Obikwelu and wrong identity
SIR: Your description of world class sprinter Francis Obikwelu as "the 25-year-old Portuguese" was a disservice to him and to his Nigerian heritage. As a black-European and a former Nigerian compatriot. Obikwelu deserved to have his true ethno-national description accurately at all times.
Those of us who live in the United States and often visit Portugal and most European capitals are aware that, most African journalists do not seem to understand the importance of identifying with Africa in their reports.
Where are the Chinua Achebes, the Tai Solarins, the Wole Soyinkas and the Chinweizus. These men understood the meaning of and the importance of portraying pride in our African heritage in order to counter the usual repetitive negative stereotypes of the blackman.
The Guardian, being the flagship of the Nigerian press, should have known better and sufficiently educated in the politics of global identity.
The modern rule is that nationalities - of - convenience should be preceded by nationalities - of - origin when an exile or a person in diaspora is described. Obikwelu is both an exile, an immigrant to Portugal and a diaspora. For that reason, Obikwelu's nationality - of - convinience (Portuguese) should have been preceded by his nationality-of-origin (Nigerian).
In other words Francis Obikwelu should always be described as a Nigerian-Portuguese. That way, both Nigeria (Africa) and Portugal (Europe) benefit from his fame and prestige.
Albert Einstein (a German Jew living in France on a Switzerland passport) said as he was about to become famous for his Theory of Relativity: "If the theory proved right, Germany will call me German, France will call me a great scientist and Switzerland will call me a Swiss citizen, but if it proved wrong Germany will call me a Jew, France will call me a Swiss and Switzerland will call me a (Nazi-tainted) German."
In other words, if by tomorrow drug is found in Obikwelu's possession, the European press will quickly remind the world that he was a "Nigerian." Therefore it is the responsibility of the Nigerian press to remind the world, in his fame, that Obikwelu is a Nigerian-Portuguese.
Patryk Utulu,
San Francisco, USA
