Babies
All Us Africans Look Alike, Huh?
When someone meets me for the first time, they always try to guess where I’m from. It is usually “are you Ethiopian?” I say no with a smile because It never fails, and I know what’s next. “Oh, you are Somalian!”
“Uhm, no! I am Nigerian. Nigeria is in West Africa,” my usual response. Then they say, “Wow, you don’t look Nigerian! I have a lot of Nigerian friends.” Blah, blah, blah.
Puzzled. Am I supposed to take that as a compliment? What do Nigerians look like?
In any case, I went to the neighborhood market today, and the cashier was just sh*t out of luck. Today was the wrong day to ask and not have her facts straight. She was obviously a new employee. I didn’t recognize her because I have been going to the same market for 6 years, and we are all on a first name basis. I picked up a little bit of groceries and proceeded to the cashier to check out.
I said hello, and she didn’t even say hi back (mistake #1). She said, “are you Ethiopian” in some high squeaky, immediately annoying voice. I think that was what set me off. The voice? No, it’s the ignorance (I was thinking about this later as I drove home). I said, no. I’m Nigerian. She said, “Same, same. It’s the same thing, I was close, huh?” *blank stare.*
“The same? How? No ma’am. You are off. Way off. I am from West Africa, and Ethiopia is in the East. We don’t have the same culture, tradition, food, language…I can go up and down the list.” What is she talking about? To give her some credit, maybe a few things are similar, but nothing of significance that I can think of right now.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against other African Countries. Absolutely nothing. Personally, we are all sisters and brothers. I love the music, food, clothes and appreciate all of the cultures. I appreciate the mix-up, as I think we are all beautiful, but that’s amongst my community. Who are you to make that mistake out of ignorance and say, “same, same.” ?! Am I usually mean? No! But I don’t bullshit either.
Maybe on a normal day, I would have pleasantly educated her. Even if we started off on the wrong foot. Not today. I’m sick, going through incessant cravings and everyone stinks to me. I guess I need to just file this away under “pregnancy hormones.”
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Errr….. I hear you and I totally get it. I mean also that ‘I totally get it too’ that annoying generalisation of ‘ARE YOU JAMAICAN? NO, I’M DOMINICAN, OH SAME THING’. Noooooooooo! It’s laziness if you ask me. Not showing you care to differentiate a persons cultural, as well as geographical heritage is the highest form of arrogance and I too have no time for such people, unless they’re genuinly willing to be educated.
CLASSIC! “all black people look alike huh?”
lol! Great post
Folake you do have east african features. And if you research the yoruba race for example, you will find that it is hard to tell us apart simply by doing a DNA test.
Hello Folake,
I love your designs and i was thinking of the age bracket WeWe Clothing takes care of and if i could make orders from Nigeria.
Also, i would like to know, if you have adult clothing s for both sexes.
Thanks.
@ Debbie- TOTALLY! You get what I’m saying.
@ Miss C- I know, right? Thanks for stopping by.
@ Muyiwa- I don’t doubt that I may have some EA features. But “same, same?” Come on now?!? Thanks for your comment, dear.
@ Bros Wale- Thank you much. Appreciate it. The kids sizes are 1 through 5yr olds, and we do have adult clothes too. You can view them here http://www.weweclothing.com
Folake! the African Queen, keep up the good work girl! I think u look GREAT!!!!
@ Sis Tayo- Thank you! Hope you and the family are well. Regards.
Nice post. Love the hair. How do you maintain it?
Anyone that love you never care to ask where you are from, they don’t need your explanation when you do wrong, Love never seek wrong but happiness in their love once.
Take care and GOD Bless you and your Family.
Femi awe
Good article, great looking weblog, added it to my favorites!