Ep 159: A Nigerian Independence Episode ft Nnenna, Onuorah, & Uche

Raphael Harry [00:00:00]:

Welcome to White Label American Podcast. This is a podcast that brings you bold, in-depth interviews with interesting people that are mostly immigrants taking down artificial walls 1 story at a time. This is a podcast that empowers immigrants to share their stories and listen to those of others. Thank you for joining us. Welcome to another episode of White Label American. Thank you all for joining us today, and This is very special episode. So as you all know, my origins are tied to the former British colony called Nigeria, and I haven't, officially done a Nigerian independence episode. So, yes, some Nigerian so Get mad about that.

Raphael Harry [00:01:02]:

So I decided to do something different this year. You know? Nigeria is how old was? 62, 63? What? Well, I forgot, but I'm not good at mathematics. That wasn't my strong points. But, you know, but, I decided to recognize Nigeria's independence finally. Alright. We're celebrating celebrating, but you you get you get the gist. However, I decided to get a panel of, Diverse people from different backgrounds, but they're very they share a lot in common, surprisingly. Wasn't planned, but kind of planned at the same time.

Raphael Harry [00:01:39]:

And the the the main thing that we have the main thing that we have is the state of Texas, you know. And why Texas? Because that's Nigeria's headquarters, so you got no choice. You have to go people in Texas. Gotta go there. So I started with Texas, and, there was a version I was trying to do with the state of, We're we're not the states, the United Kingdom because that's also the Nigeria outside of Nigeria. But then British people, they were all drinking tea and, you know, still mourning from the queen, passing away. Don't come for me. It's a lie.

Raphael Harry [00:02:13]:

I was just joking. I know they were getting mad, but no. No. No. I know. I love you guys still. But still support my podcast. 5 stars.

Raphael Harry [00:02:20]:

Buy the merch. And, I'm wearing Nigerian jersey for those of you who watch the video. So, it's not like, oh, you know, there's still love, obviously. You know? And shout out to our Ghanaian brethren who are protesting. What's it called? Hashtag occupy Julep B House. Sound like a lot in a different way, but, we understand why you guys are protesting, but, Yeah. My turn. Yes.

Raphael Harry [00:02:44]:

I have I have a different assignment for you all later on. Anyway, with that being said, let's meet today's guest because we're not here to talk about what, But, shout out to the Ghanaian people because I always shout out people protesting even if I don't last year see some in the protesting. So who are the people that I have here today? You've met her before. You've met her at the episode of the podcast. She's back again. She's still yet to come on the podcast for her own solo episode. We're still waiting for her to come back for that. Her name is, and I won't give you the full names because you've met her before.

Raphael Harry [00:03:25]:

So welcome back, Nnena. She's into so many things, but she will tell you about all that. And we are happy to have you here with us today. And you've met the 2nd guest on episode 155. Awesome brother. I'm a veteran. He does great content, he's also a podcaster and a YouTuber. He's, an Igbo brethren.

Raphael Harry [00:03:49]:

This man has one of the best voices in the podcasting game That's not only covers what it means to be a podcaster, but it speaks to the African diaspora LGBTQ community breaking the, getting population to break free from outdated social and traditional norms and to live unapologetically free to their fullest potentials as humans. There's many more to this brother, but we're glad to have him back again. Welcome to the podcast, And finally, but not the least, who's a brother who I knew when I was, we have a great story of how we met in the navy during my my, basic training. And if he wants to tell that story, he can tell that story, but he's, he's now a nurse with, ICE. Is it ICE or ICE? I don't know. I I I forgot to confirm that but, Ice. Okay. And he's, he he did a a few combat deployments in the navy.

Raphael Harry [00:05:06]:

He's presently working as a nurse down in Texas, and he's now a father of 2 wonderful children. He also happens to have a beloved half human companion named Diesel. That's a dog, actually, but, You know, it's half human, so we have to find out where the half human came from. But welcome to the show, everybody. Oh, that's a beautiful photo that, you know, it's funny as a photo. Lovely. Lovely. But, you know, some Nigerians, we ask you, which one is it? Half human.

Raphael Harry [00:05:36]:

Where the where the half human? You know? Have you become so Americanized that now there's Half human in there. So how's everybody doing? Welcome to the show. It's gonna be in the spirit of The independence, you know, talking about Nigeria's independence. The what does Nigeria's independence mean to you, you know, If you still celebrate it, if you don't but let's start with the the the happy moments. What's your favorite independence memory? So, Onyena, let's start with you. No? A gentle I'm a gentleman.

Nnenna [00:06:11]:

Why does it have to be me? So let's see. My favorite. I don't have any other than the torture of having to Go and march and salute some, I don't know, some people. But that was just it. I can't say I have, You know, I have any happy moment or any like, a real happy moment experience. I I'm just, what, I'm still young. Right? So I just got my idea, like, when I was really, really young. I think if anything, it was just the experience as a as a girl, as a student, You know, participating in all those, March pass.

Nnenna [00:06:52]:

I don't know if you guys did that, but you you know, Independence Day, you go and march, and That's

Raphael Harry [00:06:59]:

it. Alright. My brother, Uche. Oh, wait. I should go alphabetically. You know, let's do first. What is the Nigerian Independence Day

Onuorah [00:07:12]:

memory? Alright. Like, And I joined kind of episode thing. I'll be switching between English and Pidgin English. Okay? I'm I'm that I'm that local. However, In regards to Nigerian independence, I don't celebrate anything for Nigeria. You understand? Okay. My first Celebration of Nigerian independence was, here in America, where a group of group of Niger, Specifically, when I when when when I relocate Com America here, my touchdown was Raleigh, North Carolina, And we get plenty, ninja folks there. You know? So that was my 1st actual ninja independence where, DJ just put out table.

Onuorah [00:08:00]:

You know? A whole bunch of Nigerians came through with just the blast music. You know? Everybody just Everything just just going down. You know? Other than that, not a not a not a biggest Nigerian, independence where I don't, experience. With 9 job, 0. Nothing. Likening at all. Say she's been dating study. Me, I don't study.

Onuorah [00:08:22]:

I just Room around the street. You get what I mean? But other than that, that was about all I can remember with, Nigerian independence. You know? And and that's it. Before, I was forced to be a man and be a father. You understand? You know? We begin to take care of responsibility. Nigerian independence now later on in the back burner. If you get time, you you go to that. If you don't, hey.

Onuorah [00:08:46]:

It is what it is. Nigeria will still be there. You understand? You know? But other than that, hey. We're still here. We're still happy for Nigeria, though. You know? Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:08:57]:

Alright. My brother,

Uche Chukwu [00:08:59]:

Okay. I got a the Nigerian in the Beninist in that war. So Now what? Complete scam. It's easy to be proud to be Nigerian when you don't live in Nigeria. Good as that. So I don't know what to celebrate Oh, what not to celebrate? I'm gonna be honest. I'll I'll be I'll be honest. There there are things about being Nigerian that I genuinely do appreciate.

Uche Chukwu [00:09:20]:

Right? And those things, I give more glory to God, not necessarily to Nigeria, because I don't care who you are. I don't even care if you're born in America or you moved to America as a kid. We are all refugees, in my opinion, considering the state of Nigeria. Nah. We make, Chris Griffiths Bend. We're all running away from health finance. That's why we're here, looking for how to maintain our lives. So to me, I think it's very hypocritical celebrating something, knowing knowing fully well what we're running away from in Nigeria.

Uche Chukwu [00:09:52]:

Alright. And I think I did I I didn't I did an episode about 2, 3 years ago when NSAR has happened. You know, talking about how, if you're a Nigerian and you are celebrating Nigerian independence in the in the diaspora, shame on you, you know, because that makes you a hypocrite. We need to be honest about our situation and hold the leaders accountable. Because if we're here celebrating Nigeria and the world is seeing this, and they're like, okay. Well, Everything must be Gucci back home, so we need to be honest about our situation. So there's nothing worth celebrating. So it's all a scam, not wash.

Raphael Harry [00:10:23]:

Yeah. I feel you on that, my brother. But, however, I think you guys jumped the gun a little bit because I was asking About back in the days because only and then I touched on it. Because I remember as a kid, Well, we didn't know our right from our left. And as, Everybody will, you know I I remember, you know, the the first time I was, selected to Represent the school because I attended, my 1st school was police was owned by the police, and it's the second one was, by the army. I couldn't make it to I wasn't good enough to match for the school because, you know, your socks have to be crispy white. Your your your shorts, that has to be with the The the the what do you call it? The lions. You know, when you eye on it, the the the lions have to be I mean, it has to look like you you are applying for a civil service job.

Raphael Harry [00:11:32]:

So you you didn't know anything. Your the was really high back then. Y'all y'all you just wanted to be on the team to go represent the school, and I think I was, yeah. I was in.

Nnenna [00:11:46]:

I can relate.

Raphael Harry [00:11:48]:

You know, you

Uche Chukwu [00:11:51]:

finish like 9th 9th grade. 10th

Raphael Harry [00:11:54]:

9th grade. About, yeah, about 9th grade. When I didn't get selected, but I was like a cheerleader, like, you know, just in the crowd. But I went with, my schoolmates to stadium in, and that's where they held the independence day much faster. I've I've watched it on TV a few times. You're like, wow. I wish I would be in the stadium to share my schoolmates, and I I went for that. And That's where, my guest from episode 61, Joshua, at the end, his school, the rivalry with his school, the school, that that's where, like, You know? That's why we hated our school because those guys, when they showed up, they're all wearing talks.

Raphael Harry [00:12:39]:

You know? Like, their blazers, man, we just look at ourselves like, Man, with the poor people, the poor people here, because, man, you just see these guys, they are tired. They just, like, the man there with their chef. They are white. Look like brand new. Look like Pierre Cardin, just like. We just look at, man. Look at all of us. Look at well, how how we gonna win this match pass with these people? You know? They look like brand new from America.

Raphael Harry [00:13:01]:

Maybe it's from Walmart they got it from. Who knows? But that's where our mind was back then, And you you is that childhood innocence? And we you just admitted defeat immediately. So you saw this That was it. We just have made defeats right there because these guys look brand new. It didn't matter How how well we matched? We just knew that it was over. And I think for me, that's That memory, anytime I talk about Independence Day in Nigeria, I I never forget that they they like the stadium where from my school was just like, man, how's this a

Onuorah [00:13:44]:

school? These people were like, how's this a school?

Raphael Harry [00:13:46]:

I'm gonna be on school and just see there marching. Just while even matching. Like, these guys, just they look so good. But now looking now that I know with all that, no, you you know that their their parents had more money than every other person. They had all the all that, but that childhood without limited information of childhood, naivety, the innocence, It just made me it's a funny memory now, and I laugh over it as if I meet some of my classmates. We're like, yeah. And Because of all the schools being in the stadium, you don't think about traffic. You don't think about how to get home.

Raphael Harry [00:14:23]:

So, of course, there it was A a big hassle to get home. I ended up walking home. I got home at night. Family was freaking out. Why are you coming home at night in school uniform? And I was Nope. I didn't give it. What else I would give because, you know, my family didn't did not allow me to hang out at night. So, Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:14:42]:

I think that was, like, The most memorable event I had as a as a child for when it comes to Independence Day. But I hear you all when it comes to, the adults, As an adult celebrating Nigeria's independence, I mean, the more you know, the more you become aware of your surroundings. You become aware of Nigeria about What's going on in the country? It changes everything. It changes the feel like

Nnenna [00:15:06]:

this is also kind of like Maybe the question shouldn't have been memorable because not everyone shares that kind of experience that you had. Like me, I know mine was Trauma. Right? Living in boarding school, there was nothing interesting about Independence Day. May I just wanted to go home? Like, I'm over this whole thing. But your experience sounded like you had a good one. I did not, and I'm sure so many other Nigerian kids would tell you it was It was traumatic for some of us.

Raphael Harry [00:15:36]:

It it's not like it wasn't traumatic, but I had a memo. That that was just one memorable event that happened that I always keep you know, that I always recall once. It's not like it it happen all the time. That's just the only one memorable event. I was gonna ask about negative Events too. What I have to ask about the memorable events just in case people had a memorable event as children because We all went through childhood. Everybody had a moment where we didn't know our rights from our left, so I had to throw that question out there. But you're right.

Raphael Harry [00:16:08]:

You're right. You know? Yeah. I I I I think I think it's my fault there on that one, so I'll take that l.

Nnenna [00:16:16]:

I came swinging.

Uche Chukwu [00:16:18]:

Or maybe even another question is, what memory do you have when you lived in Nigeria that made you so proud to be Nigerian?

Raphael Harry [00:16:25]:

I don't think there's ever been a time in my life where I've I've been caught saying I'm proudly Nigerian. Like, the thing they do online, I've always found out weird. People say I'm proud. Like, even even America don't do the proudly American. How how much more proudly Nigerian? I'm proud of the rights that I have as an American citizen. I'm not doing that. I find it weird just displaying that weird, like, it's but I'm proud of moments that I lived in Nigeria, and most of them are tied to sports, to football. I planted 96.

Raphael Harry [00:17:01]:

I've lived in city. When, carnal tide scores the the gold that ties with Brazil, and everybody jumps down the street and will start running around almost 1 mile. I don't know why, but we we just running, hugging people. I don't know people who I'm hugging, and cars are hard. They cannot run me over, But people just jumped their cars. Oh, whatever the the match never end. Match never end. I'm gonna run back.

Raphael Harry [00:17:22]:

Oh, oh, oh, oh, he had to run back and go watch the the rest of the game. That was a proud moment. However, Abacha used that moment to solidify his hold on power. That's one reason why I don't mess with Military people taking over countries. I've seen people talking nonsense online today because I've seen how people use that to Engrave themselves into power and mess people's lives up. And people will be talking nonsense about they don't know. It's all about France. They they have.

Raphael Harry [00:17:51]:

Like, if you don't know, if you haven't lived on that, You just come out and be talking nonsense online because we didn't have social media then. That's one difference. But I saw a bunch of come out on the on on in the streets in Abuja. If people need to kill him, they could have killed him that day. We didn't know the amount of hell that man was going to bring to our lives. And people are like, yeah. Yeah. Because of a soccer game.

Raphael Harry [00:18:16]:

It was a soccer game. We're so happy, and we allowed that man coming. Yeah. Yeah. Shake hands. And then we sang national anthem after we won the game because we beat Brazil. On On that 23, not even the national level, and then came and showed us here. They wanna open up.

Raphael Harry [00:18:31]:

We wanna see defeat. We hear defeat. So, and then 2002, semifinal of Afghan, scores almost, like, 20 seconds out. It took about 2 2 minutes to the end of the game. I'm standing next to, for lack of a better term. I'm not that guy. He was showered, but they did a tie the game. We thought we're about to lose.

Raphael Harry [00:18:56]:

Hey. I'm hugging this guy. Just hugging him. Those are proud moments. I mean, times I've helped somebody has helped me in the middle of the night. I've helped somebody in, like, the and But it's not I've never come out to say I'm proudly in a job because I know army have almost killed me. No. Police have almost killed me.

Raphael Harry [00:19:15]:

I'm a text. I almost died in Lagos. I almost died in. When I've been locked up in a guardroom, nobody knew where I was for how many hours. What am I proud about for that. So no. But that's I don't wanna take it to that dark, dark, dark place. We go to the next episode.

Raphael Harry [00:19:31]:

She her story is If you haven't listened to that, listen to that episode. It is a yeah. She she has a very personal and sad story. You know? So no. I will still laugh. I can, I take people to a place that, I like to laugh, but, no? It doesn't mean I just for me, personally, I'm not, You know, I see the thing people do online where they, like, proudly in Nigeria. They're easy to down to to to down other countries, to down other people. And I'm like, why? Why can't you just enjoy what you have? Why can't you Enjoy your moment in the in the in the sun or the in the in the shine.

Raphael Harry [00:20:12]:

I was in Nigeria when, MacOSA was hot. Who who knew our music wasn't the top? And they asked us that Nigerian music becomes hot. The Africans, they have good music. It's all about Nigeria. I'm like, that that's how we call proud. No. So, no, it's hard for me to Use that term. But every everybody do your thing, though.

Raphael Harry [00:20:34]:

If it works for you, it works for you. You know? It doesn't work for me. I don't need that to make myself feel better. So yeah. But everybody, answer answer that question. I'm not the star of the show. You know? You you all are the guests.

Nnenna [00:20:49]:

I don't know. So for me, I see it differently. I I I think there are there are sometimes when I am proud to be Nigerian. Like, no doubt about it. Like, when I look at how far Nigeria I mean, I know we still have a lot of work to do. But when I look at how far Nigeria has come and how far we can go. I think maybe I I looked so much into the, you know, potential that Nigeria can become And have that hope that, you know, one day we will get there. But so far, I've made very good friends who are Nigerians.

Nnenna [00:21:26]:

And so I think, for me, that's what makes me feel proud of being Nigerian, that there are still some good Nigerians out there. But When I look at the other side of it, like, you know, the kind of other people I personally struggle with a lot of That in the in the aspect of being in Nigeria. So it's it's two sided for me. So I don't know. I still have my Nigerian passport.

Onuorah [00:21:56]:

No. Forget. Yeah. Onto my own level, Forget. I love I I claim Nigeria to the fullest. You understand? Even though even though Nigeria Had nothing good to offer because I think it does to some people if you get the connection, you know, if you get the connection. And then, then Nigeria has something to offer you. However, I still I still rep Nigeria any which way.

Onuorah [00:22:25]:

You know, funny story. When when when I've been there when I've been there military, you know, the the the kind of people I rule First off, I I greet everybody. If you're not be Niger, Niger at the top to roll with you, and you have you have to be Niger. And it'll be just Naijani Hau, if I speak broken English, give you you begin to speak one kind one kind. I got all for you. You understand, just for you. You know, you gotta be like you guys these street to those for Nigeria, roam around, they speak broken, that kind of thing. You know? Then after that, You know, you guys be African.

Onuorah [00:23:01]:

You know, you guys, any other part of African country where you come from. Then after that, Caribbean. Now, sorry, those the Great then. You understand. You know? And if nobody those kind people like this, day or day, make ID, my ID. You understand. You know? And even up to now, I still the I still direct. You know? Why Like Ralph would say, some of the I I I don't dwell on the, if I I know they try to remember the negative aspect of my dad.

Onuorah [00:23:35]:

They remember the childhood aspect where we they roam around streets. You just wear one One oversized like this. Just the room around the street, you know, rain falling and all that stuff. All those good things. You know? So all those things, name ID, miscause. You just can't you can't experience it here. Your kids cannot experience things like that here. You understand? You know, but anything any anything like that, though, I still did.

Onuorah [00:24:01]:

Even though I no get my passport no more, but nothing they happen. I still in Nigeria. You understand, boy. You know, I still speak you about it on top. You understand? You know, let me just tell you how me and Raf met. You know, we joined the navy. It go shock you, say, this navy where we join, navy, navy, navy, now now now what I would it deal with? You understand, it will shock you, but funny enough, this Navy will join. And especially again, we can't be African, we can't be black.

Onuorah [00:24:35]:

Me and Raf joined for swimming pool. We no study how to swim to save our life. And and and and you see That's that pool. As as as a matter of fact, funny funny enough, that is the place where all the Africans reunite. You go there because there's this remedial, after some period of time, if you don't pass your swim corps, Which you must pass being in the Navy. You know, if you, after some time, if you don't pass, they, they, they set you back. You don't graduate, Boy, you go swimming pool, after hours, they set aside for those who don't know how to swim. Nadia, they jam the whole Africans.

Onuorah [00:25:12]:

Nadia, I jam Raf. I see Ralph. I see this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, and I saw me and Ralph take connect For swimming pool, yeah, you know, but, after that we kept in touch and all that, made it through our Navy career and and and stuff like that, and We're still going strong, you know, but, aside from that, I wrecked Niger. Nothing did happen.

Uche Chukwu [00:25:37]:

So I've I've I've been listening to everybody's, opinions here. I think there's 2 things. There's pride and there's gratitude. Right? So for me, it's very difficult for me to have pride, like, genuine pride to be Nigerian. You know, of course, maybe except when because there's so many Nigerians, a lot of times when you hear somebody black doing something extraordinary, 9 out of 10, they're they're Nigerians. You know? Somebody getting to Harvard. Somebody invented something. Somebody doing something big.

Uche Chukwu [00:26:06]:

They're Nigerians, you know. And, yes, I do have moments of also, you know, doing the kind of work that we're doing or something the the kind of work that I'm doing. And not to brag or anything like that. It's more likely for Nigeria to do that kind of stuff. Nigeria is just known to be the, You know, the pacemakers, the that kind of situation. So I'm I'm used to seeing somebody doing something phenomenal. And When they tell me they're Nigerian, I feel I feel this genuine gratitude of, well, thank you for being Nigerian. Thank you for not, you know, perpetuating that negative Stereotype of, you know, we're all worthless type of situation.

Uche Chukwu [00:26:40]:

So pride I don't know if I can say pride, but there's that genuine gratitude of being Nigerian when I see, You know, Nigerians, young, home and abroad, and even older, doing things to challenge that status quo. And then, also, some of the things that I feel genuinely grateful about being Nigerian are I've come to realize are things that are very specific to Nigeria. For example, I think I've mentioned this on one of my episodes in the past. I love the fact that I speak Igbo, as in I'm I'm. You know? To me, knowing that That is something that is very specific to Nigeria, and that's something that I can relate to. That gives me a sense of pride, a sense of Gratitude. Like, I I I I that's something sense of cultural identity. I love that.

Uche Chukwu [00:27:32]:

Also, like, some, like, certain some of our food, like, You know, I think I mentioned this, when you were interviewing me at RAF. One of my favorite food my favorite food, actually, is swallow. When I was a kid, I used to eat garlic Got it. Like, I it was so bad. My father banned me for eating garlic because I eat garlic afternoon dinner. That's it. That's me. And, you know, when I when I remember some of the the soup that we'll eat and how the the flavor is so specific to that part of the world, Sometimes I just think of myself, if I was born in any other country, I would not know how this this feeling, this taste of heaven feels like, if that makes sense.

Uche Chukwu [00:28:07]:

So I have those moments of genuine gratitude that I'm Nigerian, Erwin. When I wear our outfits, like Ishigwu or, you know, the, You know, the beads and things. Like, I'm walking around, and people are, oh, yeah. I like your beads. What does that mean? There's that sense of genuine gratitude. Like, if I wasn't born in Nigeria, maybe I was born in India. I'm Sure. I'll be able to relate to something in India and Nigeria and I'll be able to relate to.

Uche Chukwu [00:28:28]:

But just knowing that this feels right, That, to me, is something I can definitely relate to, and it gives me a sense of completion. So but pride, though, That one that one put my hand, though. I don't know.

Raphael Harry [00:28:46]:

That that's the the thing for me. It's, Yeah. You're right. Gratitude. That's why I'm a match because I have an appreciation for every where I've come in contact with in Nigeria. The good that I've come in contact with in everywhere because I've been to almost every part of Nigeria, and I've had good experiences. I've had met good people, and, you know, like, when was saying she's had friends from everywhere. I said, I I can say that about every part of the world.

Raphael Harry [00:29:17]:

There's good and bad people everywhere. Right? There's good and, Nick, there's positive and negative interactions everywhere you go. There was a conversation I was watching at the height of, you know, when people were protesting for, George Floyd, against police brutality after George the mother of George Floyd. And somebody was using a word Though I was, though I was making a statement that, they wanted to move to somewhere like Nigeria because They are trying to avoid lynching lynchings in, America, and I was like, okay. I I I hear what you're saying. Well, I was like, but we still lynch people in Nigeria. It just depends on where you are. If you are in the, you know, the the most common lynchings that the average Nigerian will accept is if I'm a Christian, I will say in in the North, they will lynch you because, you you you Muslims will lynch you.

Raphael Harry [00:30:13]:

And, in in the Christian part of the, the south, we lynch children even for witchcraft, But it's mostly women. But we don't call it lynching. Right? But it's lynching. But the one nobody wants to talk about is, oh, as far as they tag you, gay, homosexual, mostly men. That is lynching too. And when I brought that point up, The person like, oh, that's not the same thing as lynching. They said we don't have white people killing black people. Okay.

Raphael Harry [00:30:48]:

I'm not trying to discourage you from moving there, but you have a privilege in certain ways because there are certain places you always stay in, and you're in certain place. You will want certain things you won't that won't touch you. But If you want the truth, you have to grab that. Just laying it out and say, look at certain things that happened, and we haven't come to A realization, like, you know, we we throw that, oh, we are we are not free until everybody is free. And then they'll say, okay. But who's the everybody? Somebody will like, if I meet in Nigeria, it's like, I'm Pan African. I'm like, are you? Really? Because it's just is there other countries or, like, the country you like or Who's because if you say Pan African, it's not everybody, really, and that's why you just lose me. That's why I start saying Pan African.

Raphael Harry [00:31:35]:

I just walk away from you. Like, I'm not even interested because They just throw that word out there, and I'm like, what? Do you want everybody carried along? So That that's why it becomes hard because the more I start knowing these things, the more I talk to people from the communities who have been affected, I'm like you know? And I start looking back Through my life, I'm like, wait a minute. There were pastors who were green lighting, harming children, harming women. And I was like, wait. Why come women who are the witches that were being attacked? So who was identifying the witches? And then you start seeing the little details, and you're like, oh my goodness. So that was femicide. It was gender violence. But if if it was a Muslim that came out, did it, I gotta get them out.

Raphael Harry [00:32:25]:

These people just, violate. And I'm like, no. No. No. We get so lynching is lynching. Call it out. And when I started talking like that, so I was, okay. America don't change you.

Raphael Harry [00:32:37]:

This America. You know? You you you sound like You support the west too much. You support the west. I'm like, maybe that's why human rights, you see, should be for everybody, not just for all the people that, you like. You know? So, I think that that's why it became difficult for me to just come out and say I'm proud. I mean, I I have the win win mentality. I'm happy to see my person succeed, but I Find it it's an irritant to me if your success means down everybody, I as soon as I get up, I have to push the ladder away so that nobody can come up, up after me. You lose me.

Raphael Harry [00:33:19]:

But I I I will say congratulations, and I walk away. You won't see me again Because that is not that's a, crabs in a bucket mentality. It's very irritating to see that, and I'm like, why do we not we don't really need that. So, yeah, I I think we can be much better than that, and, too many people hide behind being proud, And I'm saying that in quotes, being proud, proudly Nigerian or even whatever country at the national like, it's it's it's hidden behind nationalism. And it's not in Nigeria. It's it's that you see that problem, and you see it around a lot of countries now. The whole nationalism thing is spreading like wildfire, and It's unfortunate, but, yeah. So I think that's why you you you can't see me, using that language.

Raphael Harry [00:34:10]:

But, that's not the only thing that I I was gonna ask about. Would you actually mention something that I was, I have a question about, actually, food. Since y'all have been away from Nigeria, and everybody misses The food the the food from back home, but you all also eat food out here. So in your food journey, except you people are, like, the the most hardcore Nigerian. So, like, I only eat swallow 247. I eat Nothing else. I'm not even gonna touch anybody for, like, in the. I won't touch anybody.

Raphael Harry [00:34:48]:

I sweat or anything about, stuff like that. Okay. Well, I can't help you. You can't help me with this question. But in your journey, what food have you had from any other person's culture that's reminded that's most similar to Your favorite Nigerian food.

Nnenna [00:35:05]:

As you know, I love Indian food. I can't cook Nigerian food. I am not even, like, what they will consider Nigerian. Like, as you can I can't cook If you remember? So

Raphael Harry [00:35:20]:

That's nice.

Nnenna [00:35:21]:

Yeah. But I do love Indian food a lot, and I love my biryani because it's kind of like jollof, The way they cook it and but I made jollof rice for the first time yesterday. That's just the plug. Well yeah. I love Indian food. I love biryani. I love Okay. That's enough.

Nnenna [00:35:52]:

Oh, thank you. Thank you. What else? Yeah. Indian food reminds me of Nigerian jollof sometimes. Depends on where you get the biryani from. If it's like, like, Kerala biryani, I don't know how they make it, but the spices and everything To die

Raphael Harry [00:36:12]:

for. Yeah. In Indian food. Yeah. You can't go wrong with it. I I love Indian food. In fact, the whole of that subcontinent, Bangladesh, Pakistani, Sri Lankan. Yep.

Raphael Harry [00:36:26]:

Yep. Yep. Yeah. But Bangladesh has more fish,

Uche Chukwu [00:36:29]:

though. My own is that there must be swallow whether you like it or not. In my fridge, Freeza. I have okra. Okra. Spinach is my good too because there's a lot of fiber. It's not good. There must be swallow.

Uche Chukwu [00:36:43]:

I don't even care where in the world I'm at. I've been to so many different, you know, cities that or countries that, as soon as I land, I'm taking Uber. I don't care if it's 30 minutes long. I'm getting there, and I will I will fight for 1 whole week. There must be Swallow. But I do understand that, you know, Swallow is not something a lot of Treating cultures can definitely relate to. However, one of the beauties of diversity in rice is that every culture has some form of rice or jello fries, Whether it's, Mexicans or Spanish people from Spain or, you know, Indians, for example, or people from, China, There's always that that variation of rice that you can relate to. And if worst worst case scenario, you can always, you know, have white rice and hot sauce and Soy sauce, and you it's it's tango, dude, move on.

Uche Chukwu [00:37:33]:

You wouldn't die. So I love that. That rise is so versatile and very easily Accessible anywhere in the world. Bussolo, number 1.

Raphael Harry [00:37:53]:

So I gotta ask. Cal, have you tried, Swallow, Cote d'ivoire, or do other people swallow?

Uche Chukwu [00:38:02]:

You know, when I was in Ghana, I was so disappointed that what was everywhere was pizza and KFC and burgers. It was just the most disappointing thing ever. I had to go to 1 kind place like that to find swamp. Yeah. I don't step

Raphael Harry [00:38:18]:

on my porch now.

Uche Chukwu [00:38:20]:

I I know, but it was like it I had to travel far. Like, I'm in the motherland. All I see is kids kids.

Raphael Harry [00:38:26]:

So there's

Uche Chukwu [00:38:26]:

You know?

Raphael Harry [00:38:27]:

Yeah. You think But I did. Much into place.

Uche Chukwu [00:38:32]:

It's unfortunate. You know, white supremacists are definitely very strong, but that's a whole another conversation. But, yeah, I have tried also too in in Accra, and I've also tried the Bangkoo, Which I'm not a huge fan of. I prefer, you know, my own.

Raphael Harry [00:38:46]:

Yeah. They are Fufu. You like Ghana?

Uche Chukwu [00:38:49]:

The Bancu? No. No.

Raphael Harry [00:38:52]:

No. Not. Like, itself.

Uche Chukwu [00:38:55]:

Yeah. I don't mind it with, as long as it's soup that I'm relatable So I can relate to, you know, okra soup, spinach, things like that. They have those things over there as well. There's a lot of Nigerians in there. So

Raphael Harry [00:39:06]:

The peanuts, what what we call peanuts, the groundnuts. Do you

Uche Chukwu [00:39:11]:

I haven't tried that. I haven't tried it in Ghana. But, yes, when I was a kid, my grandma used to make a lot of those, And they're pretty good. I I prefer to eat it with Yam,

Raphael Harry [00:39:20]:

though. Okay. When when next you come to New York, we gotta go to the Bronx. Go to a Ghanaian place and try Ghana fufu with, peanuts too.

Uche Chukwu [00:39:29]:

No problem. Alright.

Raphael Harry [00:39:34]:

I was surprised nobody brought up the Philippines. Their food is mighty Similar. Not Balu. Don't bring a Balu. Yeah. I don't know if any of you are familiar with Balu. Don't try it. Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:39:48]:

Yeah. Don't you won't like that. Yeah. Don't don't don't go that deep. But a lot of Filipino food and Nigerian food are like cousins. The the spiciness is, well, the spiciness might be Ghanaian level on that side. But, yeah, because Ghanaian food is more spicy than, Nigerian food. The way Ghanaians like their spicy.

Raphael Harry [00:40:11]:

But, The Filipinos, their their foods, sometimes it looks like Nigerian food depending on which Filipino you hang out with. I've been to a Filipino Christmas party in Queens, and the food display that they had there, some of it, I was like, Oh, and that's where I tried one of their their soups that they had there. It was like I was drinking pepper soup. Afternoon, they called the soup. I was like, You could have told me this is, believe you guys. Closest I've seen from Mexicans on that's similar to that is, Menudo. Many of those the closest I've seen that reminded me of back home. But Philippines.

Raphael Harry [00:40:57]:

I was like, man, yo yo good. Until we came to Balu, I was like, alright. That I see that. You guys went too far with that one. Like, that that that's the yeah. The the the former Filipino colleague tried to offer me Balu. I was like, good good thing. He Ask questions.

Raphael Harry [00:41:16]:

I was like, what is this? That's the only question I asked. What is this? That that I was about to what's that? Oh, Good thing I asked. What did I say? What is this? Bovac? And he said, no. He said, no. Well, it's almost But, if I said no, and then, oh, it's almost like that there's something going on there. You said no, and then almost what what what would that mean there? Stop right there because I'm a man of the the little details. That's where I that's where I get you. The little details.

Raphael Harry [00:41:43]:

What is that? Oh, it's the the. Ah, man. Get out here. We'll stop eating. Since that after that day, we'll stop eating together. Oh, sweet. I can't eat with you anymore. I mean, I I I enjoy you feeding me for, like, 2 months, but, that's it, man.

Raphael Harry [00:42:01]:

We can't we can't eat anymore, but, it was almost like the day my neighbor and. That that's when I was like, poverty was really killing me then. And I went to this guy's house, and he served us white rice with, frog. Frog on it. Man. We're so hungry. I would have moved the

Onuorah [00:42:20]:

frog away. My cousin was like, what the hell?

Raphael Harry [00:42:25]:

Man, no. Let's go. I was like, damn. We ain't got no food. That's that's why I I believe that,

Onuorah [00:42:37]:

that is that is frog in the bottom. Wow.

Raphael Harry [00:42:40]:

I didn't I do not believe that, but, Yeah, man. Respects my people. Yeah. I I know you you you guys are also travelers. I hope we lost for a little bit here. He is driving, so I hope you can come connect back. If you guys don't hear his voice, you know why. So what city in America or in any of your travels reminds you of your favorite Nigerian city.

Uche Chukwu [00:43:08]:

I don't even know if I have a favorite Nigerian city. I'm just from Aba. I'm not one I'm not one of the people that lived in Lagos, Abuja. I'd but, yeah, I have visited Lagos enough to know that there are certain places In London and also in Houston, they remind me of certain places in Lagos. But I wouldn't say Lagos is my favorite city. You know, Aba is where I'm from, so that's really all I know in Nigeria anyway.

Raphael Harry [00:43:34]:

Lagos ain't my favorite city, but, Nowhere has reminded you of Aba.

Uche Chukwu [00:43:44]:

In North America.

Raphael Harry [00:43:45]:

Whatever. You've traveled to other places too.

Uche Chukwu [00:43:48]:

True. True. Actually, you know what? Yeah. Okay. Since, going beyond America, Egypt Reminds me of, Cairo reminds you reminds me a lot of Lagos. Also, Delhi in India reminds me a lot of Lagos. Delhi. Yeah.

Uche Chukwu [00:44:06]:

Delhi with the and, chaoticness and the small delivery

Raphael Harry [00:44:11]:

Yeah. Yeah. I see say that.

Uche Chukwu [00:44:12]:

Except that the people are more calm than Nigerians. You know? They're crisp. So Hold on. Hold on.

Raphael Harry [00:44:19]:

I have reaction for now.

Uche Chukwu [00:44:25]:

So dramatic. Oh my god. Please thank god. I love it.

Raphael Harry [00:44:31]:

Think this comes out. That's why you have to keep me in the studio.

Uche Chukwu [00:44:36]:

Certain places in in Ghana reminds me of Nigeria. There are certain Also, oh, I was in Trinidad 2 2 months ago, and I remember we were going to the beach, Going through this rainforest, it reminds me oh my god. Yes. Yes. Yes. It reminds me of the village back in Nigeria when I was a kid with the rain. It was so calming and so therapeutic. I love the rain so much.

Uche Chukwu [00:45:00]:

So just driving around in the woods reminds me of that village experience. Yeah. I could I call myself a village boy. So, yeah, Trinidad.

Nnenna [00:45:09]:

Not very right to me. I don't know. Similar to what Uche mentioned, Delhi, Mumbai, they've got this, you know, Hawkers and people begging and all that stuff. You know? I just this is, like, extension of Vegas. Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:45:31]:

Okay. Welcome back, Olara.

Onuorah [00:45:33]:

I I've been hearing you guys, but for some reason, you couldn't hear me or something. I just I guess it's a cheap Internet.

Raphael Harry [00:45:44]:

I'm like, I I gotta do the drone

Uche Chukwu [00:45:45]:

for that one again.

Onuorah [00:45:49]:

You get the point now.

Raphael Harry [00:45:52]:

Well, my my own Internet seem to be doing its own drama too. So it won't be a thing.

Onuorah [00:45:57]:

No. But but, my defense, though, it's raining, cat, and dog here, so it's like Oh. Lightning on the whole place. So, yeah, That might be a contributing factor too.

Raphael Harry [00:46:06]:

Well, did you guys have rain for 1 week

Onuorah [00:46:09]:

straight? No. No. No. It's been it's been, Dry here. All the part of, houston, it would rain, but specifically, katie, it it would just drizzle and then that's about it. But For some reason, today, it's like pouring, you know.

Raphael Harry [00:46:24]:

Today is the 1st day we've not had rain since, I think last Saturday or last Friday. Yeah.

Onuorah [00:46:33]:

Oh, there's a water restriction here.

Raphael Harry [00:46:34]:

We've we've had rain nonstop. Just rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. So, I'm like, I'll take it. But, yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:46:42]:

You you had you had the question about, what city Reminds you of your favorite Nigerian city or any city in Nigeria. I mean, all your travels, is there any city that Reminds you of anywhere in Nigeria that you've been to. It could be where you are. Right? Anywhere you've been to.

Onuorah [00:47:02]:

Anyway, I've been to, I would say Reminds me of Nigeria. You know, I lived in Lagos. You know? I would say maybe New York, though. New York, the the the lifestyle in, New York When I visited New York, other than that, nothing really because I

Raphael Harry [00:47:27]:

live in lagos all all the lagos you lived

Onuorah [00:47:31]:

in Yeah, I I mean I would go to the village every now and then, from imo state So I would visit the village And I've been to, I would say, about something like that. Yeah. About, once, you know, but for the most part of it, I I lived in, Lagos. The the

Raphael Harry [00:47:48]:

Where where in Imo state?

Onuorah [00:47:52]:

Uguta, to be Specific, you, you know, Charley Boy and, and and the rest, you know, those those those places. They got me.

Raphael Harry [00:48:01]:

I I I once, let's just say I I once dated a girl who was close from that why then I pulled that. I said I once. In. Yeah. I'm not thinking I passed away. It

Uche Chukwu [00:48:25]:

It

Raphael Harry [00:48:26]:

will be in my memoir. You're on the lookout. You can stop me on me, everybody. I know.

Onuorah [00:48:33]:

Yeah. But but, Lagos, New York was the, only place that reminded me close to, Close to, Lagos, you know, but, yeah, leave the Lagos for the for the most part of specifically, Mafaluku. Ikeja Mafaluku side. Just not too far from the airport.

Raphael Harry [00:48:54]:

You stay in the barrack camp for So long. So you pronounce.

Onuorah [00:49:00]:

No. No. No. No. No. The first

Raphael Harry [00:49:04]:

the first way the first way you pronounce it, That was that was really American accent there.

Onuorah [00:49:10]:

No, baba. I mean, I know American accent. Forget.

Raphael Harry [00:49:14]:

No. Not is coming up, but the first pronunciation.

Onuorah [00:49:19]:

Yeah. That's about it. That's about it. But then in in regards to the food though, because I I heard the, the question in regards to the food. I just Couldn't, you guys couldn't hear

Raphael Harry [00:49:32]:

me.

Onuorah [00:49:33]:

Okay. You know? But in regards to the food, now small thing just remained there for because if it if it's not Nigerian food, it's nothing. You know? Because even going out with my wife, my wife will say, let's go to this restaurant, you know, we go to the restaurant if it's not rice if not your rice or if Going out there. I asked her where we go to. It's not the Nigerian restaurant thing. She will give me this kind. Alright. This guy has started again.

Onuorah [00:50:02]:

You know? So But it has to be swallow or even when I was in Japan. Alright? I just want

Raphael Harry [00:50:09]:

Japan? How many years?

Onuorah [00:50:13]:

2 2 years, I saw change. You know? But Japan, it's rice or and then the Japanese food again. Their their rice very on point. You know? Noodles on point.

Raphael Harry [00:50:24]:

Without that

Onuorah [00:50:25]:

You know?

Raphael Harry [00:50:25]:

It's rice. All that must wait at the other chest. Mama, But, Mama, you know

Uche Chukwu [00:50:31]:

ask. So

Onuorah [00:50:32]:

How they tell you, Babami?

Raphael Harry [00:50:34]:

Swallow your belly for big.

Onuorah [00:50:37]:

No. Swallow, baba. Now swa you don't say we did pay the price for gym. When we go gym, we go sit for gym, you know. But still, It has to be swallowed. Swallow or rice. And and if it's not rice, it's nothing. You know, even even, the closest Babana rice.

Onuorah [00:50:55]:

Last last night. Still rice. Oh, fufu. You know, because I I can't see my you see all these burger. A burger, when I eat burger, I know the I can't even eat burger, sir. You understand? Because it has to be just that bread, then I slap on with fish. That, Philly Fish. I've been waiting on the call for

Raphael Harry [00:51:13]:

my time.

Onuorah [00:51:14]:

That's about it.

Raphael Harry [00:51:14]:

You're about to enter discrimination territory. We can't allow you.

Onuorah [00:51:17]:

You know? No, Well, last laugh, Nasir Rice Nasir Rice in Swale. You understand? You can I can't I can't just go you can't go wrong with that, though? You know, but, yeah, that's about it,

Uche Chukwu [00:51:30]:

though. And so I want to add to that. Right? If there's no swallow, if there's no rice, I feel like I'm I'm consuming unnecessary calories. You know, I still have to I still have to walk out in the day.

Raphael Harry [00:51:41]:

Want me to go out.

Uche Chukwu [00:51:41]:

So if I'm going to wait. If I'm going to consume the calorie, I might That makes sense. Yeah. That's not what I'm saying. So so I might as, like, eat the food, but then when I go to the gym, like, I have the energy to work out because I know you know what? It was worth it than to come and eat the burger and eat the hot dog, and then you didn't even enjoy the concert. No. I hear us living in the gym.

Raphael Harry [00:52:12]:

I I know I don't know why they send you an account. They can't force me to go gym. I won't go. I've I've started play I returned back to playing football yesterday, and now my body's all aching me, but it's all all good. I'm I'm I'm back. I scored 2 goals. I saved a lot of shots. Even even my boss took shots there.

Raphael Harry [00:52:28]:

Well, that's all good.

Onuorah [00:52:29]:

I survived. Yeah.

Raphael Harry [00:52:34]:

My places that remind me of my favorite Nigerian cities. Yeah. I'm not Lagos, but Lagos don't count for me. Lagos No. Overrated. No. No. No.

Raphael Harry [00:52:45]:

No. Way overrated. Lagos. In fact, if they offer me, 2,000,000,000. I'll say quickly. Say quickly. Quick, quick. If I were to maybe just make it 6,000,000,000, so how how am I going to be? What's my time? I trade Lagos to somebody, you know.

Raphael Harry [00:53:04]:

But, first time I visited London, And I was on my way to, I had the area in my mind. I forgot the name of that area, but my boy has moved away from that area now. And on my way to that area on the train, I was like, wow. Like, this is the area that they look this look by Eloqua Estate, where I was staying That's in Port Harcourt. This look at Eloqua Estate. Look at the roofs. Everything. Look like Eloqua Estate.

Raphael Harry [00:53:30]:

Wow. I was well, my my battery had died, so I couldn't even take Photos. I was like, well, it's my old phone then, you know, and I, you know, that I I had to update my phone after that trip. But This look like a estate in Port Harcourt. I was like, god. This real old country. Try. This place not really Port Harcourt.

Raphael Harry [00:53:51]:

Wow. And then I went to the other part of, London where do all come back here again. No. Hell, no. Hell, no. God. Guy, we can't play. It's not Europe.

Raphael Harry [00:54:04]:

I said, I wanna go ahead and deport people all the time.

Onuorah [00:54:06]:

What the hell is this?

Raphael Harry [00:54:18]:

Nope. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Raphael Harry [00:54:19]:

I mean, just give me good food first. I mean, I'm not gonna swallow. Well, when I went to Bahrain, my first time I arrived in Bahrain, I was like, ah, you know what? If our corruption And now all our was like you know, let's say for every $100 we spend on a project, instead of Stealing, like, $85 out of the $100. Let's say we're stealing 50 45 to 50 of the dollars. That's what was. The looked like Nigeria where you you didn't steal all that money. You stole some. But there's corruption that you could you could tell.

Raphael Harry [00:55:04]:

You know? You know? When when you start talking to people, you know the corruption. But I was like, this is this is but you just,

Onuorah [00:55:11]:

You know, it I'm like, god. So that's why

Raphael Harry [00:55:14]:

there were people who were like, I've been here for, like, 3, 4 years. I don't know all these places. How how do you know this place? Because it just felt like I was at home, and I bled easily to the place. I just I know every corner. It it just feel like you're in Nigeria. So that's why I wasn't so surprised to find Nigerians working in Ministry of Housing, Ministry of this and that because it was so easy for them to just, you know, assimilate into the culture, assimilate into the The the area, I was like, this is just this is Nigeria, the little, I was like, man. No. No.

Raphael Harry [00:55:50]:

No. No. So sometimes, I I almost feel like crying anytime I'm there. But yeah. So it just remind me of the whole of Nigeria. We've just we've just turned it down a little bit. Just turned it down a little bit. Not too crazy, but, you know, just a little bit.

Raphael Harry [00:56:05]:

The possibilities. So that that's when I I started realizing that it was possible.

Nnenna [00:56:10]:

I feel like for me, The only thing that really reminds me of Niger is the Texas heat in a way. Like, you know, when I'm Burning. I don't know. I can't tolerate the heat in that,

Raphael Harry [00:56:25]:

but that's it.

Uche Chukwu [00:56:27]:

This this heat doesn't even provide me a budget because it's hotter here than in Nigeria. Aba will get to 88 degrees. This one is a 110.

Raphael Harry [00:56:47]:

My my 1st summer my 1st summer in America, I was in Virginia. I couldn't work. Yeah. The house housing, there was no air condition. So My brother, I was boxers. I was I was still wearing this, Nigeria boxers. Man, why don't tell me say the hots like this? It's hotter than Nigeria. How can I wear clothes? I was like, no.

Raphael Harry [00:57:10]:

I understand why we'll be judging people. We're in Nigeria. We are judging. Like, how is white people don't like to wear clothes? White people don't wear clothes in America? Well, like, this is what they're they're so useless. They don't wanna wear clothes. We're judging black people. We're judging everybody. They don't like to wear clothes.

Raphael Harry [00:57:23]:

Yeah. I don't want to wear clothes too. If you only they they are not going 3 days in summer. I'm not wearing clothes too, and I go out for please forgive me. I was judging I

Onuorah [00:57:33]:

I what's that mean? Anybody.

Nnenna [00:57:35]:

Sorry. It was just

Onuorah [00:57:36]:

you and me.

Raphael Harry [00:57:37]:

What's that mean? I never knew your game. Sorry. I didn't know your game. Well, sorry. I didn't know. I yeah. That was me. I didn't know.

Raphael Harry [00:57:44]:

I'm sorry. Forgive me, please. I didn't know. Oh, go ahead, Nena.

Nnenna [00:57:49]:

Oh, I said I never judged anyone wearing or not wearing clothes. I just like that's okay. You're having fun. Everyone is free to wear and be whoever they wanna be.

Raphael Harry [00:58:00]:

I mean, I still tell people about it, and people still don't believe me to this day That the heat the the I think most people just think that it's already cold, that, people believe you when you tell them that how how cold it gets in different places, and I'm like, the heat will carry you, slam you, and you will start crying. You start I want to run back to Nigeria. The heat touch you. It doesn't matter where you are. Are you in New York? Are you in Virginia? I mean, I you have to go to Texas and eat it. He's there. You're like, Right. I can do the exact the bugs you have there.

Raphael Harry [00:58:34]:

Hey. It will 10 share talks is not enough. You know what I mean? Great. I was buying in my house when I was staying in Dallas, for what I've got, then then we can that that's trauma. That's another trauma. VA, come on. Give me money for that trauma too. I was

Nnenna [00:58:49]:

suffering. We need a whole podcast for that

Raphael Harry [00:58:51]:

one. We do. We do.

Onuorah [00:58:54]:

Thank you. Yeah. Me, I would take I would take the, take the hot weather over cold. Bro, I lived in Minnesota. Negative 20 degrees. Nobody on this. To the point that when I when I get up, like, 4 o'clock in the morning to go to work, made a vix for myself why I even got up. That's how bad it was.

Onuorah [00:59:14]:

And the the weather there, when the snow starts, went on a, summer night just 2, 3 months now. You know, for me, it's not at the end. The the the remainder of the season now, it snowed. And when it snows, it doesn't don't it doesn't melt. It's like right there on the floor, and it's but the hot weather that I can tolerate. This one, 90 90, 100 degrees. Afghanistan. I got Afghanistan.

Onuorah [00:59:40]:

It was like 1 120. I didn't run when I run from here to just just 10 step. Even I said, I want that. So I I just, like I think that made me appreciate the little the little the little, He made me appreciate the the weather a little bit because what what what I tell myself is it can be worse out there.

Raphael Harry [01:00:05]:

By by the way, who sent your message? Minnesota. Place where the manufacturer's law. Some somebody offer me a job. They will pay 60,000. I just delete the email. Bye bye. Oh, yeah. You go go Minnesota.

Raphael Harry [01:00:16]:

Yeah. Yeah. What do you all come out of there?

Uche Chukwu [01:00:18]:

I think snow, snow people say we just go travel. Go travel and See, it's you don't live there. You're just traveling. And by the time you're there, you just get at at that point, go back home. But to live with snow,

Raphael Harry [01:00:41]:

Look. There is snow, and there's snow. There's levels to the gate. There are somebody, God, all of you have I've heard this person's name. The person's in Finland, causing wildlife in Nigeria. You know? Me and this person, we we go way back. He's leading a movement. This is supposed to be the Biafra guy.

Raphael Harry [01:01:01]:

Right now, it's supposed to be the Biafra Messiah. Well, maybe He's on my Facebook with the you know, he was he invited me to Finland in 2012. I stayed with him. I was in his house. That time, he had he had a dawn on him that He could do this movement. So back then, you know, I went during the summer to Finland.

Uche Chukwu [01:01:20]:

It's the name that can't

Raphael Harry [01:01:22]:

the the best in doing the show right

Onuorah [01:01:24]:

now. No. No. The other guy.

Raphael Harry [01:01:40]:

Well, it's funny. I'll I'll I'll fly out. Later, I'll call me. I'll I'll tell you anytime you ask me about that. Ask me about Wait. I know I keep an eye out for too long, but, one time, you you know, before I started all this wildness with, this whole at home and all this nonsense. He did 1, he took it was only photos he posted on his Facebook then before it went full right wing because it started with him going right wing before he did all he started doing all these things. Like, I could I could tell you the timeline.

Raphael Harry [01:02:11]:

I can show you the timeline of how it started. And he would, it was winter, and he did went into this, the dog hole in his in his snow, a frozen, in a frozen pond. So you all you see is snow, and then he walked into the the the pond. Like, we was only wearing, just a swimming truck. Walked into the the the the pond came out. So he liked doing those type of shows because he'll be like the only black guy then. It's only a white Finnish people. Because he's Steve is like a real Finnish, black Finnish guy.

Raphael Harry [01:02:41]:

I've been to his house. I've met his wife, met everybody. I I know a lot of things that people who follow him, but I don't know. And This guy, I saw the photo when he posted. He tagged me on one of the photos, actually. And he said, Raf, you need to come to fill out and try this with me. I say, try waiting. What am I trying with you? I'm not confident to see that you can do this.

Raphael Harry [01:03:04]:

Good good for you. I came to summertime. Nice weather. I'm out. But even then, I struggle because I I thought I set him a rest for, I I arrived, like, I think when I I, he put me in a hotel. The hotel put me in. He said, he'll pick me up at, 9 PM. So go out.

Raphael Harry [01:03:26]:

After I had lunch in his house, he dropped me off, like, 3 PM. I said, can I rest? Day was bright outside. Next thing he called me, it felt like 30 minutes later, I said, why are you calling me now? It's not like 6 or 6 o'clock. He said, no. It's 9 o'clock. I look outside. The sun is still shining. I said, why is sun shining? And I look at my watch.

Raphael Harry [01:03:42]:

Oh, it's 9 o'clock. What then? So okay. We go out. Come out from the 1st club. It's still sunshine. I was like, okay. Now now it's getting dark a little bit. So I was like, okay.

Raphael Harry [01:03:53]:

It's like, what? 11? But it's still sun. And I'm like, okay. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Then it got dark towards midnight. Then by the time we come out of clock, 2 o'clock, sunshine again. But what kind of country is this? It's all come during winter.

Raphael Harry [01:04:11]:

You see oh, is it almost dark? Oh, I said, yeah, man. Thank you for telling me this. That's a mistake you made. I'm not coming. You can't catch me. You've made a mistake of letting me know the secret. I can't come here during win winter, you, Well, if you think it's bad in New York, go over there. That's why you gone crazy.

Raphael Harry [01:04:34]:

That's why you gone crazy. Like, oh, man. You you could see it you You could see it coming. Last time we hung out was 2015 in, in the UK. The pictures is actually, all this on my Facebook. I'm there are people who when he started all this stuff, and people are like, oh, man. I don't know. I'm like, you know, actually, all you have to is type his name and you see his information No.

Raphael Harry [01:04:57]:

Not he did not. He started deleting his comments on my Facebook, actually. He started doing it recently. But it's funny, but he used to try get me to come out there during the winter. He's like, I'll buy your ticket. Come Come come choose me. I said during winter in Finland? Hell no. Meh.

Raphael Harry [01:05:11]:

I don't love you like that. No. Thank you very much, but no. By the way, thank you, ladies and gentlemen, For giving me your time, we had a phone conversation. Started on the dark part, but We we elevated the conversation to phone. Had a great time. We lost on a ride a few times. But like the navy, we always find our people back.

Raphael Harry [01:05:39]:

You know? We don't leave any shipmates behind.

Nnenna [01:05:42]:

Well, back to another dark part. Since we are talking about Nigeria, I think I should just show it in there that, you know, I hope That as time progresses and people have access to information and all that stuff, I hope They we'll finally get to an equal Nigeria. You know, in Nigeria where everyone will feel comfortable and be able to go back home too And where everyone it's not it won't just be about, you know, who you know or your connection to, you know, whatever, Where people can be their true authentic self. Because I have, like, family members and cousins that Can't just be their real selves because of, you know, the kind of culture that we have over there in Nigeria. So As we are celebrating this, our 20 60 how many years are we now? 63rd independence. I am hoping for a Nigeria that who would rec recognize everyone as equal according to whatever the Nigerian constitution has granted them. So that's my Debbie

Raphael Harry [01:06:54]:

Downer. It's your truth, and there's nothing wrong with it.

Uche Chukwu [01:06:59]:

I I do wanna add to that. Thank you, Ananda, for in that, you know, they're they're important to remind people that we have work to to do. Part of what I do, on my platforms As and also as a life coach is to mobilize the people in diaspora. You know, the Nigerians who don't live in Nigeria or who don't live in Africa. Those of us who have the privilege Abdul citizenship, we are the torchbearers, if that makes sense. A lot of information that happened a lot of things that go on in Africa come from People who are watching us. So I think we all we have the sense of duty and responsibility to lead by example, You know, by living our most authentic selves, you know, especially considering what I do as an open queer LGBTQ, Igbo speaking man. You know, that's not that's not very Common.

Uche Chukwu [01:07:46]:

But even in this Houston, there are many of us who you know, many of us just that nobody's stuck in. You understand? So, like, when I when I in my life Coaching. I'm trying to mobilize people to live as authentically as possible. No one would touch you here. And I feel like by doing that, people back home are able to emulate and learn And then, like, okay. They're doing it and this and that, and then information that they pass around back home. So I feel like we, as Nigerians, while we're celebrating this This independence and talk about how we're proud to be Nigerian. Always remember that us that those of us who are out here in the West, we have a sense of duty and responsibility To lead by

Raphael Harry [01:08:23]:

example. Thank you. Unora, wrap it up for everybody.

Onuorah [01:08:28]:

Just to add there, you say the 3 or rather for now the 2 big major things. If we can Desensitize our mindset as Nigerians, Nigeria would be would be on the right path. You see religion, religion. You see tribalism and then sticking to 1 political blast. If we can if we can have Nigerians just move slightly away from those Three things, sir. Nigeria Nigeria go down on a on a very good path, you know. When when pass not not knocking Any pastors or whatever, you know, you know, worship who you wanna worship. You see, they use religion to tie us down And make us not to think outside the box.

Onuorah [01:09:14]:

And, you know, some of these folks could just use one part of the scripture, just tie us down. Then we begin to Begin to the reason, like, lack of a better word, ococo. You know? So if we need to, like, Change those mindsets. We go down a very on a very right path, you know.

Nnenna [01:09:34]:

I that's similar. You know? I completely agree with that. And I Like what Uche had mentioned about, you know, at the end of the day, it's up to us because we have access to a lot of Resources. We have that platform. We have I mean, we can do a lot of things. I I don't wanna go so deep into this, but I know, like, for me personally, I've really been watching the Indian culture, and I've seen the role that, like, media has played, whether it's the movies and things like that where people who were so closed minded have sort of accept Same things. And, hopefully, you know, maybe as time progresses with our and whatever, people watch, Spending a lot of time watching media, and those are the kind of things that we need to start, you know, letting people see that it's not just What they are so used to in their clothes, you know, in their lifestyle. Like, there's nothing wrong with someone just being who they are, and it's okay to accept people for who Yeah.

Nnenna [01:10:37]:

I just love everyone unconditionally. So because I want my son to go back home, and I want him to be His true self. When he goes home, I don't have to be scared of going back home. So that's just my own.

Uche Chukwu [01:11:00]:

And, Oguerra.

Raphael Harry [01:11:01]:

Yes, sir.

Uche Chukwu [01:11:02]:

Friend that is giving people free tickets to Finland. Tell him to book book me tickets. I'll come. I've been before, but I like to go back. I got

Raphael Harry [01:11:09]:

tickets. Well,

Uche Chukwu [01:11:11]:

I never mind.

Raphael Harry [01:11:12]:

Let let let's just say since it I'm I'm gonna need to tell you offline. I can't explain to your flight. We need we need to. But, once again, thank you, Alumbana, for coming on the show. Shukran, Nagode. But, anyway, for me, a few things that we'll wrap up with, at second, what, most of what everybody has said, and I want to let people know that there's nothing wrong with migration, you know, and, I don't believe that we all have to go back before Nigeria will be great or before Nigeria will be functioning. The people back home, it's still in their hands, but There's this notion within diaspora, like, you know, we need to go back or it's, like, a common language, and I'm like, no. We don't really need to.

Raphael Harry [01:12:17]:

Not everybody has their destiny back home because some people have found home, which in whichever way or form it is for them. Their home is not going to be, it's where they are right now, or their home is going to be somewhere else. No matter what challenges they will face, it doesn't make them all Nigerian because they found a home outside of Nigeria. And I've had people talk as if, somebody born in Nigeria is all Nigerian because they found home in country, and I'm like, how does that work for you being an African? That's why I don't I I push people to use that pan-African thing because You don't hear that language included for somebody born in 1 African country, and moved to another African country, but the largest migration in the world is within Africa. People move from one to another African country. We don't hear that being talked about. So that's why I'm, like, very, I I try it's not it's a pushback against the Language of, like, you know, we all have to go back home because what do we do to people who have found home in, in Ghana, in, Togo, in says, we are other countries with people have been move people have been moving right from the moment, right from time, so it's not going to stop now. That doesn't mean we don't want the places, in Nigeria to work.

Raphael Harry [01:13:45]:

Right? And I want, a more equal society. I on a more functioning society. And I believe if more functioning society will lead to a more equal society. And, I don't pray. I'm not a religious person, but I don't pray that that I still believe that, good will come. And there are people working for that, and I support people working for that. And I believe in each and every one of you listening and those of you who've been on stage. But if you are one of the chaos people, Well, first, go and buy my merch first and burn it, then, you know, then protest.

Raphael Harry [01:14:18]:

That way, whatever you want to do, do it. 1st, buy the merch. A new design coming up too. I'm a black capitalist. Remember that. I am Rafael Harry. I've been your host. Thank you for joining me.

Raphael Harry [01:14:29]:

Happy Independence Day To, those of you that celebrate, if you like, invite me. Don't invite me. Just bring it to your love. I will eat it. Alright. See you at the

Onuorah [01:14:37]:

next Hey.

Raphael Harry [01:14:38]:

Real quick. Yes,

Onuorah [01:14:42]:

Hey. Real quick. Real quick. One more thing. Just Justice for Mohbad. Justice for Mohbad. Hey.

Raphael Harry [01:14:49]:

Oh, okay. Then I give you a drum for that too. There there's a lot of people who need justice too, but justice from. That's how I say his name. I've never this is his music before, but just this from a time of fact.

Nnenna [01:15:06]:

His music is good. So yeah.

Raphael Harry [01:15:08]:

Alright. That's the official wrap-up. Thank you for the privilege of your company. I'll see you in the next episode. Thanks for listening to White Label American. If you enjoy the show, please give a 5-star review on your favorite podcast app. You can follow the show on all social media platforms. Visit the white-label American website for links, donations, episodes, feedback, guests, merch, and newsletter.

Raphael Harry [01:15:38]:

Don't forget to download the free white-label American app on the Google Play Store and Apple coming soon. Thank you for the privilege of your company.