The vast majority of Sub-Saharan Africans who live outside of the continent are in exile. For these Africans, their condition may either be self-imposed or forced by the prevailing conditions in the continent. And the general conditions in the continent are not healthy or enriching, or conducive to personal growth and happiness. Although conditions differ from one country to another but, by and large, what we have is a continent where a sizeable number of the people -- especially those between the ages of 18 and 45 -- cannot wait to go into exile. They cannot wait to get out of their respective countries. Nigeria is an archetypal example of a country where, if embassies assured travel visas, 70% or more of the college students will leave on their own volition.

The majority of those in exile either have nothing substantial to return home to, or their own governments do not want them back. We also see that in some cases, the political, economic, social and cultural space is not large or absorbent enough to accommodate exiles; in other cases, some exiles got blinded by the security, comfort and predictability of their host countries so much so that going back home becomes less attractive. Nigerians, for example, habitually points to the lack of basic infrastructure, poor personal and human security, and a sickening and corrupt political system. To be sure, there are other discouraging and encouraging factors, but mostly, the aforesaid accounts for why most exiles remain in North America and European countries.

Whether one knows it or not, acknowledges it or not, living in exile is horrible. It is one of the most painful of all human experiences. The pain and the anguish is less for most who vacated in their pre-teenage years. For them, acculturation and assimilation is much easier. With time, their memory of the old country fades; cultural chips become less powerful or insignificant; and ties to friends and family may become loose or non-existent. Essentially, therefore, they lose one country and gain another; lose one set of identity and gain another. They transfer their love and loyalty to their new country. For most of these early exiles, they will know one country and one country only. This is generally the case and the pattern unless of course a mother or a father or an influential relative kept the flame and the desire for the old country alive.

The United States, of which I am most familiar, is home to millions of African immigrants. Data may show that the US now houses more Africans than Western and Eastern Europe combined. For a while, Europe -- especially Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium and Germany -- was the preferred destination for Africans particularly because of their colonial relationship. In other words, until recent years, colonial-Europe was the port of call for Africans. Today, the whole world is present in the US: every language and culture and nationality is present here. They are present here for different reasons. But above all else, people come here for the freedom, the opportunity and the option to live in manners that are guaranteed by US law and customs.

However, sooner or later, immigrants -- African immigrants of whom this essay is about --will come to realize that the longer one stays in this country, the deeper the pain and the agony. They may have big cars and big homes; they may have beautiful wives and successful children; and they may also have investment portfolios that are the envy of most. Yet, most will and do feel empty. Every so often, they travel to the motherland to see friends and family. Still they feel empty. Most act and feel like tourists in their own father’s land (as most can only spend 2-4 weeks at a stretch before running to the grind and their predictable lifestyle). There are those whose eyes swell (with tears) at the thought of returning to Oyinboland. It can be lonely here. And they know it.

If you were a “nobody” before coming to the US, and if you are still a “nobody” after all these years, the ache and the grief may not be much. What may matter to you is that you are now a success compared to your previous life. But if you were “somebody” before your departure, and you are still a big deal here, you are more likely to feel the pain. Even if you were a “nobody” in your previous life, but once you become “somebody” here, you begin to, after a while, feel a gradual pain -- the type of pain that get more discomforting and unbearable as time passes. First the pain and then the anguish, followed by a sense of uselessness and sadness. If left unchecked, acute sense of loss and actual depression may set in.

An accomplished Nigerian author and teacher once told me: “most of the professors and successful African immigrants you see in this country are sad and depressed…especially the professors…most are angry, and are not respected by their non-Black peers…” From his vantage point, “most of these Africans are better read and smarter than most of their counterparts, but they generally are saddled with supporting or subservient roles; they have to defer to their non-Black colleagues.” To make matters worse, “even their students complain about their accent and mannerism, and assume they must be less qualified than other professors, especially the Whites.”

Faced with such a situation, “they are angry at their home government, angry at their colleagues, angry at their students and subordinates, and are also angry at themselves.” But within their enclaves and between their own people, “the African professors are the most pompous, most condescending and most irritating. Most cannot explain simple concepts or simple phenomenon without resorting to antiquated language…they have the need to impress.”

Indeed, the western world -- and increasingly, South Africa universities -- is filled with Nigerian and Ghanaian professors. I can’t think of a colleges or university, anywhere in the United States, without at least two Nigerian and or Ghanaian teachers or administrators. I also doubt if there is a medical establishment, anywhere in the UK, Canada and the United States, without Nigerian and Ghanaian doctors and nurses.

In all these places and beyond, I doubt if the majority of these Africans truly enjoy being there. The financial compensation is good, but my thinking is that they would rather be home: helping their own people and helping to advance their own countries. But here they are -- needed primarily for their skills and services; needed just to help develop and advance a country that is truly not theirs. How terrible it must feel to be just a hired hand.

If you are a South African, your lot in life may be a lot better. The same goes for those from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, and a few other countries. In the West African subregion, Ghana is the newest darling, home to quarter-of-a-million or so Nigerians. If you are a Nigerian, then, you know you are violated. Twice over! First, you are violated by a government that is utterly incompetent, utterly corrupt, and utterly wayward. You have a government, a succession of government, which takes pleasure in exploiting and brutalizing its citizens. And then you have a citizenry that is too scared and falsely religious to fight back. And so they lay there and take it.

Secondly, it is not a good time to be a Nigerian anywhere in the world. It has not been a good time to be a Nigerian anytime in the last two decades or so. The world knows you have a well endowed country that is badly run; the world knows about your soiled-reputation (even though it is highly exaggerated and undeserved); and the world also knows you are scared to return home. For more than 30 years, to be a Nigerian was to be respected; in the last 20, it has become a hindrance. So, as an immigrant or as an exile, you feel it and you know it. How painful to know that people deal and interact with you from the other end of a long rope.

To be an African immigrant in the West or anywhere else is not easy. Within the international political and economic system, Africa is an afterthought; socially and culturally, Africa is also an afterthought. And even at the individual level, most non-Blacks do not think much of the African. Sometimes one gets the feeling that non-Blacks think of Africans as incapable of complex task; a people incapable of governing themselves without generous assistance from the Western world.

Such attitude and conviction, whether state or unstated, is condemnable. Even so, there are times when one surveys the continent and the various governments therein and wonder if, if, if -- oh well, just take a look at Nigeria and its leaders (and leadership) for the last 30 or so years. If you are educated, enlightened, polished, decent, and with renaissance thinking and living in the West, is that the kind of country and condition you want to return to?

In the end though, if you have been living in the West for much of your productive life, and you are now clocking 55, 60 or 65 and with the urge to return home, you are likely to have headache or develop insomnia for a few days or weeks. One might even have panic attacks. Long before this period, one may have planned it all out. One may have methodically planned it all out, in which case the transition -- assuming home is where one wants to spend the fourth quarter of one’s life -- is as smooth as possible.

However, whether planned or not, several years of the exiled has a way of making one a stranger in ones village or community. How well and for how long you’ve planned the transition may determine your place and comfort in your new environment. Planned or not, smooth or not, you will, every now and then, get your bearings wrong, your traction will be shaky, your worldview out of sync, some of your mannerisms alien, and your thought pattern criss-crossed. This is the price you must pay for being in exile.

Sabidde@yahoo.com

Robot  # 1 | 31.08.2009 14:13

...Read the full article.

Wizzy  # 2 | 31.08.2009 16:40

A balanced and well written article..... However, sooner or later, immigrants -- African immigrants of whom this essay is about --will come to realize that the longer one stays in this country, the deeper the pain and the agony. They may have big cars and big homes; they may have beautiful wives and successful children; and they may also have investment portfolios that are the envy of most. Yet, most will and do feel empty. Every so often, they travel to the motherland to see friends and family. Still they feel empty. Most act and feel like tourists in their own father’s land (as most can only spend 2-4 weeks at a stretch before running to the grind and their predictable lifestyle). There are those whose eyes swell (with tears) at the thought of returning to Oyinboland. It can be lonely here. And they know it. Loneliness is a small price to pay for the lack of productivity I would experience in Africa if I ever dreamed of moving back. For some satanic reason....my brain just stops functioning when I touch down on African soil, because the people are so "slow" upstairs for the most part and not very intelligent.(I think it is the diet). Give me loneliness anyday with a productive life. Not to mention an extremely boring existence in the midst of the most boring people God ever created.....no night life after 5PM, with having sex as the only form of 'afterhours' recreation...not even great sex.:yawn: I think it is better to be lonely than to be an imbecile amongst the miserable company of first grade retards. :rose: Indeed, the western world -- and increasingly, South Africa universities -- is filled with Nigerian and Ghanaian professors. I can’t think of a colleges or university, anywhere in the United States, without at least two Nigerian and or Ghanaian teachers or administrators. I also doubt if there is a medical establishment, anywhere in the UK, Canada and the United States, without Nigerian and Ghanaian doctors and nurses. You are not doing Africa any service by reiterating all these. Is it not shameful that Africa cannot 'house' the most qualified personnel borne from the land? Secondly, it is not a good time to be a Nigerian anywhere in the world. It has not been a good time to be a Nigerian anytime in the last two decades or so. The world knows you have a well endowed country that is badly run; the world knows about your soiled-reputation (even though it is highly exaggerated and undeserved); and the world also knows you are scared to return home. For more than 30 years, to be a Nigerian was to be respected; in the last 20, it has become a hindrance. So, as an immigrant or as an exile, you feel it and you know it. How painful to know that people deal and interact with you from the other end of a long rope. I am glad you know this....including being a Nigerian in Nigeria......:shake: Yes, it is painful......but the better of the 2 evils.....give me an exilee status anyday. Anywhere but Nigeria.:cool: However, whether planned or not, several years of the exiled has a way of making one a stranger in ones village or community. How well and for how long you’ve planned the transition may determine your place and comfort in your new environment. Planned or not, smooth or not, you will, every now and then, get your bearings wrong, your traction will be shaky, your worldview out of sync, some of your mannerisms alien, and your thought pattern criss-crossed. This is the price you must pay for being in exile. Not planning any form of transition any time soon.....I have found a new home, among some of the most facinating groups of people from all over the world....thank you very much....in the land of the living....not in the land of the living dead. Not interested in being a 'local' champion. Did not tell me anything I did not already know......I have embarked on a life-long course of psycho-therapy to help me cope with the frustrations of being economically and socially displaced.....and my medications are very therapeutic in helping me to stay focused. Thank God for an endless supply of them. Not ready to go back to that mutant, tropical, Amazonian Alcatraz called Nigeria......where people still "baff" with "buckets". :sick: Thanks anyway...nice read.:rose:

emenanjo  # 3 | 31.08.2009 17:59

This is a good peace. In fact when I Left Nigeria, I never believed that most people in Europe would ever die of illness. I had this erronous believe in my head that the Oyibos, at least have solution to virtually everything. But the reality dawn on me that what Malaria is to Nigeria is what cancer is to Britain. There are a lot of viruses in this UK - a lot. Apart from that, social life here is boring and there is lack of community spirit and bonding. Life is so fragmented, and so packaged. You also find out that those Nigerians you thought you can relate to, are completely off track, full of filthy lies and cunning. So, what do you do if you cannot 'belong'? Stay on your own! I just 'kill' myself by ordering and reading books: keeps me saner. But will those trying to come over understand? Some would even say because you are there, you don't want them to come; that you want to be seen as the only uncle in obodo-oyibo. The type of thought some of us have had before we came over. There is nothing wrong in coming to Europe and America but when you come, get focussed and go for that which you want fast, try and establish something back home even if it means building and renting out developed property, it is something because, my brother, we never can tell.

nestoba  # 4 | 01.09.2009 01:00

Nice article, there is no place like home. Unemployment, rise in violent crime , including the current wave of kidnapping are most disturbing. Thus making people to be scared visiting home. I wish the civil society can change for good and the government and her institutions operate more productively!

nestoba  # 5 | 01.09.2009 01:08

To get the water you have to buy from water vendor or you have a borehole, standby generator . Internet broadband cost about 100 dollars per month , in Europe it is less than 20dollars. I think we like it here. Yours sincerely, 12years, displaced Nigerian.

Enyi  # 6 | 01.09.2009 15:15

Secondly, it is not a good time to be a Nigerian anywhere in the world. I disagree with this statement. I live in a country (name withheld) where Nigerians are respected. Indeed, the host community appreciates the efforts made by Nigerians in their various fields of endeavor. The secret behind this probably lies in the fact that the host country has in place a process that keeps 419ers, drug barons and fraudsters out. On a personal note, the gains of living in exile far outweighs the inconveniences. At least thanks to my exile, I have been able to give my children some comfort in life, train them without tears in the university, have a roof over the head of my family and enjoyed practising my profession because of available facilities. Sadly enough, when ASUU and NMA ask for better funding, our leaders prefer to buy real estates abroad , stash money in foreign banks and call these unions all sorts of name. Has anybody evaluated the role of our leaders in the deteriorating security situation in the country? Will I return to Nigeria? My answer is YES! YES! YES! but this will be when I declare "mission accomplished".

Johnny  # 7 | 01.09.2009 23:19

This is quite a good piece, especially the choice of words used by the author. I actually enjoyed his style of writing more than anything. The story is more of a reality check. We all know our place in our adiopted countries and communities. It's all up to the individual to decide what is best for them.

davsod07  # 8 | 02.09.2009 01:07

Sabella, Where are you??? I beg stay away from village or port harcourt O before somebody com kidnap you!!!:cool:

dem  # 9 | 04.09.2009 09:15

Indeed, the western world -- and increasingly, South Africa universities -- is filled with Nigerian and Ghanaian professors. I can’t think of a colleges or university, anywhere in the United States, without at least two Nigerian and or Ghanaian teachers or administrators. I also doubt if there is a medical establishment, anywhere in the UK, Canada and the United States, without Nigerian and Ghanaian doctors and nurses. In all these places and beyond, I doubt if the majority of these Africans truly enjoy being there. The financial compensation is good, but my thinking is that they would rather be home: helping their own people and helping to advance their own countries. But here they are -- needed primarily for their skills and services; needed just to help develop and advance a country that is truly not theirs. How terrible it must feel to be just a hired hand. The above is right on the money. However, as a young, energetic and ambitious person, it is understandable to want to follow a path that actuallises your life and potential. Human beings will always seek to fulfil themselves and all that. Who, at a young age, wants to feel like they are wasting their life away in an environment that hinders growth? But you come to a certain age and you realise there ought to be more to life than 'work.' That is when the tiredness and 'pain' sets in. But not regret. Yeah, there's no place like home - even if home is Nigeria.

Exponent  # 10 | 09.09.2009 15:16

damn!   why so cold?   Just live you life and enjoy.

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