I am a Nigerian – Nkiru Asika

Have you ever thought about a battle cry for Nigerians, a battle cry to remind us of our true root(not that the British gave us), or that evident in the media of our brothers and sisters drowning while trying to cross a sea of ‘perceived hope’, a battle cry to help us overcome as a people the falsehood of our supposed representatives, a battle cry to help us face our glorious future – a battle cry to help us face a past that was denied and a future that feels very present. Here it is, poem by Nkiru Asika –

I am a Nigerian.
I am one in 5 Africans.
I am one in 8 Black people, anywhere in the world.
I am a Nobel Prize Winner.
An Olympic Gold Medalist.
A Grammy Award Winner.
A Soccer Champion.
A Prince of the Vatican.
An Oscar Nominee.
A Giant of Literature.
A Distinguished Scientist.
A Musical Icon.
My roots lie in the dusty Sahel of the North; in the rich rainforests of the East;
in the Savannah plains of the West; in the oil-filled swamps of the Delta;
in the warmth of our villages and the vibrancy of our cities.
My strength flows from the waters of the Niger and the Benue.
My joy springs from the rush of Gurara Falls and the natural wonders of Yankari.
Nigeria is my rock.
Nigeria is my hope.
Nigeria is my home.
I am the voice of two hundred tribes, speaking three hundred languages.
I am the dance of the circle of life.

I am the laughter of the world’s happiest people.
I am nourished by the crop of the soil, fed by the bounty of the rivers.
I am your neighbour.
I am your friend.
I am a warrior, priest, king.
I am a mother, teacher, queen.
I am my brother’s keeper.
I am a sage from an ancient civilization.
I am a child in the youngest nation on earth.
I am the beauty,
I am the sound,
I am the vision,
I am the spirit,
I am the passion,
I am the soul of a Continent.
I am a Nigerian.
I am the HEART OF AFRICA

LIFE: What five tips can make one’s life more simple?

Answer by Lucas

A) Stop living your damn life online. Stop using social networks. I’m talking about Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Stop using your phone at the dinner table (actually, any table for that matter). Stop playing angry birds on the bus. Talk to the people next to you, or at the very least, enjoy the view. Stop messaging friends. Call them for gods sake.

B) Prune relationships that aren’t bring any positivity to your life.People who are negative are only making your life that much harder. Embrace positivity. Stop talking about other people. Gossip is the worst way to get in the shit. A strong and positive support group makes life so much easier.

C) Let go of what wasn’t meant to be. Things don’t usually go the way they’re planned. I often say to myself, “Will this matter in one week? one month? one year?”. If the answer is no, forget about it. Move on. Life is about rolling with the punches. Bumps in the road often lead to something much more fulfilling. Look for new opportunities. All the time.

D) Say no more often. Don’t be a yes man (or woman). Stop promising things you can’t, or don’t want to commit to.

E) Stop wishing your life away. “I wish I had more money”, “I wish I was more successful”, “I wish I was better at writing” etc. Stop wishing. Start making changes in your life. We’re only given 80 years to be on this planet. Make use of what little time you have.

Bonus:

F) Fucking smile. Smile everyday. I see so many miserable people when I go into the city. I’ll smile at them and they look at me like I’m the weird one. ME! This really pisses me off. Be happy for everything you have. You have so many things to be grateful for. Your health. Your family. Your children. Your friends. Your education. In fact, here: 60 Things To Be Thankful For In Life. I won’t bother listing them all off, read them for your self. If you think you have nothing to be grateful for, message me and I’ll tell you 20.

Best of luck!

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