Most Americans know little about Nigeria, the country where I was born and raised. Nigeria is the eighth most populous country in the world and the site of remnants of early...

civilizations, stretching 11,000 years into the past. Nigeria is one of Africa’s bright lights with an abundant supply of oil and other natural resources providing for an emerging robust economy supporting the continent’s second largest stock exchange.

Of course, as a third world country Nigeria has its share of grinding poverty. Most American’s imagine that people in Africa live dreary lives because of the obvious poverty, disease, and suffering. However, the citizens of my country learn to make the best of every situation. Many third-world societies seem to support a viewpoint that individuals have control of their attitudes — whether to be happy or grumpy. Most people in Nigeria seem to be making a culture-supported choice to be happy — to look past the problems and resist negativity. We have been called The Happiest People On Earth.

My African Roots

Life always comes with challenges and problems, but I have learned to not let them discourage me or to turn me aside from accomplishing my purposes. My parents played a big role in this by modeling a positive attitude towards life. My mother, especially, was a woman of great faith, who would gather her family around her, and pray for each of us by name. In many ways she imparted to her children the clear message that we could accomplish whatever we set our minds and hearts to do.

The best thing I brought away from my childhood, perhaps, is permission to be myself — to resist conforming to any goals or expectations that didn’t come from my own heart. As a result, I became a dreamer; I would dream things and then begin to believe my dreams, imagining a future that I could then put all my efforts into bringing to pass.

Our father was a banker/entrepreneur who started a bank that is now one of the top five in the country, so my siblings and I grew up middle class, by African standards. We lived in the capital city, which is called Legos. My twin and I were the last of six children born into a family composed of eclectic talented people. It turned out that my special gifts included design sense, a good head for business, and music. I have been singing in public since before my earliest memories. I never had any musical training, but possess a good sense of rhythm, a clear strong voice, and an effective stage presence.

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