There is something deeply uncomfortable about the idea that Nigeria can “happen” to someone. For many Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, Nigeria can exist as two things at once: home and heartbreak. We can complain about it endlessly and still defend it fiercely when someone else points out its flaws. But it’s easy to idealise a country when its failures remain abstract. It is different when Nigeria happens to…

One of the things I’ve noticed about Nigeria is how differently we talk about domestic violence and the protection of women. Domestic violence has become normalised in ways it shouldn’t be, particularly when it happens within marriage. Growing up in the UK, it was unusual to hear a man beating his wife and not being held accountable for his actions. You might hear screaming through the walls or see a woman with a bruised face. But people acted and the authorities would get involved. Legislation like…