 MIAMI GARDENS — It didn’t take long for Erhabor Ighodaro to figure out that the social and economic struggles he left behind in his native Nigeria mirrored the social and economic ills of the United States — or at least Miami.
“It
was a cultural shock to see people living under bridges and the
destitution of residents in Miami in a system that is supposed to be
plentiful,” said Ighodaro. “It was naive to think you are coming to make
money and the streets are paved with gold.”
That reality made Ighodaro determined to excel in education, studying
for a total of at least than 15 years until he received a doctorate in
Conflict Analysis and Resolution in 2008 from Nova Southeastern
University and embarked on a career in public service.
Like Ighodaro, Nigerian-American immigrants are mostly highly educated
and have been living awhile among us, quietly. While their community
involvement dates back more than 30 years, some have recently become
more visible, moving into politics, partnering with educational
institutions and spreading their culture.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 American Community Survey says some 731
people report Nigerian ancestry in Miami-Dade and a little more than
1,000 in the tri-county area.
Nigeria is the most populous country in West Africa and its people are ancestors to many who live in America and the Caribbean.
But, as the people — who Texas found out were the most educated
immigrants in that state — try to assimilate seamlessly into their new
homeland, they have to fight against what they term negative images of
Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular.
Negative stereotypes, says Nathaniel B. Styles Jr., executive director
of the African Caribbean Cultural Arts and Tourism Corridor Initiative,
are the main reasons Nigerians have been keeping a low profile. But they
are involved in the community.
On Nov. 1, Styles signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the West
African state of Oyo to showcase cultural tourism and community
development between Oyo and his organization. One goal of the
partnership is to establish the Oyo State Cultural House in Miami.
Before going to sign the memo, Styles in August received the blessing of
the Florida Legislature in the form of a proclamation presented by then
state Sen. Larcenia Bullard. It acknowledged a 2006 bill that
designated 43 city blocks in Miami-Dade as the African Caribbean
Cultural Corridor and Osun’s Village.
Village
The corridor includes a section of Northwest Seventh Avenue between
Northwest 36th and 79th streets. The village, which will develop into an
Afro-centric arts, culture and economic development community, will
stretch from 54th to 60th streets.
While these ongoing efforts may be somewhat invisible until they are
fully realized, two recent events in South Florida’s Nigerian American
community were hard to be missed.
On Aug. 14, Ighodaro became the first Nigerian American elected to
office in South Florida. He won Seat 3 on the Miami Gardens City Council
vacated by Andre Williams. The rookie councilman has already begun to
show his value as a longtime public servant and a Nigerian.
“He’s not a one-dimensional person,” said Miami Gardens Councilman David
Williams Jr. “He comes with some type of a benefit and lots of assets
and his experience in criminal justice can only help us grow and make us
a stronger city.”
Williams was quick to show his support for Ighodaro and the cultural
background he brings to the city. One of the many hats Ighodaro wears is
serving as president of the Nigerian American Foundation, one of
several Nigerian organizations that brought the celebration of the 52nd
independence anniversary of Nigeria to Miami Gardens. Nigeria gained
political independence from England on Oct. 1, 1950.
Florida United for Nigeria, a committee of Nigerian organizations,
hosted a week of activities that culminated on Oct. 6 with a parade and
awards gala.
This second annual Nigeria Independence Day parade and community event
featured bands from Miami Carol City and Booker T. Washington high
schools and a Nigerian float.
On the first day of celebrations in Miami Gardens, Williams had a resolution approved naming Oct. 1 Nigeria Day.
Attention
“We have a large Hispanic population but we have other ethnic groups
that need attention as they try to move their agendas forward and I am
so glad he took the lead,” Williams said. “From a cultural standpoint,
it’s a great opportunity for young people to go around the world without
leaving our city, to hear the dialect, see the dresses. There were
speeches and it was relevant commemorating many years as a nation. By
talking and dialoguing with the people in the parade, eating different
foods, it was truly a lesson in cultural diversity. That is something
you can’t teach from a book. There is one thing to read from a story but
it another thing to have the experience.”
Since joining the council, Ighodaro has spearheaded plans for a Savior
March slated for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, in conjunction with Mount Zion AME
Church in Miami Gardens. The march, which is open to the community,
will start at the corner of Northwest 152nd Street and 22nd Avenue and
move to the Bunche
Park neighborhood.
“Bunche Park, the last couple of years, has been a haven for mayhem and
violence, so that’s why we want to march there to show we want to stop
the violence,” Ighodaro said.
He will focus on crime and reducing violence through a Community
Violence Intervention Program, in conjunction with Miami Gardens-based
Florida Memorial University, where he teaches Criminal Justice.
Focus
“I strongly believe that focusing on education and the family can help
reduce violence,” said Ighodaro, who has worked in public education
since 1998, when he became chief of staff to the late popular Miami-Dade
County School Board Member Robert Ingram.
Styles is also focusing on educating Miamians, mostly by helping them understand who Africans are and from where they came.
Also, through an invitation from Style, for three years now Emmanuel
Abiodun Aderele, a percussionist, educator and dancer, has been an
international Artist in Residence with the Osun’s Village & African
Caribbean Cultural Arts Corridor. He teaches people how to paint, dance
and cook in the ways they do in Yorùbá, a part of Oyo.
“I live my daily life as an African; that is what I promote,” said
Aderele. “When I see people in the streets, I tell them, ‘You are from
Africa. You are just born here.’ They don’t tell our history properly.”
*Picture above: Miami Gardens Councilman Erhabor Ighodaro, right, rear, and his family pose with Miss Nigeria Florida 2012 Ayoyemi Ajinmatanreje, left, rear, during a recent celebration of Nigeria’s independence anniversary. His wife Shannan Ighodaro is at center, rear, and their children, Idia, left, and Esosa are in front. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERHABOR IGHODARO
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