“Japa” (Wiki) is a Nigerian word for relocating out of Nigeria to any other country in any part of the world.
The most common countries Nigerians japa to are Canada, the USA, the UK, Italy, Finland, Brazil, Australia, etcetera.
We have a common joke that if you relocate or visit any country in the world; including countries located in extremely remote regions and you do not see a Nigerian living there, you should run for your life!
Every time I travel to specifically other countries in Africa, other Africans I meet are always curious and ask why we appear to love traveling and relocating the way we do. Here, they are referring to Nigerians who relocate to their countries or other countries. I always laugh and point to any light bulb I see around us. Of course, at first, they do not get it, and I have to spell it out, like well, “you do not seem to have issues with 24/7 Electricity o”.
I don’t know about you, but just imagine for a minute you are on a street filled with say 20 or 50 high or low-rise buildings at night, and every single unit of house and apartment have their generator on, how do you feel just thinking about all that noise pollution?
So what is this japa Syndrome about? Why do Nigerians love japa a lot? Why do we not stay to wet our grasses and make them green like our green-white-green flag, huh?
There are so many discussions online arguing for and against japa-ing as we call it. Those who have japa’d caution those who have not saying the grass is not greener on the other side. Those who do not want to japa and other people generally assume those who japa do so because they 100% believe the grass is greener on the side they are japa-ing to.
Walk with me a bit, I cannot speak for everyone, but quite a number of us who would like to “japa” are thinking of;
- 24/7 Electricity; I mean the type where you do not need to own a generator or wonder when the power will be back!
- Safety for Self and Children; the type where you don’t have to keep watching your back and side mirrors when you are out, the type where you can send your kid to go get bread at the supermarket and not freak out at the thought of even sending the kid out in the first place. The type where as a female, you can walk or run down a street without getting cat-called and feeling unsafe just by walking down your street.
- Self Love; the type where your thoughts are filled with how to grow personally, physically, and professionally, the type where you can comfortably spend hours brainstorming and shipping that product, not the one where your thoughts are filled with how to provide basic infrastructure and protection for yourself because that is what we are accustomed to in Nigeria.
- Sound Sleep; the type where you are not sleeping with one eye open, or for some of us, the type where you don’t get to sleep at all through the night, what would this phobia be again? Yes, Somniphobia, yup that one!
- & My Personal Favourite: Living in a High-Trust Society where breaking the law has consequences and is not a fun ride in the park eh, unlike one country I know **thinking out loud**!
These are no-brainers, isn’t it? I know a lot of people would say but you can do all this in Nigeria, what do you mean you can’t? Well 👉🏽👇🏼
I cannot speak for everyone and I don’t have the energy to fight either, “not when there are a lot of voices openly supporting the ongoing madness we have going on!”
So have you japa’d? Why did you japa? Please share your top one (1) or three (3) reasons why you made that decision with us in the comments.
Do you plan to japa? What country would you like to japa to? Don’t worry your village people cannot see your comment on my site, feel free to share.
Care to vote?
Team Japa Vs Team We Pin!
Good Reads
- This was interesting to read, specifically the part where she talked about what you spend your hours on – https://subomiplumptre.substack.com/p/you-need-bigger-problems
What else would you like to know? Ask away in the comments or send me an email and I might write about it.
I am totally for the Japa, but to be honest Japa isn’t all it seems there’s a lot of bad behavior you need to shed to survive the new worlds.
But just as you stated, everything works seamlessly but at the same time, Taxes are high, work ethic is strong and bills will humble you.
But if you’re able to navigate these with ease, then you’d be more than alright. I’ve realized that saving money is easy here (although you can just blow it away with ease. But Japa makes you feel saner on the long run.
I am totally for the Japa, but to be honest Japa isn’t all it seems there’s a lot of bad behavior you need to shed to survive the new worlds.
But just as you stated, everything works seamlessly but at the same time, Taxes are high, work ethic is strong and bills will humble you.
But if you’re able to navigate these with ease, then you’d be more than alright. I’ve realized that saving money is easy here (although you can just blow it away with ease. But Japa makes you feel saner on the long run.
I have not been for japa o, but have to keep my family together. That said, given current rising issues, I would say to each his own really! There are issues everywhere, you choose your issues
I agree. Each person should decide on what’s best for them without being judged for their decisions.