Of Independence Days

Every country’s Independence Day is a special event.  A time to celebrate the birth of the nation and the freedom obtained.  This is especially true for countries that were colonized at one point or the other, which is pretty much most countries of the world.  In Africa for example only Ethiopia and Liberia were never colonized.  I wonder what they mark as their independence or national day.  Anyway, for countries that were colonized the quest for independence was pursued vigorously.  Sometimes it was a peaceful transition but mostly it was bloody because the colonizer didn’t want to let go while the colonized wanted freedom.  Freedom: the universal cry of the human soul.

For the United States independence came by way of war and the declaration of independence from their British colonialists on July 4, 1776.  One statement I love from the Declaration of Independence is “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Fourth of July: Celebrating U.S. Independence Day

The Fourth of July: Celebrating U.S. Independence Day, a set on Flickr.

America's Independence Day is July 4, marking the date in 1776 when the country’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. It is celebrated with parades, fireworks, concerts and other festivities.

Unexpected Surprises for Expats in Nigeria

Let’s face it, oyinbos: Life as an expat in Nigeria can be full of uncertainty. With the news of bombings and unrest unfortunately on the rise, and a lack of reliable, up-to-date information for foreigners, much of the expat experience here can consist of sorting fact from fiction and prudence from paranoia, all while trying to see and understand a complex and dynamic country.
Yet life as an expat in Nigeria, and in Lagos especially, need not be that way. One does not need to look far for unexpected surprises and fun in Nigeria – even on the islands of Lagos.

Here are six unexpected surprises for expats in Nigeria:

What is the value of art?

There are many people who think art is invaluable to all in society.  Not just as a form of expression but also as part of the community through public murals, sculptures in parks and the like.  While others believe art is unnecessary in life.  Fortunately those naysayers are often overruled when it comes to art and the positive impact it can have on a community.


Nurturing People and Ideas is a multi-faceted process of community building that includes the collaborative development of a large-scale public artwork at the University of Lagos, featuring University of Lagos students, staff, and community. The culminating public painting represents a synthesis of participant generated photographs and writing from the 2012 Sharing Culture/smARTpower Workshop at the University of Lagos, April 2012.

Diversifying; Seriously?

Why is Nigeria’s principal export product oil?  Consider the country’s vast human and material resources and you wonder why.  This is an issue am sure that has troubled many governments in the country and has led to the increased drive to diversify the economy and make it less dependent on oil.  An example here could be the cassava production drive.  Although I guess a lot of Nigerians are still not too taken with the idea of cassava bread.  However with the security issues facing the country and youth unemployment the benefits of a diversified economy become more obvious.  This is because the oil industry can employ only so many people whereas agriculture for example can provide jobs for tens of millions.  It therefore amazes me that the U.S. government’s initiative to provide access to the American market for sub-Saharan African countries has not been even marginally exploited by Nigeria.