One of a Kind

I think when God created the souls of those who are now called Nigerians, he put us in an area with dusts, but it was not just any kind of dust, it was fairy dust, the type that makes one giggle, that hypnotizes, that drives one to a higher calling and makes us feel entitled. Entitled to the best things in Life; comfort, money, liquor, women, men, more women, communal living, good food, great music, and the ability to make mockery of another person’s circumstance even if you are also in it and there is nothing to be done about it.

We are the ones who will stretch our legs on empty rows of seat on an airplane, because we choose comfort over sophistication. The ones who will sit wherever we want on a plane even when our boarding pass says otherwise and still argue with the air hostess trying to correct us.

We are the ones who will expect free Wi-Fi on an airplane and also say that the airline could have told us to come with fans because the aircraft is hot, and the plane is old.

We are the ones who will laugh out loud and chat away whether or not our neighbours are trying to have a quiet time. The ones who will start to raise their voice and clap their hands with joy saying “thank you Jesus” as the plane touches down.

We are the ones who will tell the writer of this article- a complete stranger- “Fine girl why you dey look like that, are you sad?” and quickly turn around not expecting an answer even though the writer was busy pondering on the write up while captivated by the sweet Nigerian music in the background.

We are the ones who will demand what we want irrespective of our form, shape, or size. We are the actual “Gen Z’s” of the continent. Angry yet pleasant, mean but still kind, sad but always happy. We are beauty, we are strength, we are courage, we are kings, we are the babies not only sleeping comfortably on our mothers back but drooling spit in the sun or in the rain.

We are entitled because we know exactly who we are- we are giants- the only ones in Africa.