Washee!

"I dey learn for where you dey!"

In Nigerian English speak, that is pidgin, this statement is one of the very many that you hear on a continuous basis.

I was walking home with a friend from school and met another friend and went on to introduce the both of them. Both of them are instrumentalists and my friend whom I'll represent with the letter A, was quite enthusiastic to meet my other friend whom I'll call B. B kept trying to downplay his abilities and kept saying "no, I don't play any instruments o, she's just joking." It was downright annoying and I had to tell him so.

We have assumed this false modesty or should I call it a prideful humility. It is quite prevalent among the Nigerian youth, we lie about or downplay our abilities because we don't want to seem like we are boastful? or talented? or arrogant?

Why exactly do we do this?

I find it annoying that people who are obviously talented have this annoyingly, falsely shy smile on their faces when you talk about them to people. They act like they're not the ones you're talking about and proceed to act in what I like to call, a subtly prideful manner. We are not asking you to raise your shoulders high or look down your nose at people😰😒, no. We are asking you to honestly tell us who you are, what you do and boldly inspire us to reach out and be the best versions of ourselves🎆🎆🎆🎉🎉🎊. We are asking you to own your thing with your full chest!

Sometimes, we just want to hear your story and know that we can.

Abi, what do you think?
Do you like the 'washee' syndrome?