The ankara story and embarrassment
So I arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport alone yesterday to travel to London.
I was putting on this very simple ankara up and down with Gucci Sandals. I had my one piece of luggage with me. I had no escort.
I got to the security entrance point where people scan their luggage before getting into the main hall. The police officer stopped me to ask me who was travelling. I looked around me to see if there was someone else beside me but none. I thought he was daft and sarcastically asked him if he couldn’t see me alone with my luggage. He let me enter.
I found Air Peace check-in station and went to check in.
As I made my way to the fast-track check-in, the Air Peace staff asked me again who was travelling. I was alone.
Haba, what do you mean, who is travelling, I asked angrily. Did you not see me here with my luggage and passport in hand? Is there anyone with me that you can see? Hmmm, he apologised and allowed me to check in.
I wondered if something was wrong with them yesterday, not knowing that my dressing made them feel that I might just be someone carrying the luggage of my oga (boss).
Then I went through fast track to immigration, no issue.
Then I took fast track to go through security as I was supposed to do. The FAAN officer came to me to show evidence that I am entitled to use the fast track. Haba, what is happening? I showed him and he checked thoroughly before allowing me use that fast track. I did not see him scrutinising others on that fast track with me.
At that point, I started thinking. What is the matter today?
When I went to the lounge to rest and refresh before boarding, the staff at the gate looked at me somehow before allowing me in.
Then I called my wife to narrate my experience.
Here her:
“Baby, I have always told you that you must always dress in a befitting manner. How can you put on that ankara and expect people to know that you are who you are?”
Wow, I looked at my ankara and it looked nice and comfortable and I wondered.
Nigerians, bikonu, can’t someone be himself for goodness’ sake?
So I should put on all designer clothes or put on top caftan or babariga before I can fly in the elite cabins.
Anyway, the Air Peace flight was awesome and we landed safely.
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My comment:
We may laugh at this but it is not a laughing matter. The materialism in Nigeria can be annoying. Most Nigerians judge and respect people based on their dressing, car (or lack of it), house (or lack of it), position, wealth, etc. It happens in the church, on the street, in the university, at community meetings, on social media, in the market, and all over the place. Conversely, Western countries treat people first as human beings irrespective of their status.
