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Becoming Nigerian: A Guide
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In Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide, Elnathan John provides an affecting, unrestrained and satirical guide to the Nigerians you will meet at home and abroad, or on your way to hell and to heaven. It is a searing look at how power is performed, negotiated and abused in private and in public; in politics, business, religious institutions and in homes. From the exploration of
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Paperback, 160 pages
Published
July 11th 2019
by Cassava Republic Press
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This was an excellent read!!! I highly recommend for those who like reading satirical books. This one will have you laughing and shaking your head. Elnathon John does a brilliant job of breaking down what's it like to be Nigerian and to live in Nigeria. I also loved how he ends the chapters with May God bless your hustle. The book is only 145 pages and contains a phrase and expression glossary in the back.I'm not Nigerian but I did enjoy Becoming Nigerian and learned a lot about the culture and
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No book has ever made me laugh this much. I enjoyed every single sentence; inasmuch as it is satire, it correctly describes how it is living and hustling in Nigeria depending on the category of profession you fall into and helps us as Nigerians reflect to improve our terrible behaviour. I highly recommend this book.

Reminded me in some ways of Peter Enahoro's classic, How to be a Nigerian, which was published in the early 1980s! That shows how long I have been in this part of the world.
I suspect some of what Elnathan John writes might apply to other countries?
I suspect some of what Elnathan John writes might apply to other countries?

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Becoming Nigerian - A Guide by Elnathan John
From the Author of “Born on a Tuesday comes this Satire at its finest
I laughed and laughed at the succinct description of many things Nigerian
If you don’t understand sarcasm this book is not for you. In the words of the Author; “Never, ever explain Satire”
It correctly points out many Nigerian behaviors especially the ridiculous ones
Really and truly the book is a guide on Unbecoming Nigerian!
I recommend for everyone
#becomingNigerian
From the Author of “Born on a Tuesday comes this Satire at its finest
I laughed and laughed at the succinct description of many things Nigerian
If you don’t understand sarcasm this book is not for you. In the words of the Author; “Never, ever explain Satire”
It correctly points out many Nigerian behaviors especially the ridiculous ones
Really and truly the book is a guide on Unbecoming Nigerian!
I recommend for everyone
#becomingNigerian

Sep 19, 2019
Rudolf Uji
marked it as to-read
Want to find out how to unwind? Grab an El Nathan and your day is made..

I laughed throughout this book. Never explain satire.
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If you don’t understand sarcasm or satire, please don’t read this book.
Seriously, every single thing written about it is true about Nigeria. I understand quite a number of people want to be positive and remain positive about Nigeria but sometimes, we need the realists like Elnathan John who will confront us about being a Nigerian.
Written in a satirical manner, this book details how Nigerians are from the politicians, to the religious leaders, the elite, the middle-class (both lower and upper) ...more
Seriously, every single thing written about it is true about Nigeria. I understand quite a number of people want to be positive and remain positive about Nigeria but sometimes, we need the realists like Elnathan John who will confront us about being a Nigerian.
Written in a satirical manner, this book details how Nigerians are from the politicians, to the religious leaders, the elite, the middle-class (both lower and upper) ...more

The cover art was brilliant “Being Nigerian/Becoming a Nigerian: A guide”. As a Nigerian I could very well relate; I felt attacked/subbed in some cases. Elnathan shows how “the hustle” cuts across all sphere of society and how it has eroded our values/conscience/humanity.
Underneath all the humour, Elnathan causes you to reflect on society and your role & motivation in society. He also puts in perspective the growth process Nigeria requires.
I really enjoyed this book.
Underneath all the humour, Elnathan causes you to reflect on society and your role & motivation in society. He also puts in perspective the growth process Nigeria requires.
I really enjoyed this book.
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Elnathan is a writer and lawyer living in spaces between in Nigeria and Germany. Mostly.
His works have appeared in Hazlitt, Per Contra, Le Monde Diplomatique, FT and the Caine Prize for African Writing anthology 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He writes weekly political satire for the Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust on Sunday (and any other publication that PAYS him). Except you are The New Yorker, he ...more
His works have appeared in Hazlitt, Per Contra, Le Monde Diplomatique, FT and the Caine Prize for African Writing anthology 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He writes weekly political satire for the Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust on Sunday (and any other publication that PAYS him). Except you are The New Yorker, he ...more
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“The Nigerian God loves elections and politics. When you have bribed people to get party nominations, used thugs to steal and stuff ballot boxes, intimated people into either sitting at home or voting for you, eventually, (through God’s grace), win the elections, you must begin by declaring that your success is the will of the almighty and living God and that the other candidate should accept this as the will of God”
—
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