Today’s Topic of the Day centred on Nigeria’s Independence Day, opening up a deep dive into heritage, identity, and history. The mandem reflected on what independence really meant - whether Nigeria ever truly shook off colonial structures - and how the artificial borders left by Britain forced together hundreds of different peoples, languages, and religions.
The conversation moved through the complexity of Nigeria’s make-up: Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and many more, with the divides of north and south, Christian and Muslim, shaping the country to this day. They debated Awolowo’s claim that Nigeria was just a “geographical expression,” and whether unity has ever been fully possible in that context.
From there, the history of the Biafran War came up - how it scarred generations, fractured trust, and left questions about what progress looks like in modern Nigeria. The discussion also pulled in the diaspora experience: how Nigerians abroad carry pride, resilience, and culture, but also face the same stereotypes and dismissals that the continent has long endured.
The team closed by unpacking the “Ghana Must Go” episode - a reminder of how economic downturn and politics once led to mass expulsions and tension between West African nations, and how those same lessons still echo in today’s migrant debates.
It was more than a history lesson; it was a conversation about identity, belonging, and the struggle to define freedom on our own terms.
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