A leader of the Chinese community in northern Nigeria has been crowned, or “turbaned”, as a chief by the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
The emir holds a lot of influence and is a religious and cultural leader in the region.
At a traditional ceremony in Kano Mike Zhang took the title of Wakilin Yan China, meaning the leader of the Chinese residents, as his head was wrapped in a turban.
This ceremony is a recognition of the growing importance of the Chinese community in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, BBC Hausa editor Jimeh Saleh says.
There are a lot of Chinese businesses and traders in the city who are sometimes accused of taking other people’s jobs and engaging in unfair competition.
Mr Zhang will be a vital link between the Chinese community and the locals.
The recolonization of Africa has officially gained full steam. The Europeans initially came in trickles, only interacting with traders along the coast. Then they ventured inland with bibles in one hand and rifles in the other. Before we knew it, they were exporting our black butts in boats destined for slavery
Similarly, the Chinese wave started with road and rail builders, then maize roasters. We now have Chinese shopkeepers in Kano, Nigeria, barbers in Zambia, barmaids and shopkeepers in Nyeri; and Lanyes in SJ. In the latter, Chinese Lanyes charge a premium of a thao per shot while locals can hardly get customers to up their game to kendo magana mere a shot
The irony of it is that Nigerians in Kano will not allow Igbos from the south to open shop in town. In Kenya, one can hardly find any other tribe as a shopkeeper in Nyeri or a Lanye in SJ. But Chinese are welcome everywhere.
The nyeuthi must have made fun of someone in the creator’s kingdom
Africans ndo ile chuma ya kusharpenia chuma zengine. Ile malaya ya kutombwa na kila mtu. Mtu akitoka kwenye atatoka ako sure atapata chenye anataka Africa