I have had this conversation with a few people, and just last night, I had this conversation again with Ovie of NotJustOk. I have been told by quite a number of people that my blog isn’t Nigerian enough, that it caters more to non Nigerians than it does to Nigerians. I always thought the blog is quite Nigerian, but I am probably not in the best position to say what it caters to exactly, since I’ll probably be biased.
Ovie said – and these are his exact words – “the only thing that is Nigerian about your blog is the blogger.” Does everyone else feel this way, too? I’ve always thought myself to be an examplery Nigerian. Kinda sorta. But if my blog isn’t a Nigerian blog, then what is it? It certainly isn’t American.
In light of this, I have decided to be more Nigerian by doing the following:
1. Putting the Nigerian flag as my background.
2. Ending each posts with “P.S. I’m Nigerian.”
3. Blogging at least 5 Nigerian-ish posts daily.
4. Changing my theme colors to green and white (instead of pink, black, and white).
5. Mentioning the word, “Nigeria” randomly in each post. Example: I went to the grocery store today – Nigeria – where I bought, yogurt, meatballs – Nigeria – and bread.”
What do you think? Nigerian enough?
Seriously, I’d like to know what you think. Is this blog Nigerian enough for you? Or would you like for it to be more Nigerian? If it is not Nigerian enough, would you like me to make it more Nigerian? And how do I make it more Nigerian? What would you like to read?
I think the reason why people say your blog may not be Nigerian enough is because majority of your content almost has nothing to do with Nigeria. And I think its because you’re not based in Nigeria. Your environment influences what you blog about. If you take a good look at my blog, you can say its Nigerian because I’m based in Naija and my blogging is affected by stuff around me.
So, I guess point no. 3 in ur list is the answer…as well as keeping abreast with whats going on in Naija…though that may be a little hard for you.
I see where you’re coming from. Currently, I don’t have a lot of Nigerian stories to tell. Perhaps, when I go to Nigeria, I will have new stories to tell. And I don’t find fascinating-enough stories from/about Nigeria to blog about.
Ah! Not Nigerian enough ke?
This is like when Ck tells me that I am americanized/westernized and I’m looking around like who? You talking to me? Me? This very loud Yoruba girl? Me that cooks Naija food daily? Me that speaks yoruba fluently and even understand some deep dialet!!!
I just tire!
Vera… I can’t help u here ‘cos I am just as confused
Lol Funmie i understand where you are coming from because i have heard similar utterances made to me and i am as African as they come then i realised it was my mannerisms and way of thinking that made people say that. They probably expect you to think and behave like the average Nigerian girl who lives in Nigeria based on what you have said speak yoruba cook naija food etc.
You’re right on the money. Mannerisms and orientation, I think play a big part in your Nigerian-ness or lack of it.
Fufu, you and CK once on another level. In your case, it’s not you that isn’t Nigerian. It’s CK that isn’t American. Lol.
Blog title Verastic- a little bit of everything NOT Verastic – a little bit of Nigeria #thatisall
one of the initial reasons I was initially drawn to your blog was the fact that you were ‘Nigerian’ and an expatriate. but Ive come to realize that you see yourself first as a human being, which is a good thing. but I also realize that for you to connect more with Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, you will need to be more Nigerian. I realise how dumb that sounds but I do not have any other way to put it. NOTJUSTOK manages to be both international and Nigerian. Maybe they can give you pointers. there are lots of reasons you need to ‘connect’ with the 9ja crowd, but I leave it for you to figure out, if you havent done that already. But even if you dont go native, you are stil one of the more interesting blogs out there.
An expatriate! I have never called myself that, but now that you said it, I would have to say it, too. Lol. But you’re right about one thing: I do consider myself first as a human being. And when I’m blogging, I really just blog as a human being. Being Nigerian means that I may blog about certain Nigerian issues and I may also “Nigerianize” the posts. Oh. Well.
I don’t know how much more Nigerian you can be though…the mere fact that you live in America is a factor we mustn’t overlook.
Thank you! I tend to agree with you 🙂
“Not Nigerian enough”??? What does that even mean?
Who knows these days? Lol. I think it means that I don’t blog about Nigerian issues. Like politics, entertainment, etc.
Not Nigerian enough? :s I’m really confused. You are so Nigerian to me. I am Nigerian and a lot of my friends are and we enjoy reading your blog so Im guessing that means you are very Nigerian.
Awwww. Thank you, Kelley! And thanks to your friends, too.
Mehn…PLEASE. Its your blog, do whatever you want, unless of course you’re trying to turn this into a career in which case maybe do whatever the public wants. Is most of your site traffic coming from Nigeria? If so maybe switch up the content to “more Nigerian” (whatever the hell that means).
Otherwise, you can continue as you would like.
Personally, my blog is not “Nigerian” enough. I know that. Every once in a while I will write a few posts that center on things in Nigeria but since I don’t life there its hard to muster up the energy to really care unless something MAJOR happens there.
Besides when people say “keep up with that is happening in Nigeria” do they mean you should turn into Linda Ikeji? The Nigerian gossip blog market is pretty much sewn up, non? What do these people want sef?
Meant to say “since I don’t have a life there its hard to muster up the energy…”
thank you my sister…I furious after a few comments at the top…lol
Izzie, lol at being furious. No vex ehn! 🙂
EDJ, I’m definitely, definitely trying to turn this into a career. BUT I have no intention of conforming to whatever it is that I am supposed to be doing. And I’m with you about blogging about Nigeria when something major happens.
*scratching my head* Not Nigerian enough? EDJ has got a point.
Please DO NOT change the colour of your blog..lol
Kiky, I like how you emphasized the DO NOT. Hahaha. Not to worry, I’m gonna be pink, black, and white for a minute.
I see your blog more as a blog for Nigerians living in the US. Linda Ikeji posts International stuff but puts a Nigerian perspective to it. But certainly, your blog identifies more with Nigerians living in the US than with Nigerians living in Nigeria.
Thank you, Manny! Makes sense. And of course, I live here in the States so … Yeah.
Biko Biko Biko…..way ra minute hia..Bia Vera, Shebi it is your blog? which one con concayn pple as to whether it is nigerian or not?? Ndi mmadu nwe nsugbo shi nne..hian..will ur blog being nigerian enough solve the problems in nigeria??? me sef I wither for you as you are even contemplating the non issue…I hiss in igbo, yoruba and hausa…
Nwanne, write or blog about what you feel like jor…leave pple to be there contemplating what is not important..abi e get award wey you de try work towards????
Izzie, lol at hissing in three languages. That’s the most serious kinda hissing. Tehehehe. Thanks anyway, babe. I’m gonna keep doing it the way I’m doing it. Dalu!
vera..find a way to add a like and unlike comments on this your blog…lmho
Loool. Yeye girl. So you can keep disliking people’s comments abi? Lol.
yes na…some people just make comments that boxes my boos boxers..lol
Schweppes! Tehehe. Well, I don’t know if there is a plug-in for that, but I ain’t looking. That’s for sure. Lool. People will now be fearing to leave comments for fear that one Izzie like that will come and dislike all the comments. :p
LOL, I’m sorry o, I know this is not a laughing matter. But seriously why are we all so shallow. I don’t see anything wrong in your blog. It’s as generalized as it can be and what you feature could happen anywhere globally.
I got the same question when I launched my website http://www.fashiongist.com i got some emails asking me why i’m featuring white people when it’s all about Africans.
But what I did though is that I told them if they could answer my questions which i will list below then maybe “maybe o” I could rethink my concept.
1. What should African website look like.
2. What should a Nigerian website look like.
3. What contents are to be featured in a Nigerian website.
4. What kind of photos should we be uploading.
5. What kind of stories should we be telling.
6. What kind of audience should we be targeting.
And a never ending WHATS.
So, Vera, abeg Biko, Dalu, Jor – just do you.
Hope you know that no matter what you do, people will never get satisfied.
As long as you’re true to yourself, isssh wahala no dey.
I just launched another website 3 weeks ago http://www.mixcloset.com I bet if they know its a Nigerian behind it, I sure will get some emails. hehehe.
PS – I’m still working on a plan of raiding that your shoe closet. Ooops did I just say that.
Bike, see, I was with you until you had to talk about raiding my shoe closet. Stop it! Warn yourself oh before I put a restraining order against you. I checked out your websites. Cool stuff!! Go girl. It’s not Nigerian enough at all. Loool.
My job allows me travel a bit (at the end of this write up, come back and confirm if I am Nigerian, by this little confession) and I have come to interpret these as what makes me Nigerian. Thought it would help. 1. Be a English Premier League Football Team fan. Weird but true. Wearing a Arsenal, Man Utd, and Chelsea jersey on match days proclaims your Nigerianness. Basketball is for Americans, or worse wimps. American football is unfathomable and uninteresting to Nigerians
2. 90% of the songs on your playlist must be P Square, Burna Boy, Eva, Fela or Iyanya. If you had to google anyone of them, your Nigerianness is questionable. A Nigerian would never be caught listening to heavy metal or any syrupy willowy white girl. If he must listen to foreign music, at least the artiste has to be black.
3. One must pine for some unobtainable food once in a while. Agbalumo, uda, fura de nono, or even agege bread.. Mac and Cheese? Bacon strips? Kilonjebe? A Nigerian should whine about Guinness Stout, and the real bitter stuff, none of the ghastly draught stuff, and definitely not Budweiser.
4. A Nigerian must find it in his/her heart to insult his President and Nigeria loudly and in imaginative ways. But be warned non-Nigerians, a Nigerian would not stand it if you diss his President or his country. that privilege is reserved exclusively for Nigerians.
5. A Nigerian should always drop subtle hints about his net worth and mostly in a deprecating manner. “I wonder which country I should go shopping next…” …………I could go on and on, but you’d have to invite me as a guest writer on VERASTIC…Recommended Reading…How to be a Nigerian by Peter Enahoro.
I am laughing my butt off right now. You’re just so hilarious.
i try. Na gode.
Lulufa, this your “na gode” brings back fond memories of Jos.
Bike, don’t mind Lulufa. He’s using me to test his theories. Lol.
Lulufa, this your list na die oh! And ifingo by this your list, they might revoke my Nigerian citizenship sef. I don’t know who Burna Boy is. I may have seen his name, but I don’t know his music. I don’t know Eva’s music either. I refuse to drop any kinda hints – subtle or obvious – about my net worth. I can’t say that I “love” American football, but I will probably watch it over soccer *covers face and runs*
The only reason I know about soccer teams right now is because of Igwe. He’s a Chelsea fanatic. Oh, and yes, I’m one of those who call it “soccer.” I’ve been told that it’s unNigerian to say soccer instead of football. The songs are listen to most on my playlist are not Nigerian. Not even one of them.
I couldn’t care less who insults GEJ. It’s hard to defend him. I don’t drink beer, so I can’t really relate to the Guinness thing. But fura de nono anytime! I lived in Plateau State.
now you are officially cool. any Jos person na correct. lol
Woooooooot! I went to St. Louis College, Jos. Does that make me even cooler? 😀
Just be who you are. That’s what counts.
Thank you, Ijeoma 🙂
I think I found myself at the same crossroads about a year ago when I began to monetize my blog and because over 20% of my traffic came from Nigeria, I felt I could find some sponsors there. They also didn’t think I was Nigerian enough, what I found that meant was that I didn’t live in Nigeria and I was not a naija-celebrity/gossip/trending stories blogger. That is what they understand, not real stats or niches.
I do not think it is wise to be what we are not, I am a Nigerian in America who blogs about what interests me. I think that is enough for my readers or they would have voted with their feet. It’s also nice that I did find advertisers who were happy with the almost 30% of my traffic that is American and pay me good money for that. 🙂
Myne, you know what? I totally relate because though I’ve been blogging now for almost seven years, it was only last month that I officially started monetizing my blog, and that has pretty much been the same reception: I am not in Nigeria, and my blog isn’t Nigerian. But that’s all well and good because in only less than a month since I opened used up for advertising/monetizing, I’ve gotten queries and ads from US and other countries. While I’ve gotten a few queries from Nigeria, no one has actually followed up. But like Maya Angelou said, “Still I rise …” lol.
For someone who isn’t based in Nigeria, I think your blog is Nigerian enough. I mean, like most(if not all, more or less) people that reads it and comment are Nigerians including Ovie and for us to keep on coming back day after day, that shows that we (the Nigerians) like it. And personally, I’d prefer having something international than national. Just saying.. and the green white green thing, so cliche…
Bingz, I thank you very much for reading this blog. I really do. I’m happy with where I am, but it is really only the beginning of where I will be. Thank you.
Oh, I forgot to say that when Ovie told me that my blog wasn’t Nigerian, he was not saying it as a bad thing per se, but just tryna tell me what he thinks it looks/seems like.
My dear, when I read your blog, I feel your ‘Nigerianness’! Who is that Ovie sef?
Awww. Thanks, boo! That said, Ovie really wasn’t tryna be mean or anything like that. He’s my friend. He was just tryna tell me the perception of people about my blog.
Vera oooo! Just do you! Just do what makes you ‘You’ and makes you feel good and people will accept you as you are. (I think they already have!) We all have our reasons for following you. I follow you for your quirkness, hilarious-ness (if there is such a word) and interesting topics. If I want typical Nigerian-ness I know where to go. Variety is the spice of life! You blog about your environment, nothing wrong with that! Go on with your badt self jor!
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot! Thanks, Miz B! Since you have said it, I have no choice but to do as you say. Thank you very much for following me. It is much appreciated. 😀
I love your blog just the way it..it’s different and fresh…too many Nigerian like blogs already…do your thing!
Awwww. Thank you so much, Suga. Thamk you!