The state of Nigeria is located in Western Africa surrounding the Gulf of Guinea ( Bureau of African Affairs. 2011 ) . The Cultural interview discussed in this paper was conducted on a 33 twelvemonth old adult male who migrated to the United States of America from Nigeria 4 old ages ago. “Nigeria has over 50 linguistic communications and over 250 idioms and cultural groups” ( Cardinal Intelligence Agency. 2011 ) . The three largest groups are the Hausa-Fulani. the Igbo. and the Yoruba. Nigeria music is largely folk-like. It is really popular worldwide due to the alone instruments played such as the gongon membranophones ( Faola & A ; Heaton. 2008 ) .
The individual I interviewed is a coworker of mine. Our interview took topographic point in Taco Bell in Willoughby. Ohio. November 20th at 11 A. M. We spoke for about 1 hr and 40 proceedingss. During our interview I asked inquiries about the criterions of life in Nigeria. and cultural beliefs and patterns. I besides asked single inquiries about personal life and perceptual experiences about Nigerian and American civilization. Harmonizing to my interviewee most of the houses in Western Africa are made out of brick. The lone people who are able to hold things such as air conditioning. telecastings. and telephone service are rich people.
Most occupations in Nigeria wage in wage instead than by the hr. During my research for this assignment I discovered that the mean involvement rate to purchase a place in Nigeria is 17 % -24 % ( Bureau of African Affairs. 2011 ) . The revenue enhancements are besides higher when compared to the United States. The unemployment rate is increasing quickly which is besides accompanied by an increased in offense rates. Approximately. there is a highjack taking topographic point every two proceedingss ( Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 2011 ) . The traditional Nigerian household consists of the male parent. his married woman. and their kids.
The male parent is considered the caput of the family and normally works to convey in the money while his married woman takes attention of the house and childs. The oldest male or male parent is the dominant figure in the family. and all the determinations that may impact the household go through him foremost. The oldest boy in the household can take such a function in the absence of the male parent. From a really immature age. kids ( particularly males ) are expected to lend to household duties. and assist the household in any manner necessary. Laziness is unacceptable and is considered a mark of failing. The children’s duties grow as they get older.
It is non uncommon for older boies to drop out of school so they can work and assist the household. Daughters normally help with things such as cookery. making wash. baby sitting. etc. Elders are treated with a batch of regard and their advice and counsel is ever taken into consideration when doing any of import determinations. The proper manner to recognize an senior individual is by kneeling down which is considered a mark of regard and obeisance ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . Because of the lifting unemployment rates. adult females are now besides expected to work outside of their places and contribute to their family’s income.
There are certain parts of Nigeria that are highly traditional and where adult females are treated like ownerships with no rights and loss of individuality. In many instances adult females are expected to work and gain an income. keep the family responsibilities. and carry through the sexual desires of their work forces. Males are ever admired while adult females are considered inferior. Females are normally raised to function and be submissive and obedient to work forces ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . There are many matrimonies that end when the adult female in the relationship gives birth to excessively many females ( Faola & A ; Heaton. 2008 ) .
My interviewee states that this is less common in bigger more develop metropoliss. Many households have an norm of 10 or more kids which is considered a mark of stableness and good position ; nevertheless. this is besides going less common as holding more kids besides leads to economic load in today’s society ( Faola & A ; Heaton. 2008 ) . Nigerians tend to be really household oriented people. and are normally really near to extended household and relations. Most Nigerians live with their extended household in either the same house or in separate houses that are close together.
Neighbors are frequently considered portion of the drawn-out household. It does non count whether they are related or non ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . My interviewee shared with me several narratives of how when he was a child his neighbours were really involved in his childhood practically raising him. Vacation jubilations are a ground for large household assemblages and parties. There are many similarities when comparing vacation jubilations in Nigeria and the United States. Nigerians celebrate New Year’s Day. Christmas twenty-four hours. and Easter merely like people do in the United States.
Their labour twenty-four hours is frequently referred to as “workers’ day” . They besides have a “freedom day” where they celebrate their first existent election of April 27th. 1994 ( Faola & A ; Heaton. 2008 ) . Election Day is besides considered a public vacation. Nigeria has a “dry season” and a “rainy season” each twelvemonth. Their Christmas is normally during the center of summer. My research done for this assignment indicates that Rugby is the largest and most popular athletics in Africa ( Bureau of African Affairs. 2011 ) ; nevertheless. my interviewee provinces that Soccer is even more popular in Nigeria ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) .
There are normally large festivals that occur before and after each game for both athleticss. Hunting is besides a really popular athletics in Western Africa. My interviewee describes Nigeria as a really beautiful topographic point full of nature. and where cervid are a batch bigger than in the United States. It is really common to see king of beastss. leopards. rhinos. elephants and American bison traversing streets or merely sauntering around the side of roads. My interviewee is from South East Nigeria. Besides English. he speaks Ibibio and Efic which are two “vernacular” linguistic communications intending they are native and autochthonal in certain countries ( Central Intelligence Agency. 2011 ) .
English is considered the official concern linguistic communication. My interviewee has a married woman and two childs. He used to hold his ain concern in Nigeria being a travelling agent and attended college to analyze selling. His chief end is to go a Registered nurse ( which he is presently go toing school for ) and to one twenty-four hours have his ain concern. Education is perceived to be really of import in Western Africa civilization even though many people ne’er get the chance to go to college.
Traditionally. most immature grownups continue populating with their parents until they get married. even if they have to go long distances for school ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . Most people populating in Nigeria have diets based on organic nutrients that are low in preservatives. non-fried nutrients. and non-animal fat. Eating meat and traveling out to eating houses are options that are frequently avoided because really few people can afford them. Most nutrient consumed comes from local farms and chiefly consists of harvests such as plantains. maize. yams. and sweet murphies.
Papaya. Ananas comosuss. coconuts. oranges. Mangifera indicas. and bananas are besides readily available. My interviewee’s favourite dishes are cassava which is a starchy root with a sharp white flesh and Nigerian Suya which are considered daintinesss. Nigerian Suya is a method of roasting meat that tastes like barbeque. My interviewee disfavors American nutrient because he says is really unhealthy and really difficult to masticate ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . West African civilization is rich in wellness attention patterns that consist of a assortment of place and common people redresss.
Many people visit priest-doctors. exorcists. card readers. advisers and magicians merely to advert a few prior to seeking conventional medical aid from physicians. Many cultural groups in Nigeria are against Western medicative pattern including inoculations or taking any type of pill ( Cardinal Intelligence Agency. 2011 ) . Home redresss normally include particular teas and nutrients recommended for specific unwellnesss. My interviewee provinces that when he or anyone else in his household is ill they try to rest every bit much as possible. take plentifulness of fluids. and see a physician.
He besides does annually physician medical examinations. One major hazard behaviour in Nigerian civilization is the deficiency of protection when holding sex and holding multiple sex spouses or sex with aliens ( Unites States Agency of International Development. 2011 ) . Not take parting in Western medicative patterns can be considered a hazard behaviour. Even though people seem to be really good cognizant of the dangers of such behaviour they continue to make same thing out of ignorance and a assortment of personal beliefs. My interviewee shared with me how hard it was for him and his household to accommodate to a new civilization.
Some illustrations given were: larning how to drive on the right side of the route. larning how to manage U. S. currency. and understanding American slang. I have been populating in the United States for 13 old ages and I still do non understand American slang. My interviewee besides had to larn how to pump his ain gas. In Nigeria gas Stationss pump the gas for you because they are afraid that you might seek to drive away without paying ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . One of the hardest things my interviewee had to larn was to command his Sense of distance and attitude when nearing people for the first clip.
He states that in Nigeria everyone is really close and friendly with each other. Touch is considered an built-in portion of Nigerian civilization but is misinterpreted in the United States ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . He states that when he foremost moved here he instantly noticed how people reacted to him “strangely for moving excessively happy and friendly” . Now he tries to be “a spot more serious and reserved” when meeting person for the first clip ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) .
Harmonizing to my interviewee most people in Nigeria are Christians. The few people that are non Christian normally worship different divinities. liquors. ascendants. and Gods. There is a God for every component on Earth and many other 1s. The ground why Christianity is spread outing quickly is because of the many missionaries that come every twelvemonth to assist people in demand and spread out the message of God ( Anonymous Personal Communication. November 25. 2011 ) . My interviewee did non advert anything about Muslims or Islam.
Harmonizing to my research “it is estimated that 50 per centum of Nigerians are Muslims. 40 per centum are Christian. and that staying 10 per centum pattern assorted autochthonal religions” ( McLaughlin. 2006 ) . Differences between Muslims and Christians have created a batch of struggle in Nigeria. This is why most Nigerians try to get married within their ain faith. The bulk of Christians live in the southern portion of Nigeria while the Muslims predominate in the North ( McLaughlin. 2006 ) . This assignment was disputing but really rewarding.
I like to go around the universe and learn about different civilizations. I will set the cognition learned from this assignment into action and encourage others to make the same. I think that it is of import to maintain an unfastened head and regard and value any differences in civilization. Expecting others to absorb to one’s civilization is incorrect and ineffectual. Cultural diverseness will ever be a really of import issue in nursing pattern for many old ages to come. The United States of America is going a batch more than the so called “melting pot” and we nurses need to be prepared.
