The ‘Home from Home’ project aims to explore the legacies of pioneering British Nigerians in the UK and their impact on society. The project highlights and celebrates British Nigerian contributions to the cultural, political, educational, artistic, spiritual, and sporting life of Britain and London, in particular. In this interview we feature Author and Education Consultant Florence Olajide.
Who is Florence?
I was born in London to Nigerian students. However, for the first six years of my life, I was privately fostered by a white British family before moving to Nigeria with my birth family. I hold a BA (from the University of Lagos) and an MA (from the University of London) in education. As an adult, I moved with my own family back to London, where I continued my career in teaching, becoming first, the headteacher of an inner London primary school and later, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools. Currently, I manage my own education consultancy and provide school improvement services to headteachers and senior school leaders.
I am also a writer. My memoir, Coconut, detailing the challenges of growing up labelled ‘Òyìnbó’ (white) in my Black extended family, and the struggle to re-integrate into British society was published by Thread Books in 2021. Bookouture will publish my first historical fiction novel, The Stolen Daughter, in May 2024.
What does “Home From Home” mean to you?
I guess the first question is, what does ‘Home’ mean to me? And it’s one I’ve always found difficult to answer. My grandmother used to say Ilé làbọ̀ simi oko, to signify that whatever your sojourns in life, you must find your way back to your ancestral home. Yet, the British say home is where the heart is. My heart is with my family, most of whom live in the UK, but I also keep a little corner of Nigeria inside my heart, in my home, and in my writings.
How do you celebrate your Nigerian heritage?
I mostly celebrate my Nigerian heritage through food and through my writing. I love certain Nigerian dishes and although I have a very broad palate, I must eat something Nigerian at least once a week. Pounded yam with okra soup is a definite favourite.
My current passion is researching and writing Nigerian historical fiction. The Stolen Daughter is set in Nigeria in the 1800s at the dawn of colonisation and portrays some real historical giants in Nigerian history. A plaque saying Ilé Ayọ̀ (House of Joy) proudly adorns the front of my house and announces my Yorùbá heritage. It’s always a point of recognition and a great conversation starter with visitors. Also, like many contemporary Nigerian writers, I now spell my surname with the full Yorùbá accents. Nothing says I am Yorùbá better.
What does being “British Nigerian” mean to you?
It means I live a life moulded by two cultures, British and Nigerian. It’s a core part of my identity, one I wasn’t always comfortable with. My early childhood in a white British home shaped me and had a profound impact on my psyche as a human being. In the subsequent relocation to Nigeria, I faced significant challenges and difficulties. Consequently, it took me a while to reconcile the different cultural identities entwining with my life. My younger self was very British in outlook. Now my children say the older I get, the more Nigerian I become.
How do you stay connected to your identity?
My writing and my research have brought me closer to my heritage. The last two years have been a blast learning new things about my cultural past, such as ancient Yorùbá architecture.
What does culture mean to you?
Culture is a value laden word. It’s the beliefs, values and behaviours that are unique to me and those who belong to my ‘tribe’. The ‘tribe’ depends on the context, and I am fortunate enough to belong to many.
What do you imagine the future of the British Nigerian Community to look like in the next few years based on your industry?
In the world of education, I was one of only two Black headteachers in my Local Authority. This pattern continued throughout my career – being the odd one out or the significant minority. So, it’s wonderful to see so many young Black professionals in middle and senior leadership roles in education today, and I have been privileged to mentor a few.
It’s also been gratifying to see the explosion of British–Nigerian creatives, particularly in the world of writing. My children did not have access to books by Black authors growing up, and it was hard for them to see representations of themselves and their culture in their daily environment. The world today is very different for my granddaughters. Books written by Black–British authors line their bookshelves and Afrobeat music streams loudly from their iPads. Keeping their hair in its natural state is now an accepted norm and they see successful Black people from all walks of life in the media, their wider community, and at home.
I hope this trajectory continues, despite the challenges of our times. It fills me with hope that whatever the future holds for my grandchildren in their chosen professions, they will not be the ‘token Black’. I dream of a future where people from all backgrounds stand proudly together and are treated with the same dignity and respect, irrespective of their cultural or racial heritage.
Links to website/Social Media:
Twitter: @florenceolajide
Website: https://www.florenceolajide.com; https://www.inspiredfutures.co.uk
Instagram: @flora.jide
Facebook: @florenceolajideauthor
Watch this great interview featuring Florence:
