“Nigerians for Trump”: The US-Nigeria “Culture Connection”

Political analysts called the 2020 elections, America’s “most divisive” polls in living memory [1] [2] [3]. Tempers flared on all sorts of issues – electoral fraud allegations, unbalanced media reporting and reasons why some results would be delayed when officials announced that the vote count would take days. Laura Ingraham (FOX news’ anchor) piqued my interest in her reaction to the delays. She reasonably argued that “Americans should always know the winner of the election… the next morning”. However, when she said, “The country needs certainty, and the democratic process (in the U.S.) cannot be less reliable than, say, Nigeria’s” [4], I was immediately drawn in.

Perhaps she is right to compare the U.S. elections to Nigeria’s polls. There are a few quirky similarities. For instance, the front runners in both countries’ most recent elections were 70-something-year-old men. Both men were from the politically dominant ethnic group in their respective countries. Likewise, voting patterns seem to align more with normative proclivities like race/ethnicity, religion, and party loyalty. And of course, this election saw the free use of terms usually associated with Nigeria but perhaps ‘alien’ to ‘mature’ democracies. I am referring to phrases like “vote rigging”, “ballot stuffing”, “electoral court cases”, and the “incumbent’s refusal to leave office”. (I should retract the last one since Nigeria’s past defeated incumbent conceded elections before the votes were fully counted... not bad, for a “S***hole” country [5]). 

Trump Rally in Onitsha, Southeast Nigeria

Image Source: SAMUEL ANYAEGBU/LIVING CHRIST MISSION/Handout via REUTERS [6]. (Please access original image here: https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/scorned-by-trump-many-nigerians-love-him-idUSKBN27J0S2 )

In many respects, Nigeria is a special nation – a country of contrasts. It is the “U.S. and China of Africa” – the continent’s biggest economy and the largest population. Yet, it is also home to the largest number of the world’s poorest people. Despite its many upsides and positive contributions to the world, Nigeria is probably known more for corruption, internet fraud and terror attacks. However, what has baffled analysts recently, is why Donald J Trump is so popular in Nigeria. A recent viral video showed hundreds of supporters in Onitsha, southeast Nigerian, waving flags during a prayer-walk supporting the re-election of the 45th U.S. president [7]. This rally happened after a Pew Research poll estimated that 58% of people in Nigeria had confidence in Trump’s ability to handle world affairs [8]. Besides, the internet is rife with stories about Nigerian artists – like Peter Odoakang – painting portraits of President Trump in the country’s military or traditional attires [9] [10] [11]. Nigerians seem to like a “tough guy”, a “strong leader”, the equivalent of the Latin American caudillo, who would lift us out of poverty, rid us of corrupt politicians and “drain the swamp”. 

Peter Udoakang's "Trump in Agbada*"

Image Source: REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja [12] (Please access the original image here: https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/scorned-by-trump-many-nigerians-love-him-idUSKBN27J0S2). *An Agbada the Yoruba word for a flowing gown usually worn by noble or wealthy men.

This national yearning is probably why Trump’s bluntness attracts many people here. His penchant for preserving conservative (religious) values also seems to appeal to this country, where practically everyone is either Christian or Muslim. Trump’s books were already immensely popular in Nigeria, for decades. His T.V. show “The Apprentice” was also a big hit. There was even a Nigerian version of the series. This development is not surprising: social commentators seem to agree that the Nigerian spirit embraces “ruthless capitalism” [13] [14]. I am forced to agree with that notion. You see, you must pay for virtually everything in Nigeria – water supply, decent education, primary healthcare, fair justice, and (considering the recent #endsars demonstrations) even your life. Regardless, such foreign support is unprecedented, especially for a world leader who allegedly used disparaging terms to describe Nigeria, and whose government overtly attempted to block the country’s candidates for international leadership roles in the African Development Bank and the World Trade Organisation [15] [16].

I am not surprised that, just like the U.S., many Nigerians revere Donald Trump, while many others detest him. I think that Nigeria and the U.S. have quite a lot in common, and the 2020 elections only revealed their parallels more clearly. The U.K. colonised both countries, and English is their official language. Data from Hofstede’s national culture dimensions corroborates the striking similarities between them. The scores for Nigeria and the U.S. are less than 20 points apart on all but the first two dimensions (Power Distance and Individualism-Collectivism). Like America, Nigeria is a “Masculine” society (“MAS”, USA:62, NGR:60). Compared to other nations, these two societies are more ‘driven by competition, achievement, and success, with success being defined by the “winner” or “best-in-the-field”’ [17]. The USA and Nigeria also exhibit medium levels of Uncertainty Avoidance (“UAI”, USA:46; NGR: 55). They are both short-term oriented, scoring low on the Long-Term Orientation Index (“LTO”, USA:26; NGR:13) and Indulgent (“IVR”, USA:68; NGR:80). Please visit the Hofstede Insights’ website to know more about Hofstede’s 6-D or national culture dimensions.

USA & Nigeria - Hofstede’s Culture Dimensions

Image Source: Hofstede Insights. You can see the scores of different countries or compare one or more countries on Hofstede's culture dimensions here: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/. 

These scores might explain why the USA has the largest number of Nigerians living outside Africa. Depending on whom you would count as a “Nigerian”, there are reportedly between 300,000 and 2,000,000 of “them” living there. Comparably, Nigerians are reportedly one of the most financially adequate and successfully integrated immigrant “ethnic” groups in the U.S. [18]. They are more likely than the average American to have a job or a university degree. Nigerians residing in the U.S., remit around $ 6.1billion, back home yearly, a crucial source of foreign exchange in the country.

Unlike their relatives in Nigeria; however, it seems Nigerian-Americans almost overwhelmingly rejected Trump, citing issues like immigration and racial equality [19]. While it is true that Nigerian immigrants tend to be a reasonably determined group of people, I think that Hofstede’s dimensions hold the key to explaining why Nigerians fare better in the U.S. than anywhere else. I also think these dimensions explain why Nigerians at home are keen to support someone that their relatives abroad detest? Well, what do you think? I’d love to hear from you.

[P.S. The words expressed in this article are strictly the author's opinion. They do not in any way, represent the position of Hofstede Insights Nigeria or the Hofstede Insights Group. The author holds a "pragmatic" centrist political view and being a Nigerian, living in Nigeria, was unable to vote for either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. Readers are welcome to ask him whom he would have voted for :)]

References

[1] S. Collinson and C. Hu, "The two most divisive events in US politics are about to take place at the same time," 22 September 2020. [Online]. Available: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/21/world/meanwhile-in-america-september-22-intl/index.html. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[2] M. Henney, "Trump, Biden ramp up personal attacks on the campaign trail as Election Day looms," 2 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/live-updates-trump-biden-ramp-up-personal-attacks-on-campaign-trail-as-election-day-draws-near. [Accessed 7 November 2020].

[3] A. Zurcher, "US Election 2020: Tense wait as US election winner remains unclear," 5 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54791113?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D. [Accessed 7 November 2020].

[4] L. Ingraham, "The Ingraham Angle Fox News," FOX News, 6 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://archive.org/details/FOXNEWSW_20201106_080000_The_Ingraham_Angle/start/480/end/540. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[5] E. Watkins and A. Phillip, "Trump decries immigrants from 'shithole countries' coming to the US," CNN, 12 January 2018. [Online]. Available: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/immigrants-shithole-countries-trump/index.html. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[6] SAMUEL ANYAEGBU/LIVING CHRIST MISSION/Handout via REUTERS, "Scorned by Trump, many Nigerians love him all the same," Reuters, 4 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/scorned-by-trump-many-nigerians-love-him-idUSKBN27J0S2. [Accessed 9 November, 2020].

[7] S. Nelson, "‘A great honor!’: Trump tweets video of parade supporting him in Nigeria," New York Post, 3 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://nypost.com/2020/11/03/donald-trump-tweets-video-of-parade-supporting-him-in-nigeria/. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[8] A. Ukomadu and L. George, "Scorned by Trump, many Nigerians love him all the same," Reuters, 3 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-nigeria/scorned-by-trump-many-nigerians-love-him-all-the-same-idINKBN27J0RI. [Accessed 7 November 2020].

[9] T. Ososanya, "US elections: Nigerian artist paints a stunning portrait of Donald Trump in agbada," Naij.com, 5 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.legit.ng/1381121-us-elections-nigerian-artist-paints-stunning-portrait-donald-trump-agbada.html. [Accessed 8 November 2020].

[10] E. Akinwotu, "He just says it as it is': why many Nigerians support Donald Trump," Guardian News & Media Limited, 31 October 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/31/he-just-says-it-as-it-is-why-many-nigerians-support-donald-trump. [Accessed 8 November 2020].

[11] A. Ukomadu and L. George, "Scorned by Trump, many Nigerians love him all the same," Reuters, 3 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-nigeria-idUSKBN27J0S2. [Accessed 9 November, 2020].

[12] REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja, "Scorned by Trump, many Nigerians love him all the same," Reuters, 4 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/scorned-by-trump-many-nigerians-love-him-idUSKBN27J0S2. [Accessed 9 November, 2020].

[13] G. Olajuyigbe, "Jonathanization Of Transformation," Sahara Reporters, 28 October 2011. [Online]. Available: https://saharareporters.com/2011/10/28/jonathanization-transformation. [Accessed 9 November, 2020].

[14] B. Dauda, "Re: Teachers protest over LG autonomy," Press Reader, 3 December 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/sunday-trust/20171203/281865823797352. [Accessed 9 November, 2020].

[15] L. Madowo, "Akinwumi Adesina: Why the US is targeting a Nigerian banker," BBC, 29 May 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52831185. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[16] BBC, "US tries to block Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who would be first African WTO head," BBC, 28 October 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54725681. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[17] Hofstede Insights, "Country Comparison," Hofstede Insights, 22 August 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/nigeria,the-usa/. [Accessed 7 November, 2020].

[18] J. Fox, "U.S. Could Actually Use More Nigerian Immigrants," Bloomberg Opinion, 4 February 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-02-04/trump-immigration-ban-from-nigeria-overlooks-integration-success. [Accessed 8 November 2020].

[19] A. Odutola, "US Election: Nigerian-Americans speak on their choices," Nairametrics, 4 November 2020. [Online]. Available: https://nairametrics.com/2020/11/04/us-election-nigerian-americans-speak-on-their-choices/. [Accessed 8 November, 2020].