Three friends have found each other in a way they never thought they would. Through community and youth in Galway, Ireland, Uche, Temi, and Naomi have constructed a model of their identities with common ties to Nigeria. They are showing us that you don’t have to choose between identities but can embrace the duality of your self.
Naomi
Looking up new songs to sing along to on YouTube, Naomi tightens her red and white bandana around her forehead.
“I really hate math,” groans Naomi. “But I love singing and writing!”
A Foróige youth member, Naomi Ige lived in Nigeria for four years before growing up in Galway. Though she was born in Ireland, she has family all over the world in Nigeria, Canada, England and America. Living in Nigeria and Galway, Naomi identifies with both cultures, considering herself Irish and Nigerian combined.
The oldest sibling in her home, Naomi lives with her parents and two younger brothers. Becoming a part of Foróige has allowed Ige to branch out and find others share similar backgrounds as her. While she has gained a sense of belonging within the Galway community, there are still some things that she misses about Nigeria.
“It’s like a second life there, everything is so different, especially school,” Naomi explains about Nigeria.
Reflecting on her experience in Nigeria, Naomi identifies enjoyment in her education as the biggest difference in moving to Galway. Her school in Nigeria gave her access to swimming, chess, ballet, and piano classes through school along with her normal class schedule, based on how much money her family was able to afford. When following a consistent routine listening to instructors for hours on end, school can be found as tedious and unexciting, rather than enriching.
“I want people to want to help me, instead of just having to show up for their job, you know?” expresses Naomi.
There are not as many opportunities for extra curricular activities through school, so Naomi reaches out to satisfy her interests within the community. Through Foróige and her surroundings, she has found her passions of music, writing, and helping her friends and family that enrich her life in Galway.
“I’d like to live other places, maybe England,” explains Naomi anticipating her upcoming challenges in the next step in her education. “But I love how everyone here knows everyone, makes it feel like home.”
Temi
“My dad visits a few times a year,” Temi says as he picks up a Nintendo Switch controller.
Temi Oshandiya has lived in Galway, Ireland almost his entire life. His family immigrated from Nigeria, and he identifies as both Nigerian and Irish. Gaining most of his knowledge from his parents about his heritage, Temi’s father lives and works in Nigeria as a banker, and his mother is with him here in Galway.
Though he has no extended family in Galway, Temi and his mom keep their culture alive through cooking in their household. Most days, they have rice with stew, and are always to make sure that their food is spicy enough to make them sweat.
When Temi was about to be born, the government in Nigeria was corrupt, and crime was high. His parents made the decision to split apart, so they could give Temi the best life they could. While his Dad plans on staying in Nigeria, he still comes to visit Galway as much as possible.
“It’s always hot there and the culture is very different,” Temi explains. “But I’m happy to be here.”
Temi has been involved with Foróige since last summer, where he has met others that share his Nigerian heritage. While his youth group allows for cultural connections, Temi’s school friends are Nigerian, while his neighborhood friends are not. Meeting these people has lead Temi to appreciate both cultures, and value them as separate, but equally important aspects of his life.
“There’s no discrimination in my community, even though no one in my neighborhood is Nigerian, really,” says Temi.
Following secondary school, Temi hopes to pursue a university level education in London, but he hasn’t made any final decisions. For now, he is enjoying his friends and growing up in an accessible city.
“I always feel connected to Nigeria, but Galway is still my home,” Temi expresses.
Uche
“I think that Galway is great, there isn’t a thing I would change about it,” voices Uche as she adjusts her glasses on the brim of her nose.
Having been to Nigeria once before, Uche Emihian has come to appreciate her life in Galway. Born and raised in Galway, Uche identifies as Irish while her family holds tight to their Nigerian roots. Her family came from Nigeria to Ireland for Uche to have a better education. Both her mother and father have attended university in Ireland, and Uche aspires to do the same. While she lives here with her immediate family, most of Uche’s extended family currently lives in Nigeria.
While she doesn’t have a large knowledge of Nigeria, and is not in tune with the daily life and politics of her heritage, her parents try and keep their culture alive through parties and food in their household.
When visiting Nigeria, Uche’s most prominent memory was the stratification between the rich and the poor. In contrast to her experience growing up Irish in Galway, Uche recognizes the accessibility of the city.
“Some places in Nigeria you have to drive far away to do those things,” explains Uche. “There’s so much to do in Galway, you’re never bored.”
Uche views Galway as a place of opportunity that celebrates diversity at every corner. Feeling accepted and supported by her friends and family, she believes that she has had the best balance of both cultures brought into her life.
“Meeting my friends at Foróige has made me feel like I can talk about anything,” expresses Uche. “We can always relate talking about Nigerian food.”
While Uche has fallen in love with everything Galway has to offer and found her home, she hopes to visit Nigeria again soon to see family and reconnect with her heritage.
by Anna Stackhouse