The Agẹmọ curse and Nigeria’s free fall
This article examines historical and contemporary criticisms of Nigeria's reputation, specifically referencing controversial remarks by Colin Powell and David Cameron. It explores the tension between international perceptions of corruption and Nigerian national identity.
Why it matters
Reflects on the impact of diplomatic rhetoric and the sensitivity of national branding in international relations.
Add as a preferred source “THEY just tend not to be honest. Nigerians as a group, frankly, are marvelous scammers. I mean, it is in their national culture.” That damning comment appeared in the September 25, 1995, edition of The New Yorker. That scathing assertion stirred a hornet’s nest, and its author — Colin Powell, the urbane American diplomat, Army General, and later the 65th Secretary of State (and the first Black American to serve in that role) — courted unpleasant rebukes for those remarks. Powell was like smelly rot on whom flies perched as he courted outrage with that unflattering categorisation.
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