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Right! Not me speaking in defence of 1st gen Brit-Nigerians that go ham for Independence Day 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht"> but growing up in the UK has been a challenge for many, in terms of safety in their identity. Being British, being raised by people who may not have known how to help their kids (1)
navigate the system, or even successfully give us a sense of belonging that didnât alienate one side or the other, racism, anti-African/blackness shaping the way we view ourselves definitely dealt many some blows. Thankfully, weâre the generation who grew to have access to (2)
the internet, rapid technological advancement. That has acted as a superficial bridge between us and back home. Not quite feeling like we identify as British pushed many to find ourselves in Nigerian culture. But also gave access to the superficiality of Nigeria...(3)
Not being the everyday man in Nigeria has afforded many to focus on the things that attract them to Nigerian culture- food, music, entertainment with a sprinkling of pride in history. And the spoils of classism/elitism without the guilt because we donât get that in the UKhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ„Ž" title="Woozy face" aria-label="Emoji: Woozy face">(3)
I do hope that in our own way, Brit-Nigerians will listen to our people back home and educate themselves on the realities they face and perhaps reduce the volume out of respect. But I certainly hope Nigerians at home know that it is not a thing of deliberate disrespect to (4)
them in Nigeria, but rather a way of fighting back to claim a sense of belonging in a world where they have been made to feel like they donât belong. Iâve been afforded a different outlook on Nigeria because my Father has lived there for the majority of my life so (5)
I have a VERY slightly more balanced view on every day living, as I have lived and worked in Nigeria. This isnât to say I know it all, but having friends and family there and knowing who I am in the UK has afforded me a bit more insight outside of Detty December. (6)
Brit-Nigerians do speak from a place of privilege when expressing their pride in the Nigerian part of their identity but they have fought a fight that Nigerians at home wonât understand. The basics of a functional society are more important than identity, I can admit (7)
so I very much understand the frustration expressed by Nigerians at home when theyâre seeing ajebo kids throwing up flags and shit but...I donât believe they donât have the right to celebrate being Nigerian. Personally, I donât because of my personal convictions(8)
but I understand why many do. And I hope this has offered some a little bit of a perspective for both sides? Probably not. So let me fade from here LMAO. (9)
