Its Nigeria, not China, that is slowly but surely colonising us
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f7b507af17&view=att&th=14852a3c78
7e0834&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=66a1008d7c94486e_0.2&zw> The growing
social and cultural influence of Nigeria in Kenya is the natural precursor
to full
Nigerian musician Flavour performing at a Naija Nite at The Carnivore in
Nairobi. Nigerian music is so well liked in Kenya that a radio station that
purports to play urban African music has a playlist of mostly Nigerian
music. PHOTO |FILE
Name the biggest musicians in Africa right now. Now name some of African
films biggest stars. Go ahead, Ill wait. How many of them were Nigerians?
I interviewed one of them last week, the highlife musician, Flavour, most
famous here for his Nwa Baby song and its Ashawo remix. Like the most
conceited of eternally sunglass-wearing stars, he was a fragile personality,
treated by his management like a precious piece of china always at risk of
breaking if not handled carefully.
Even for one who massages egos for a living like me, his egregiously cocky
demeanour was over the top and supremely annoying, almost as if sucking out
all the air from the studio.
The smugness that travels along with Flavour is not unique to him. His
compatriot, Davido, is no different. A big star on the African music scene,
he is also well aware of his stardom and acts as you would expect of a rich,
spoilt brat.
I was in Mauritius in late June for a Multichoice content showcase for their
DStv and GoTV channels when I met the 22-year-old musical force. I didnt
get an on-camera interview; he had to run off to a busy night of partying
before leaving the next morning for a different part of the continent.
On my return flight, I had the misfortune of sharing my cattle-class row
with two Nigerian journalists. The men demanded to be served before everyone
else, and despite having flown economy, wanted the services of a private
suite on the upper deck of an Airbus 380.
Nigerians have a highly defined sense of self-belief, entrepreneur Mike
Macharia told me. If you meet a Nigerian somewhere, it is not someone
youll look down upon because youre prejudicial.
He has spent the last few years trying to expand the company he founded and
still leads Seven Seas Technologies into Africas most populous and
biggest economy.
In Kenya, Nigerian movies are some of the most popular on television, much
loved not just by housewives and househelps, but by many who would probably
never publicly admit to watching Nollywood productions.
Nigerian music is so well liked in Kenya that a radio station that purports
to play urban African music has a playlist of mostly Nigerian music. It
might as well be called Davido FM.
So powerful is the Nigerian branding in Kenya that the Nigerian-Kenyan
comedian, Obinna, has channelled it into a radio and TV show, performs to
large crowds and is even launching a singing career.
What makes Nigerians so different is that theyve accepted themselves,
theyve accepted their loudness, and they embrace their African-ness,
former TV business journalist Cynthia Nyamai told me by phone.
She says her eponymous communication consultancy is doing good business in
Nigeria, just a few months in.
They allow themselves to dream big you think of owning a Range Rover
Sport, they are dreaming of owning a jet or buying a holiday home in Spain.
Obinna says his Kenyan fans love the boisterous nature of his character.
Nigerians are flashy, they wear loud colours and drive big vehicles and
Kenyan women especially love that.
Mentally superior to Africans
He plays into the overconfident stereotype that many Kenyans both love and
admire.
Kenyans feel mentally superior in East Africa, but Nigerians feel mentally
superior to most Africans, Macharia says.
That level of self-assurance works for them across Africa.
He points out that Nigerian businesses are making more investments in the
country, such as GT Banks recent acquisition of 70per cent of Fina Bank.
They find us weak, so when he comes here and buys a small bank, $100
million (Sh8.7bn) is something he can easily do.
Theres a Nigerian everywhere you look, anywhere in the world. A friend took
me to Croydon in South London two years ago and we found Nigerian influences
there suffocating.
A large immigrant community in a former colonial master is certainly
admirable but the growing supremacy of Nigeria in Kenya remains unexplored.
That Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, is investing in the cement and
energy business here and President Uhuru Kenyatta is noticeably warming up
to President Goodluck Jonathan are just the latest signals.
Growing influence in Kenya
One of Africas biggest writers, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was in Nairobi
for a literary festival late last year to a prodigious reception. Not only
are Kenyans attracted to Nigerian music and film, their modern literature is
taking over from the Chinua Achebes and Wole Soyinkas of yore.
No wonder Nyamai says Nigerians are very pan-African and she now gets
business on her own without facilitation from the British partner who first
introduced her to the market.
But that continent-wide thinking may also be working against Kenyas in the
East-West interaction that remains heavily imbalanced in the West Africans
favour.
The growing social and cultural influence of Nigeria in Kenya is the natural
precursor to full economic domination. Though China is investing millions of
yuan in Kenya, it is the colourful folks from Africas West coast with their
agbadas and distinct accents truly capturing the hearts and minds of
Kenyans.
It is only a matter of time before the naira gains currency with the
population here. The Nigerian colonisation of Kenya is here.
You might not recognise it just yet because it is wearing sunglasses and
acting up
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni
katika machafuko"
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