"Who Say I Don't Rep, I am Naija All Day"

Naija (adj) slang: of or from Nigeria, a person from Nigeria.

For a while now I have felt an inexplicable connection to Nigeria. I've been drawn to Nigeria by means of food, music, general culture, and, especially people. Some of my best friends are of Nigerian heritage (check out Fabulous Brown Girl and The Manifesto) and one of my best friends in Senegal, Gerald, is from Nigeria.

A few weeks ago Gerald made me an honorary Nigerian for all the reasons stated above but more recently an event took place that caused him to erase the honorary qualifier.

We were having lunch at a Nigerian restaurant here in Dakar, as we often do because I love Naija food, when another patron entered. He greeted everyone then asked me a question in Nigerian Pidgin. When I understood his query and responded Gerald and another friend, Harrison, were both shocked. Although I answered in English and not in Pidgin, they were surprised that I was able to comprehend and participate in the conversation.

In response to this Gerald said that I must have Nigerian ancestry. He stated that Nigeria lives in me, although I don't have a direct bloodline that can be traced. That really meant a lot.

Don't take this wrong. I'm not claiming to be Nigerian but, as an African American with a lost history and heritage, I hold that validation in high esteem and am truly appreciative of it.

"Who say I don't rep, I am Naija all day" - Wale

Black Butterfly

I decided I wanted to post a song for Valentine's Day then I realized that I hadn't yet acknowledged Black History Month. It must have slipped my mind due to being here among the majority and in a culture that, generally, doesn't recognize the month-long celebration. (Although some do take part.)

So I figured I'd chose a song that could both relay an uplifting message in line with Black History Month as well as relay a message of love, albeit not one of romance. Anyway, I think "Black Butterfly" by Deniece Williams gets the job done.

Enjoy!

Shouts to all those associated with Les Meres et Debutantes Club of Greater Lansing's 2004 Cotillion!

"Qui Est Jim Crow?"

In honor of Black History Month the West African Cultural Center is hosting films every Friday throughout the month. This past Friday the screened The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow and hosted a discussion afterward.The documentary served as a reminder of the tragic past and the tragedies that still exist today. However, the terrorizing images and touching interviews of the movie were not the most memorable. For me, the reactions of the other viewers stood out the most.

Thanks to my parents, my church family, and my extended family in the Greater Lansing black community I had already been exposed to these ugly truths. This was nothing new, just a reminder. But it was an entirely different experience for those in the audience who were just having their eyes opened.

"Walter White était blanc ou noir?" ("Was Walter White white or black?")

The first comment introduced a cultural difference that I had never realized. Walter White, a leader of the NAACP and civil rights activist, is rather fair-skinned by anyone's standards. So much so that he was able to pass in order to investigate lynchings for the NAACP. In the minds of many of the viewers he was far more white than black which caused them confusion. However, in the Jim Crow South the One Drop Rule reigned supreme deeming White just as colored as his darker colleagues.

"Qui est Jim Crow?" ("Who is Jim Crow?")

This was the last question of the night and one that many African Americans cannot answer, however, this was the first I had ever heard anyone make the inquiry. Many just accept the term Jim Crow without knowing that it got its origins as a popular minstrel song and dance which then evolved into a derogatory term for anything related to African Americans before being ascribed to the system of legal segregation. In this moment I noticed that it was a question that I should have heard many times before but hadn't. Some of the other fellows, Howard educated African Americans, who were there with me were also unaware of Jim Crow's origins. I was intrigued by how someone from a similar yet different culture could pose such a poignant question that often goes unasked.

That being said, the highlight of my night was yet to come.

"J'ai compris!" ("I understood!")

Upon reflection I came to the revelation that I understood the majority of the discussion that had taken place – in French! As many of you know, when I arrived in Senegal in August I did not know any French other than a few words and phrases that had entered the American lexicon. Now, here I was actively listening and comprehending most of the dialogue regardless of the fact that session was being held in French. I still can only formulate the simplest of sentences and mostly speak in phrases but the ability to understand what others say is a big milestone for me. J'ai compris!

Haiku #6 (Winter)

Eighties in the day

Cool temps rule from dusk til dawn

No snow-pocalypse

photo courtesy William J. Roberts (http://tweetphoto.com/10989311)

Haiku #5 (Weight Loss)

Pounds lost by the day

Blame the Sun and the diet

Now my pants don't fit

Super Bowl Bomb

I wish this Super Bowl Bomb was referring to a 70-yard Manning touchdown connection, sadly, it's not. Let me set the scene.

French television has not afforded me too many opportunities to watch football, American football, this season. Once, I was leaving a poetry slam and saw Sports Center on at the bar ... in English ... with NFL highlights on! Needless to say I was glued to the screen until the last football clip finished.

Thankfully, I've been able to catch part of a college bowl game and the whole AFC championship at my friend Devante's apartment. After the conference championship I was psyched about the Super Bowl. Colts vs. Saints and I, now, had a venue to watch the action. We had plans on inviting friends over to his place, throwing some chicken on the grill and really making an event out of the whole thing. Needless to say, I had been looking forward to America's biggest sporting event all week.

Then the bomb hit.

Yesterday, I got a phone call from Devante with bad news. His job called him to go out of the country at the last minute. "Yeah, the driver is coming to get me at one."

I was devastated. There I was, eagerly looking forward to the biggest game in football and all of the sudden the whole thing came crashing down.

Maybe it's not too late to find an alternative venue. We'll see ...

Haiku #4 (Halfway)

The five month stasis

The midpoint of my journey

Yet five months remain

"Got 'Til It's Gone"

"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

Being here in Dakar, Senegal has truly opened my eyes to the blessings that I took for granted back at home in the United States. I've adapted to living in a developing nation but this experience has given me a new appreciation for many of the things that I used to take for granted.

1.) Connectivity:

Thankfully, my house here is equipped with wireless internet yet it still doesn't compare to the ease of communication I had before. The first few weeks I was here I nearly felt naked without my phone. The access to the web, social media, news and people that was once in the palms of my hands was now only available inside my home while posted in front of a stationary screen. Of course, that was all dependent on the fickle electricity, which brings me to my second point.

2.) Electricity:

Temperatures reaching beyond 100 degrees, insane humidity, and your only relief is from a temperamental oscillating fan – when the power is on that is. That statement sums up my first month in Dakar. I arrived in the rainy season which meant boiling temps, humidity like I had never experienced and torrential downpours that knocked the power grid offline multiple times a day.

It came to a point where I would make "to do" lists of tasks to accomplish when the power came back on. Every blog post, AIM conversation, or Skype session began with a prayer that the electricity would hold out until its conclusion.

Electricity, although important, is not essential and its scarcity doesn't carry the same weight as the global water crisis.

3.) Water:

Fortunately, having clean drinking water has not been an issue for me, however, it certainly is for millions, if not billions, around the world. Recently, a team of artists, activists, and experts climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the issue. The Summit on The Summit, headed by singer/songwriter/producer Kenna, sought not only to raise funds but to raise awareness. Names like Lupe Fiasco, Jessica Biel, Santigold, and Elizabeth Gore participated in the climb.

In my case the necessities of water were taken care of but the luxuries – not so much. By luxury I'm referring to hot water. Bathing in cold water day in and day out has really given me a new appreciation for even luke warm showers. Dare I admit to having dreams of warm cascading waters.

4.) Independence:

Getting plopped down in a new city, in a new country, in a new continent, where most everyone speaks a different language made me more dependent on others than I have been in years. It was a huge adjustment to have to rely on others for food, transportation, and even to communicate with people. All of a sudden I had to depend on other people for most of the things I needed and wanted for everyday life.

I think the biggest change was transportation. Going from having a car and access to Washington, D.C.'s Metro (which I will argue is the best mass transit system in the U.S.) to Dakar where my options are overcrowded and unreliable buses, expensive taxis, and the good ol' left-right-left.

However, what I miss the most are the people.

5.) People:

Sure the internet can connect me to friends and family by means of AIM, Gchat Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and email but it just doesn't compare to the ease of staying in contact with people that I had at home. Basically, my connection to people at home is largely dependent on me sitting in front of the computer whereas before I could fully experience life without sacrificing my connection to my network.

More importantly is the lack of face-to-face interaction. I have found a few friends here who have been really great but they don't compare to the bonds that have been years in the making – some that have been cultivated my entire life.

Please don't take this as a list of complaints rather it's a reminder of the blessings for which I should be grateful. When I return to the States I hope to be able to look back at this in order to greater appreciate these things, to put my life in perspective.

"Joni Mitchell never lies, lies, lies ..."

This post was inspired by Charlotte Young's post "ThInGs I No LoNgEr TaKe FOr GrAntEd."