Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide

Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide

By Elnathan John

Cassava Republic. $17

Welcome to Nigeria, natives and non natives, and prepare to set on a journey to a country that never ceases to stimulate the imagination of its inhabitants and travellers; a country where the good and the bad coexist in such a harmonious way that one cannot always tell the difference between them. In a biting tone, John offers us a picture of what Nigeria looks like, and provides a comprehensive guide to what one should expect when living or travelling there. Funny, sarcastic, bitter sweet, this lucid satire reveals what excesses of power, corruption, and lack of education lead to; that is a society that suffers more than it benefits from political measures. This hilarious and brilliant read criticises universal vices and weaknesses in a fiercely free voice. It doesn’t apologise, doesn’t try to embellish things, doesn’t want to please. As the author says, 'never, ever, explain satire'.