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Original poster

Am I right to Identify as English with Nigerian Heritage?

41 replies

Dami090496 · 10/12/2023 16:56

My parents are Nigerian, Mum is technically British Nigerian as she was born in London.

Ok so I was born and raised in London till age 13. Spent 2-3 years of childhood in Nigeria in between.

I went to Nigeria at age 13.

Spent my teenage years and tiny bit of adulthood and came back to England at age 21.

I have been living in London ever since.

I proudly support the 3 lions (England) and Super Eagles (Nigeria) in football. I don't know who I am gonna support when they face off but just enjoying the thrill of supporting 2 different national teams😂

OP posts:
pjani · 10/12/2023 16:58

Sounds reasonable to me! I get to support two teams too and just try and be happy whoever wins.

Lemsipper · 10/12/2023 17:01

Id say you were British with Nigerian heritage rather than English, but I’m very happy to be educated otherwise

ANightingale · 10/12/2023 17:01

Why ever shouldn't you - you don't need to ask the opinion of others.

A true win-win for you if both teams are drawn to play each other!

Comedycook · 10/12/2023 17:01

Did you post about this the other day?

Umtydumpy · 10/12/2023 17:02

Didn't you start a post about this a few days ago?

BrimfulOfMash · 10/12/2023 17:08

Born in England, English, if that’s your preferred and felt description. Why not? Add English Nigerian or Nigerian English or British Nigerian as it takes your fancy in any particular context. You are a British Citizen… Welsh / English sometimes get used in a more ‘cultural background’ sense, but there is no actual definition.

Original poster
Dami090496 · 10/12/2023 17:09

@pjani, interesting, which nations do you support

OP posts:
FatMumSlimDad · 10/12/2023 17:09

Same question a couple of days ago and you got a lot of replies?

BrassOlive · 10/12/2023 17:15

On what planet is someone born, raised and still living in England, not English?!

BrassOlive · 10/12/2023 17:15

BrassOlive · 10/12/2023 17:15

On what planet is someone born, raised and still living in England, not English?!

Sorry that was in reply to @Lemsipper

Original poster
Dami090496 · 10/12/2023 17:18

@BrassOlive , for some strange reason alot of people born in England rather identify as British.

A few told me I am British and not English. Am like well if I am British, I belong to one of the home nations which is England, so someone belonging to England is surely British and English.

OP posts:
Precipice · 10/12/2023 17:24

You can think of yourself as English or British or Nigerian as you want. There's not a single right answer that you have some obligation to consider yourself as being.

I live in the UK and have from mid-childhood (I'm mid 20s now) and while I acknowledge that living here, as living anywhere, has had its influence on me, I don't think of myself as British (or English or Scottish), only as [other nationality].

blacksax · 10/12/2023 17:27

You already asked this the other day, and the general concensus was that you can identify as whatever nationality you want to, and it is nobody's business but yours.

Why are you asking the same question again?

MargaritaThyme · 10/12/2023 17:29

I’m English born & raised to Irish parents and I support both England and Ireland, so your approach sounds reasonable to me, OP.

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 10/12/2023 17:45

I’m from England, but would always think of myself as British rather than English.
When I lived in Nigeria some colleagues would say they thought of themselves as Yoruba (or Hausa, Igbo etc) first, then Nigerian second.
Is this similar to your feeling on Englishness Vs Britishness?

Lemsipper · 10/12/2023 17:45

BrassOlive · 10/12/2023 17:15

On what planet is someone born, raised and still living in England, not English?!

So, do you understand the concept of opinions? She asked and this was mine. I think she is British rather than English, but if she told me she was English without asking for an opinion, I certainly would just accept it

Cincinnatus · 10/12/2023 17:46

You can identify as a lampshade these days if you wish.

LlynTegid · 10/12/2023 17:57

English with Nigerian heritage seems reasonable to me. Britain is three countries not one.

Crinkle77 · 10/12/2023 18:01

Umtydumpy · 10/12/2023 17:02

Didn't you start a post about this a few days ago?

Yes, I've deffo seen this before a couple of weeks ago.

BrassOlive · 10/12/2023 18:03

Lemsipper · 10/12/2023 17:45

So, do you understand the concept of opinions? She asked and this was mine. I think she is British rather than English, but if she told me she was English without asking for an opinion, I certainly would just accept it

Show quote history

I get that. I'm just curious to know what about OP, in your opinion, makes her not English?

InefficientProcess · 10/12/2023 18:05

why are you even asking?

This is nothing like the Irish Americans whose great great great grandparents were the last people in their family to set foot on Irish soil shouting loudly about how Irish they are (and telling the Irish they’re doing being Irish wrong).

Identify yourself as Nigerian and British if you like. All you’re telling people is that you grew up in both cultures, which you did.

VeganNugsNotDrugs · 10/12/2023 18:08

Makes far more sense than Dave down the pub claiming to be Welsh during the 6 nations because his great great great grandad was born there, even though Dave hasn't ever set foot on Welsh soil

InefficientProcess · 10/12/2023 18:09

And pick whichever bit of British identity you want. You grew up in England. So feel free to say English.

JamSandle · 10/12/2023 18:10

Cincinnatus · 10/12/2023 17:46

You can identify as a lampshade these days if you wish.

This got me!

FlowerBarrow · 10/12/2023 18:13

I would say you are British with Nigerian heritage. English to me is the race whereas British is the nationality.

The confusion/difference is that other countries only use one word for both things.

For example, if white English/British children were born in Nigeria, no one would ever suggest that they are Nigerian (ethnicity) though they could possibly be Nigerian passport holders. They could claim the nationality (ie British) but not the ethnicity (ie English).

I imagine some people don’t consider being English to be an ethnicity, hence the differing views

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