Elsie UdohRemember those loud parties back home that you’re used to? Every Saturday was almost booked with one ”owambe” event to the other. Or how you could not offer somebody something using your left hand to avoid getting a remark about how you lacked proper training or even worse?
But these are hardly the case now that you are far away from home and exposed to new traditions. However, the beauty of Nigerian culture is that it travels with you, so despite being far away from home, you can still keep the Nigerian traditions you are fond of alive, from our loud parties to even the “Sunday Rice” that gives us something to look forward to every weekend.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis article will discuss ways to maintain your Nigerian traditions while living abroad. Let’s get started.
How You Can Maintain Your Nigerian Traditions While Living Abroad
Attend Nigerian Weddings
Living abroad already alienates you from the opportunity to attend Nigerian events, so you need to be intentional about it to avoid missing out on your chance to attend one. Among the Nigerian events that you will get access to in the diaspora are weddings. Take advantage of every Nigerian wedding you attend to show that you are still very much a part of the unique culture, with the traditions actively a part of you.
So what if you can’t have a full-on Nigerian wedding bash in your country of residence? Well, we are not ones to be left behind, and if there’s one thing we know how to do well, it’s improvise and adapt, so put your adaptation hats on and let’s get ready to attend that wedding the Nigerian way.
- First things first, wearing traditional attire is non-negotiable. Imagine trying to be Nigerian in a proper suit and dinner gown. That totally defeats the purpose, so for this, we will be rocking on a well-tailored Agbada, Iro, and Buba or George material. Any traditional attire you select to reawaken the Nigerian spirit in you is acceptable.
If you don’t have traditional clothes, then you can get a good Nigerian tailor (or someone back home who can send them over) to sew them for you. Or order online from top designers who can create stylish and modern designs for you. Whatever the case, we are getting that proper Nigerian wedding vibe, so aso-ebi is a must!
- What’s a Nigerian wedding or party in general without spraying money? This is usually the time when the “big guys” of the event come around to flaunt their wealth and do an I pass my neighbour“ showcase. Now, we know that this is no longer allowed in Nigeria, and some other countries frown against this so we do not encourage you to take this tradition outside.
What you can do instead is to put the cash in an envelope and hand it to the couples during the reception. You can do this openly if you want to draw attention to yourself or discreetly give it to them.
Omugwo
This is the tradition of mothers or mothers-in-laws providing post-birth care. If you are abroad and pregnant. Then you can start now to plan to honour this tradition by making plans for your mom or mother-in-law to visit after you give birth. But what happens when Grandma cannot make it or you can’t afford to bring her over? Well. ‘Omugwo’ is still not off the table.
Nigerian aunties or even friends who are mothers might be willing to offer the help that you need by assisting you, cooking pepper soup and helping you take care of the baby. The essence of Omugwo is the care, love, and support that helps new mothers recover and guides them through their new era of motherhood, and when you have people that care about you abroad, you can easily recreate this anywhere in the world.
Don’t Miss Out On Sunday Rice
Your parents did not start the trend of cooking rice every Sunday for you to travel abroad and dump it behind. No Sunday is complete in a Nigerian household without the signature “Sunday Rice,” and you can continue this tradition in your household no matter where you are. Simply visit local stores where you can find Nigerian food ingredients to get what you’ll need to cook delicious rice, stew, fried plantains, and maybe even moi moi and enjoy them with your loved ones (or video call them if they’re back home) to keep the tradition going.
Also Read: Where To Find Authentic Nigerian Food Ingredients In The UK
Child Dedication
Another tradition that might be hard to keep up with away from home is child dedication if you have a newborn. It might be difficult doing this in a church different from the one you grew up in, but you can always find a local Nigerian church to do this abroad and still experience the traditional music, prayers, and gifts that you would have gotten back home. To be more connected with your loved ones back home, ensure you provide options for them to join in via Zoom or WhatsApp video call.
Right Hand Only, Please!
In Nigerian culture, especially among the Yoruba, it’s customary to use your right hand when giving or receiving items as a mark of respect. While living abroad, you might be surrounded by people who don’t care which hand you use, but it’s important to keep this cultural sign of respect alive.
So whether you’re handing over cash at the store or giving your friend a gift, using your right hand is a simple yet powerful way to hold on to your Nigerian traditions. If you have kids, your constant reminders will also help them to understand and imbibe this core aspect of Nigerian etiquette.
Maintain Your Love For Nigerian Food
If you’ve been following our posts about the diasporas for a while, then you already know how important food is as an integral part of your home tradition while living abroad. There’s no better way to feel nostalgic than enjoying a nicely cooked Nigerian meal, whether it’s our star Jollof rice or any of your favourite swallows.
You can get Nigerian ingredients at African grocery stores near you or find restaurants around you that serve Nigerian meals and order cooked meals.
Clothing and Slangs
Stepping out in a bright-coloured Ankara fabric is an unmistakable way to identify yourself as a Nigerian in a foreign land. You can opt for a simple Ankara design to wear for everyday outings and rock the more decorative designs for significant ones like celebrations and church services.
Wearing our traditional attire can even be a great conversation starter with an inquisitive foreigner, and don’t forget to throw in some slang that we are known for to spread the Nigerian culture; we have a lot of them like “How far?”
Fall in Love With Naija Music and Dance
We’re bringing this back again, because why not? See where we’re bringing it back from here. Our music and dance are great ways to remind yourself and uphold the traditions that are dear to you. While you might miss the live performances and street parties in Nigeria, you can still make do with vibing to Afrobeat, Fuji, or Highlife with your loved ones at home or weddings and other events.
Remember Your “Agbo”
Did your mom make you chew bitter leaf when you had malaria, or have you drunk up some other concoctions? Let’s admit, even though most of their tastes were nothing to write home about, those “abgos” did work some healing wonders. Even while living abroad, you can still turn to “agbos” for healing solutions.
Although they might be a little harder to find abroad, you can still check the local market for some herbs that you can buy and prepare local concoctions or have family from home send them to you. Just be cautious, especially with customs regulations when importing herbs. As long as you’re mindful of safety, there’s no reason why you can’t still enjoy the natural benefits of Nigerian herbal remedies, popularly called “agbos.”
Additional Tips To Maintain Your Nigerian Traditions While Living Abroad
Here are some additional ways that you can maintain your Nigerian traditions while living abroad:
- Teach your children about our rich traditions.
- Stay up-to-date with our traditions by following updates on platforms like Prime Business Africa.
- Join Nigerian communities abroad, attend cultural events, and celebrate together with others who share your background.
- Thanks to social media and video calling, you can connect with family back home and stay connected with the fond traditions you’re used to, no matter the distance.
Key Takeaways
If you’ve read up to this point, you are fully aware that it’s possible to maintain your Nigerian traditions while living abroad. Let’s remind you how:
- Keep the Naija spirit alive by attending Nigerian weddings, bringing your mom over for Omugwo, and participating in other Nigerian events.
- Practice the traditions you are used to.
- Teach your children to love the traditions that formed the better part of your growing up.
There’s everything to love about Nigerian traditions, and even far away from home, you can maintain these traditions and keep the practices you cherish close to your heart and alive no matter where you live.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lags State University.
