"I dey learn pidgin small-small" - British Diplomat, Fleming

The Deputy Head of the Political Section at the British High Commission in Nigeria, Andrew Fleming shares his first time in Nigeria as well some dishes he loves ... He spoke with Bayo Akinloye in a chat.

See excerpt from the chat below:

When was your first time in Nigeria and why did you visit?

My first visit to Nigeria was in January 2008 when I was based in the British High Commission in Accra with a regional role. I visited all countries in the Economic Community of West African States except Guinea-Bissau between 2007 and 2010. At that time I enjoyed Lagos but initially found Abuja a little sterile.

For how long have you lived in Nigeria?

I (first) came (to Nigeria) in August 2014 to look at practicalities and (eventually) moved in September 2014 and my family joined me at the end of the following month. I found Abuja had matured as a city and quickly came to love it here.

What’s your favourite fun spot in Nigeria and why?

Wow. This is a hard one. Nigeria is full of fun, life and colour. It really depends what you mean by fun. I love getting out as often as I can into the hills around Abuja for some hiking. I belong to a group called the Abuja Hash House Harriers which (goes) to do a trail every couple of weeks and organises occasional weekends away. I also join a similar group that goes out around Abuja on a Thursday evening. This helps me know my way around as does cycling. Abuja is surprisingly well suited to cyclists on quiet weekend mornings. I particularly like the parks – like the Millennium – which are as good as any other park in the world; and Jabi Lake Park which is a hive of exercise activity at the weekend.

Sometimes, I like to pass time in a bush bar, relaxing and watching life. I usually manage to start a conversation with someone; it is much easier to do that here in Nigeria than in London. I enjoy getting out of Abuja as much as possible too. Nigeria has so much natural beauty. This can be interstate travel but even a visit to Usman Dam is or Bwari pottery is fun. And I love to watch football but being able to find details in advance to watch organised games is not as easy as it could – or in my view should – be. I hope your paper can pioneer improving that.

What’s the first Nigerian food you tasted?

It was pounded yam with okra soup.

So, which Nigerian local dish do you enjoy the most?

Can I choose two? One is the fish prepared by the ladies at Mogadishu barracks and the other is a dish of spicy kidneys I got to try when visiting a former colleague’s family down in Akwa Ibom – the sauce that came in blew me away!

Have you attended a Nigerian wedding? What’s the experience like?

Most certainly, I have attended wedding parties in Nigeria; a couple actually. But the stand out one was for Country Representative of Lawyers Without Borders, Angela Uwandu. It is not just about the wedding either, it is about the preparation, getting the coordinating clothes for yourself and your family is all good fun. But the wedding itself, (was a ‘white’ one in Abuja as opposed to a traditional one in the village), was not so very different to those I have seen elsewhere in Africa or the wider world but for the amount of dancing even as people eat. It was colourful, loud and a lot of fun.

What misconceptions did you have about Nigeria and Nigerians?

Thinking back to my first visit in 2008 when I came for a short visit and returned later that same year, I had been fed with a lot of negative images. I did not spend enough time here interacting with people to realise what a load of nonsense most of that (negative images) was. But coming back in 2014, having done my homework and having been privileged to travel fairly widely since, – I have made it to 19 states and still counting – I am increasingly clear that it is impossible to stereotype. There are all types of people: some liberal, some conservative, some outgoing – many I would say – but some reserved, some friendly and others less so. All are just people going about their lives and trying to provide as best they can for their families.

But if I really must generalise, many do love to debate – just take a long bus ride with Nigerians and listen to the gist –; those who like to party really like to party and I think Nigerians are genuinely polite and respectful so long as you are equally so. I think one other unifying factor is the importance of education; I just hope more and more Nigerians can access it to reach their full potential and provide the maximum economic contribution.

Which Nigerian musician do you enjoy listening to his or her songs?

Here I fall down. I love Bob Dylan and my wife only lets me listen to him in the car. So if you take a ride with me, you have to put up with Bob. And disappointingly, live music acts are nowhere as easy to track down as I had expected in Abuja unless you count Sunday morning church services where I have seen some pretty impressive choirs and bands perform.

What Nigerian song do you enjoy listening to the most?

Aside from some hymns sung in Nigerian style with dancing and clapping to accompany I do not have a standout song. Though I know the national anthem well enough that if it is being played, I start singing it sometimes.

What local dress do you wear the most?

I have several full African outfits and the clothes to make more (of those outfits). I try to rotate, though I like the outfit for the wedding I attended which I am told is Yoruba style. The most fun outfits are my Tiv ones. But I got a good few others and will almost always don them on a Sunday or for any other special occasion.

Have you commuted in a Marwa’, ‘Okada’ or ‘Danfo’ (Nigerian commercial tricycle, bicycle and bus, respectively) before?

I am very familiar with all such modes of transport from my time elsewhere in Africa but in my current role I have not used them. But I did make one long bus journey to Obudu (from Abuja) and back recently with an organised group.

What are the similarities between Nigeria and the United Kingdom?

Ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria run deep. There are many Nigerians with strong British connections. You could write a separate article on this topic.

What Nigerian language do you speak?

Like many of my compatriots I am guilty of being lazy here oh! My sista (colleague) dey teach me small, small pidgin for her skool. Otherwise I just try to know the correct greetings in the language of the region I am travelling; some like ‘Sannu’ in Hausa, I have committed to memory. Others do not stick so well.

Which Nigerian movie do you like to see over and over again?

I almost never watch a movie more than once, even the best.

Have you tasted any Nigerian local drink? What’s the experience?

Monkey Tail springs to mind, hmmm; an acquired taste.

Do you have a Nigerian name or nickname?

‘Kokrokoo,’ though strictly speaking that has its origins from my time in Ghana.

[punch]