For many in the diaspora, home isn’t just a place on a map. It is a persistent ache; the longing for your people and your culture. Years of longing turn into plans for a “japada” (a return to the motherland), the soil that raised your parents. But the choice is never simple: stay where electricity is guaranteed and systems work, or risk the unknown to reconnect with home. Some stay, while others take the leap. But what happens when that dream meets the reality of unpredictable electricity, unstable internet, systems that do not work, and the kind of “shege” that no amount of planning could prepare you for?
Nora Chineme knows this tension well. She left Nigeria for the U.S. as a child but, years later, felt the pull to return. She answered with a bold “japada” and, after five years, a “re-japada”. Her journey from Nigeria to the US, the US to Nigeria, and back again, is a story many quietly relate to. It reflects the reality of many: the heartbreak of realizing that, even though home is where the heart is, the heart can still be restless there.
Take us back to the beginning, when you first left Nigeria, when did you “japada” and when did you “re-japada”?
I left Nigeria at 11 with my family. By the time I was 26, I felt disconnected from my roots, and I could not shake the feeling that I needed to return to Nigeria. I followed that curiosity for 5 years before finally deciding to go back to the US.
What was it like growing up in Nigeria before moving to the US, and how did you settle in after relocating?
My childhood was filled with joy thanks to enjoying family gatherings, attending school, playing with my friends, Sunday mass, catechism class at our local Catholic church, and traveling to our village home for Christmas, amongst many other fond memories. Of course, all of this changed when we moved abroad. Don’t get me wrong, the experience opened a whole new world to me, but for the first time in my life, I noticed that I was “Black” and somehow that changed my perspective. That was when I began longing for the familiarity of home. Regardless, I had no choice but to settle in and enjoy the many wonderful perks of my new environment, unlike anything I had seen in Nigeria.
You graduated and packed your bags for Nigeria. What really motivated this move?
The move was strongly motivated by my desire to reconnect with my culture, but it also aligned with an opportunity to be a part of the growth of my family’s business. Our business has been in existence since my childhood, and it has played a major role in my upbringing. Like a true Nigerian entrepreneur, my father began his business to support his family and, through hard work, sustained it for three decades. So, after my graduation, it felt natural to seize the opportunity and align with my desire to reconnect with Nigeria.
Before you moved back to Nigeria, did you have expectations? What were the biggest surprises, good or bad, when you arrived?
I understood the need to manage my expectations of Nigeria. I knew I was entering a different realm of infrastructure, but nothing could have truly prepared me for the level of shege I saw on a day-to-day basis. There is not enough room to list the things that surprised me, both good and bad, but here are a few:
- The speed at which the Naira devalued each passing year. I saw firsthand as Nigerians grew poorer, I watched as people’s businesses collapsed.
- Lack of opportunity for the youths! I worked as an HR and Admin Lead, and the number of young people searching for gainful employment with no opportunities in sight shocked me. I met hundreds of graduates who were in serious need of work, but I could only employ a handful.
On the bright side, I found that there are several niche communities; there is a community for everything. You can never be lonely. You just need to do some searching to find your people.
What was the moment you knew it was time to move back to the US?
To be honest, it wasn’t just one moment. There were many moments that finally led me to the decision, but I do remember one unbearably hot day. I was so stressed while working on a business project. I was dealing with a particular vendor in a situation so peculiar to Nigeria, and it dawned on me that this was an infrastructural problem I would encounter many times, with no indication that it would be resolved in the near future.
As most Nigerians know, in order to survive and thrive independently in Nigeria, you expend a considerable amount of mental energy. You must have the willpower to explain, revise, argue, and explain again at any given moment. It all became too taxing. I could no longer focus on the things that brought me joy at the beginning of my japada journey. It was in that season that I decided to leave Nigeria. I told myself, “If you are ever to return to Nigeria, you need to create a long-term plan that will allow you to sustain and support yourself for this japada journey.”
I am one of many diasporans who have relocated to Nigeria and eventually chosen to return to the diaspora, not because they didn’t love home, but because they faced unexpected obstacles that no one talks about. Nothing can prepare you for the terrain like taking the journey. I fully recognize the privilege of taking a break when others cannot. It is the same issues that Nigerians are running away from in Nigeria that eventually drove me away as well. But I will never lose interest in maintaining my connection to home; that journey does not end here.
Do you feel more Nigerian in America and more American in Nigeria? How do you handle this feeling?
Having spent an equal number of years living in and out of Nigeria, I have concluded that I felt more American in Nigeria. I always considered myself Nigerian first, but spending my formative years abroad left a significant impact on me. My parents were devoted to their children staying connected to home. They filled our house with cultural music, spoke the language, and prepared food that kept us grounded.
Speaking Igbo was essential at home, and every few years, we were sure to visit Nigeria during Christmas break. Yet those 5 years I spent living in Nigeria made it very clear to me that I was American first. I needed considerable adjustment to become comfortable with my immediate environment. I had no choice but to reconfigure how I spoke, my approach to socializing, my use of entrepreneurial thinking, my going to the market and haggling, my tolerance for service inconsistencies, and my daily inconveniences.
All this molded me into a new person. Even so, one thing I will never lose is the Igbo language. I am holding on to it for dear life. No matter where I am, I won’t lose that part of me. I now consider myself a perfect hybrid of the two. I can now switch between being American and Nigerian, depending on the situation’s requirements.
Nigerians at home can be brutally critical of returnees. Did you ever feel judged for going back? And did you feel judged again for leaving?
I received criticism from Nigerians at home on several occasions, but I was not bothered by it. I strongly believe that Nigerians at home and returnees must collaborate to move Nigeria forward, and in most cases, misunderstandings that lead to criticism can be resolved over time.
I felt discouraged by diasporans who could not understand why I would choose to go back, but no one judged me because I didn’t seek their permission. Once my mind was made up, I took action. Making the decision to japada is deeply personal, and no one can make it for you. Anyone who is thinking about going back should make that decision for themselves, or else other people’s voices will discourage them.
What advice would you give to Nigerians thinking of relocating back home?
I would say, know your why! Returning home to Nigeria is the dream of many Nigerians in the diaspora, and while it can be exciting, people often underestimate the requirements. However, with proper intention and planning, it can be done correctly and make the intended impact.
There is so much to say about this that is why I started a series on my TikTok (@norachineme) called “Naija made: A returnee’s reflection,” where I go into detailed reflections on my japada story.
To successfully return home to Nigeria, you must plan every detail of your relocation. There is no such thing as too much planning, especially when it comes to finances. Do not rush the process, consider every angle, and take your time.
What advice would you give to Nigerians considering relocating and starting over in the U.S., especially amid the daily emergence of new immigration policies?
I learned a lot through my journey, though I’m no expert, but here’s what I have learned from my friends who have successfully migrated abroad:
– Do your research, make sure that you have a plan that will sustain your efforts to relocate.
– Secure a legal and long-term visa
– Prepare for the cost of living, which is always higher than what you might expect, so budget for more than you think.
– Be realistic about the job market, especially when you first relocate.
– Lean on community, whether it be through church, school, or organizations.
These are just a few. There is so much that goes into this process. Make sure to do your own research.
What has five years in Nigeria taught you? What has this immigration journey (Nigeria-US, US-Nigeria, and back again) taught you about home?
Five years in Nigeria taught me that there will always be a longing to return to what is familiar. Many Nigerians abroad are torn between yearning to return home and leaving behind the comforts of the diaspora countries they live in. Every day, they have to choose between longing for their cultural home and despising the consequences of living in a dilapidated infrastructure. For some, the decision is easy; they want to remain where their electricity is guaranteed, and protocols work. While others like me are willing to engage with the unfamiliar just to reclaim the connection to home that was once lost.
The lessons I learned from spending those five years in Nigeria are invaluable and have made an unforgettable impact on my life. Nigeria taught me that Nigerians are resilient, innovative, and effervescent, no matter where they choose to reside.
If you could describe your journey in one sentence, what would it be?
Home is where the heart is, but the heart can still be restless at home.
