anti Robbery Squad, popularly known as SARS. Reports from citizens has stated that this squad has been engaging in corrupt practices which includes harassing, robbing and killing of innocent citizens in the country.

As stated in its name, SARS was founded by the Nigerian government in 1992 to counter robbery attacks and ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens. However, like every police enforcement, these thugs have been using their power to incite fear in Nigeria’s youth.

I decided to share this using this platform because I have had close friends and relatives who have been extorted by these officials. Young people who are found with laptops are mostly the brunt of these harassment because these SARS officials stereotype them as internet fraudsters. Others have their phones seized and searched, and when there is no evidence of fraudulent activities, victims are exhorted of large amounts of money. Those who refuse to pay are arrested with no warrants and locked up until some of form of payment is made.

These are not the only situations where SARS officials have used their power to bully citizens. In February, a 21-year-old Nigerian footballer was suspected to be an internet fraudster by SARS officials and was shot and killed in his car. The officials have yet to be charged. A viral video on Twitter showed a man being dragged out from his Uber by these officials and put into a bus without any legal reason, while onlookers could do nothing but watch in fear. Two days ago, a woman was shot close-range in her mouth for refusing a SARS official’s advances. All of these and many more are just some of the instances where citizens have had to deal with the brutality SARS enforces in the country. Several times, reports have been made to Government officials but nothing substantial has been done by them.

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The protests after George Floyd was unjustly killed and the awareness it spread of the Black Lives Matter movement around the world, led to Nigerian youths to also take to the streets and voice out their need for the SARS squad to be removed. Currently, the protest is the no. 1 trending topic on Twitter and several international news agencies have also reported on the situation to spread awareness and keep people informed. The Nigerian Government has reported that they are currently meeting to discuss steps that can be taken to eradicate the squad. No decision has been made of yet but this first step shows that they are listening.

You can catch up on updates of the protests by searching the tags #EndSars, #EndSarsProtests, #EndSarsBrutality on Twitter.

First of All, Introduction…

Hey people! Welcome to Culturally Conscious (aka Culturally Con for short).
My name is Tee and I’m currently a graduating communications senior at Troy University. I have been meaning to start a blog for a while but I just couldn’t find the right time up until now. I’m a very HUGE consumer of blogs and I thought creating one could be a fun way of putting myself out there while sharing some of my experiences as an international student in America, so here we are!

However, before I start to list some of what you can expect from this blog and some of the contents I would be sharing, I would like to share a few things about myself.

Like I said earlier, I’m a senior communications major at Troy. I’m also from Lagos, Nigeria (as you can see from the poorly drawn map/flag my cousin gifted to me last Christmas in the picture above). I have been in the U.S for about three years and so far i’ve really enjoyed being here. I have made a lot of friends and made lots of memories i’ll never forget. Asides from doing schoolwork, one thing i love to do is write. Most days, I’m mostly on my computer writing articles for my school’s publication or talking to people and learning their stories which i later write about. It’s fun asking people questions and getting to know whats make them what they are; I feel like it helps remind you that there are other people in the world on their own journeys with their own opinions and views that shapes them and its really interesting getting to know some of them. I also love reading. I don’t get the chance to do it most of the times because of how busy school has been, but i try to get a few pages in when i do have the chance. Nowadays, I mostly watch reality t.v shows on Netflix or Hulu (I’m currently watching Married at First Sight and it’s so good!).

There are lots of things you should expect from this blog, but most of all you should expect content surrounding my experiences as an international student in America. I’m very opinionated, so expect to see a few of my opinions on some of the general topics trending in the country, especially as an outsider and how it feels from that perspective. I will also be posting a few things about my home country, so if you love to learn about new culture, you’re in the right place! There will be interviews with other international students and their experiences so far in America as well.

This is going to be the beginning of something incredible, so look forward to seeing more posts from me soon and i hope you learn a few things while you’re here.

See ya later!