Lagos: The enduring influence of colonialism in Nigeria is evident in the personal experiences of individuals who feel disconnected from their cultural roots despite being born and raised in the country. One such individual recounts feeling more like a stranger than a descendant of their father's village, located just three hours away from the capital city. This sentiment is attributed to a lack of connection with the local language, traditional food, and cultural practices, compounded by years of avoidance.
According to Global Voices, this disconnection is rooted in the colonial legacy that shaped the lives of many Nigerians, including the narrator's father. Born in 1960, the year Nigeria gained independence from Britain, the father was heavily influenced by colonial religious and cultural values. His education in colonial institutions contributed to his belief in the superiority of Western knowledge systems, a belief he passed on to his children by enrolling them in prestigious international schools.
This trend of prioritizing foreign education is prevalent among affluent Nigerian families, with many opting for British, American, or IB international schools. The demand for such education is evident in the establishment of elite British boarding schools' campuses in Nigeria and the significant increase in Nigerian students obtaining UK study visas, which rose by 769 percent from 2019 to 2022.
Research highlights a growing linguistic disconnect among young Nigerians, particularly in urban and educated groups. Surveys indicate that only about 27-30 percent of youth aged 5-18 can fluently speak their mother tongue, a stark contrast to nearly 90 percent of older generations.
The narrator's epiphany came during the Global Voices Summit in Nepal, where the challenge of translating a poem into their mother tongue revealed the extent of their linguistic and cultural disconnection. This realization is shared by many Africans who, despite being raised on the continent, find themselves distanced from their heritage due to the pervasive influence of colonial legacies.
The colonial influence in Nigeria extends beyond indirect rule, with many regions experiencing direct colonial administration that disrupted traditional governance systems. This legacy continues to manifest in the dominance of European languages and Western norms in government, education, and business across Africa, often at the expense of cultural pride and continuity.
Despite these challenges, the narrator is actively working to dismantle the residual effects of colonial ideologies and values, striving for greater self-awareness and cultural reclamation. This journey reflects a broader movement among Africans to reconnect with their heritage and challenge the internalized belief that foreign equals superior.
