This week on The Lonely Arts Club podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Ngunan Adamu.
Nigerian scouser, Ngunan, shares memories of coming to the UK as a child and adapting to life in a brand new city.
“People have this kind of typical stereotype of what a migrant looks like and it's like are you running away from a war torn country or all these things but we weren't. We had a beautiful big house in Nigeria, we had a gardener, we had two drivers. We had a good family setting but what my Dad was thinking - forward-thinking - was the education system in the UK was better and he wanted us to have a choice of having a life in any country that we chose, so yeah I just remember getting here and just not liking it. Missing my grandparents, not liking school dinners...oh my God! They were disgusting, it was the worst thing ever [laughing]. I think possibly 10 times a year, I would say to my Dad and my Mum, "why can't we move back?" but I always class myself as a Nigerian scouser because both cultures – 'cos being scouse is a culture – both cultures are very strong and they've complemented me in so many different ways. I wouldn't have my sense of humour if I wasn't scouse but I also think my drive comes from being Nigerian.”
Sharing heart-breaking tales of racism at an early age, listeners gain an insight into Ngunan’s childhood and what gave her the drive to follow her gut and pursue a career in journalism.
We hear what paths Ngunan’s career has taken and how important it’s always been for her to follow her gut instinct. And although Liverpool is evidently a big part of Ngunan’s make-up she speaks openly about the racial issues that the city still faces today and how things need to improve.
This podcast is brought to you by the Institute for Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University.
Making connections through culture.
The podcast is edited by Roz DiCaprio who is the producer alongside Karen Appleton and Carl Hunter.
Audio production is by Sam Auguste of Onomatopoeia Studios in Liverpool.
Music is by Joseph McDade.
For more information on the work of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and courses at Edge Hill University, visit edgehill.ac.uk/ice
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