Christiana

Listen to Christiana's story as part of The Making of Black Britain oral history project

Christiana's graduation after completing a MSC degree in Social Work, Southbank University (2014)The Making of Black Britain

Christiana is of Nigerian heritage. 
She was born on Christmas Day in Nigeria. 
She came to Britain aged 21. Her late father had 22 wives. 
Christiana is the mother of Chidi.  

Christiana was interviewed for The Making of Black Britain on 9th September 2021. 

ChristianaThe Making of Black Britain

Christiana talks about her early life
00:00

My dad was a polygamist.

My dad had a lot of wives, at the time when he was buried. When we had the funeral there. The second funeral because he died during the war. When we had the second funeral. The count was 22 wives. Yeah. I don't know. This is the first time I've said it to people. I don't like saying it. I say to people, don't ask me about that. Because in the Western world, they frown at it. But is the norm at that time, you know, so.

Christiana's late father Chief Ogbonna Uruakpa Nkwoha (1950)The Making of Black Britain

Christiana's late father, Chief Ogbonna Uruakpa Nkwoha, taken in the 1950s.

ChristianaThe Making of Black Britain

Christiana discusses growing up in Nigera
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We used the machete and the hole to plant things.

Yeah, it could be cassava, can be the vegetables, and we'll take it, you know, we carry it on our head and go to the market and sell it. 
You know, that was my childhood. 
So, I was doing that until I got to secondary school age. 

Christiana, aged 6, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria (1963)The Making of Black Britain

Christiana, aged 6, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

ChristianaThe Making of Black Britain

Christiana talks about her sense of self
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They're all very tenacious and determined women.

If you're brought up in a big family, like that, you have been built to... have to learn how to survive, you know. 
You have to, you need to work hard. And also, I took it to heart.

Christiana's Mother Omanma Ogbonna, in Aba, Abia State Nigeria (1965)The Making of Black Britain

Christiana's Mother, Omanma Ogbonna, in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, 1965

ChristianaThe Making of Black Britain

Christiana talks about where home is
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This probably is my adopted home.

Nigeria is very good. If you have the money, you will enjoy life over there if you have the money. But if you don't have the money, it will be a very difficult place for you or for anyone to live in, which it is at the moment, because the economy is not well-managed. Is a very resourced country is very wealthy, but the money is not managed, and the resources are not being tapped properly.

Traditional wedding of Christiana's niece in Nigeria. Christiana, her niece, Chidi and Chioma (2017)The Making of Black Britain

Traditional wedding of Christiana's niece in Nigeria. Christiana, her niece, Chidi and Chioma, 2017

ChristianaThe Making of Black Britain

Christiana talks about discrimination
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In Nigeria, we have discrimination.

You know, in Nigeria, they still have uprising right now, because of the disparity in different regions of Nigeria. Some area enjoy more than the other area. So is it racism? Because it's not in terms of colour, you won't call it racism. Then you give it a lower name, which is the name coined by the white man. It's called discrimination. If discrimination rises to a higher level, it becomes racism. 

Chidi and her mum Christiana at her law degree Graduation Ceremony at Oxford Univeristy, 2013, From the collection of: The Making of Black Britain
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Now listen to Christiana's daughter, Chidi, tell her story for The Making of Black Britain.

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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