Nigerian vs American Culture

A reoccurring theme in The Thing Around Your Neck was the differences between Nigerian and American culture.  Culture is based on collectively shared set of beliefs, cuisine, music, art, etc., which defines a group or population.  Many of the stories within the novel deal with African immigrants living in America and the contrasting cultures.

Some characters were trying to preserve their original culture while facing an unfamiliar and sometimes unwelcoming to anything "un-American".  In the chapter, On Monday of Last Week, Kamara found sharp distinctions when starting her new job in America as a babysitter.  In Nigeria, "half-caste" was a complimenting word, while the same word has a negative and racial denotation. Things that Karmara considered were okay, such as smacking a child as a form of discipline, were frowned upon by her American employer.  She became increasingly frustrated at the unnecessary concerns and anxieties American parents had about their children.  In meeting the mother, Tracy, Karmara found a cultural connection with her because she was also from Africa.  Living in new country with an establish and set culture, Karmara found safety and security in Tracy as they shared Nigerian culture.  She used Tracy as a way to hold onto her past and original culture.

In a less accepting lifestyle, the influence upon Chinaza by her American husband challenged her beliefs and culture.  It was as if by marrying him, she had to give up her identity.  Her husband wanted her to go by an "American" name, not African.  He pressed her to speak only in english and in doing so, she was restrained from her African culture.  In conforming to social American norms, her African cooking, language, name, and behavior had disappeared despite her opposition.  Even their marriage was based on conforming to society because he wanted a light-skinned wife to bear his life-skinned children in order to fit in more.  Chinaza's struggle to keep a hold on her Nigerian roots and culture was shown as an ongoing fight between her husband and her heart.