Sokari Ekine, A Nigerian in London

Sokari Ekine – A Nigerian in London

March 2009

Destined to live an international life

by Adrianne George

Sokari started travelling at a young age. So young in fact that she can’t remember her first journey abroad. She was born in London, and taken back to Nigeria as a baby. Sokari has also lived in Spain and the United States but makes Britain her home.

Sokari felt that living in the US was “the first place where being Black of a certain shade did not appear to be an issue”. Sokari runs the award winning Black Looks website.

Customization

kadunanigeria “I have lived in three other countries other than my own (Nigeria) and have probably adopted customs from all of them – Spain – eating late; US – always return goods if I don’t like what I bought or they are faulty and insist on a refund; Britain – who cares about the weather! “, Sokari shares.

But there’s no place like home and Sokari misses “visiting people on the off chance they are at home; food; Guilder beer and Suya (BBQ meat on the street), weddings and funerals in my home village; and greeting people properly”. (photo on left: Sokari in Kaduna, Nigeria)

Being in Britain

Sokari has made friends through her work, activism for black women and through people met along the way with similar interests. However she uses Skype, email and the telephone to keep in touch with her family.

Aerial view towards the east of London along the River Thames

Though she manages, Sokari feels that it is very expensive and difficult to find decent living arrangements in London. But her life in the US, Spain and Britain have given her “knowledge about other cultures, people, tolerance and respect for all people”. She’s also learned that “it is not the place – it is you”.

From the energies of Black immigrants from the Caribbean, the Notting Hill Carnival, since 1965, takes place over the last weekend in August, it’s the largest street festival in Europe attracting crowds in excess of 1 million.

Things to Consider

“Think three times (before you move abroad) – it ain’t that great or easy”, Sokari advises. But she admits her transition to London after living in the US wasn’t very difficult. “I consider myself a Black woman living in the African Diaspora and still very much part of Africa”, Sokari says. Living in 4 different countries has made Sokari more broad minded and open. She doesn’t feel licked into any culture or mores.

Photo credits – Above: All photos of Sokari: courtesy of Sokari, The River Thames at Night courtesy: www.boston.com – ©Jason Hawkes photographer, Notting Hill Carnival images: left-www.camvista.com, (center and right) www.magazine13.com. Below: The Tate Modern – www.tate.org.uk/modern/, Koenig Books by Kake Pugh, Balans shot from www.balans.com

Living & Spending in London

At the end of this section you will find a global Currency Converter to calculate costs.

Monthly rent:

£600 for studio rising to £800 for one bed (unless of course you have social housing which is hard to get)

Cost for meals:
At least £50 a week – I am vegan so I save on that.

Transportation costs:
I work from home so about £20 a week

Compared to your home country are most things cheap/same/expensive?
Depends on the standard of living both here and at home

Recommended monthly living budget:
In London at least £1500 after tax.

Any legal hurdles all foreigners have to face to live there?
Yes serious immigration rules – fortress Europe in operation to keep out people of colour especially. Not Welcoming

Top 3 things you would recommend someone to bring when they come:
Food, money and music

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