RAISED AFRICAN – Welcome Home!

 

If your full name has ever echoed through the house like a court summon…

If you’ve ever yelled “I’m coming!” from your bed or the playground while your mum kept calling…

If you’ve ever had to kneel down and greet five aunties in one sitting room, or scrubbed the house like your family was expecting the president (but it turned out to be just one church member or family friend)…

Congratulations — you were RAISED AFRICAN!

 

Welcome to Raised African — a series that dives into the chaotic, beautiful, sometimes confusing, and always unforgettable experience of growing up African.

 

There’s no manual for this life. But somehow, we all got the memo.

We knew not to talk back — even when we were right.

We knew the difference between “go and bring my slippers” and “go and bring my slippers.”  (one definitely meant you were about to get flogged with it) 

We knew that when they said, “I brought you into this world, I can take you out,” they meant business — and we didn’t dare test it.

And we definitely knew not to say we were hungry when visitors were around.

 

But beyond the rules, the scoldings, and the legendary beatings with broomsticks, slippers, spatulas, and anything within reach — there was love. A unique kind of love: tough, loud, and sometimes packaged in pepper soup, suya, or a surprise “you think I don’t know what you’re doing?” interrogation.

 

For many of us, growing up African shaped how we see respect, community, ambition, and even success. It taught us to toughen up, to listen more than we speak, to dream big but stay grounded. And let’s not lie — it also taught us how to sneak food at night without getting caught.

 

This series is not just a trip down memory lane — it’s a celebration of our roots. Whether you grew up in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, or anywhere that uses “African Time” as a valid excuse, you’ll see pieces of your childhood here.

 

We'll talk about the characters — the strict mum, the dramatic aunty, the uncle who runs out of cash but never runs out of proverbs, the cousin who always “knows people.”

We’ll laugh about those awkward “family meetings” and the dreaded chores you couldn’t escape.

We’ll reflect on the culture, the pride, the unspoken traditions — and how they shaped the adults we’re becoming.

We’ll share guest stories as well.

 

So, this is your official welcome.

If you’ve ever had to greet ten adults at once…

If you’ve ever been sent on an errand just for daring to breathe too loudly…

If your childhood came with phrases like “When I was your age…” or “It’s not in this house you’ll try it!”

Then you’re in the right place.

 

This is Raised African — and trust me, the stories are just getting started…

 

 

…..Sweet Lilian