Let President Donald Trump hold whatever view he likes about Africa. Nobody cares. Well, African politicians can care. Next week, three Nigerian young ladies born and bred in the US – Akuoma Omeoga, Ngozi Onwumere and Seun Adigun – will represent Nigeria in the bobsled event at Winter Games.
Akuoma Omeoga and fellow brakeman, Ngozi Owumere, along with driver, Seun Adigun, are all first-generation Nigerian immigrants in the US who will represent the African nation in its debut at the Winter Olympics. Nigeria is one of the eight African nations competing in South Korea as part of the largest contingent of African athletes ever at a Winter Games.
For Adigun, her roots are as important as her birthplace, which is what pushed her to create Nigeria’s first-ever bobsled team. As the young lady puts it, to be a first-generation Nigerian is to have the patriotism of your homeland “almost pounded into you” by parents who don’t want you to forget where you come from. She has also competed as a track athlete for Nigeria in the 2012 London Games.
Adigun expatiated further, “Although we’re American, we’re also Nigerian, we’re actually Nigerian first. That’s the one culture that we know, that we were raised to respect and understand. To show people that it’s okay to be both and it’s okay to represent where you’re from is a powerful message that, hopefully, we’ve been able to translate.”
Onwumere said the preservation of her African culture was especially important being raised in America. The team’s Olympic journey has only reinforced the importance of that heritage, she said, and of leaving a legacy in Nigeria’s name. “After our parents are gone, who’s going to be there?” she said. “The weight rests on us. We’re the new generation of Nigerians.”
“Shithole countries” or not, Omeoga said she hopes the team’s presence in South Korea this month will offer a new image of who and what African immigrants can contribute to global sports.
The women are unapologetically Nigerian on social media, at public appearances and on the competition circuit, where they blast Nigerian music before races. At last week’s opening ceremony, they entered the Olympic Stadium wearing green and white aso-oke, a Yoruba cloth worn on special occasions.
Pan-Africanism is well and alive among groups from the continent converging on South Korea. The Nigerian bobsled team has also been eager to connect with fellow African athletes from such countries as Madagascar and Eritrea – also making its debut this year – and is close to Ghanaian athlete, Akwasi Frimpong.
