There is a true JAPA syndrome. Many Nigerians, both young and old, wealthy and poor, comfortable and unpleasant, have started to leave the country at an alarming rate in recent years. There are so many Nigerians leaving. They travel to the US, Canada, Europe, and other places, yet they stay in Nigeria.
The Imported Wives, a new film presently in development that is being directed by Pascal Atuma and features Nancy Isime, Ngozi Nwosu, Patience Ozokwo, and other performers, tells the tale of foreigners traveling to Nigeria in order to marry local women. The JAPA syndrome, divorce rates, and other topics are all touched upon in the film.
During a new Channels TV interview with one of the actors, Nancy Isime, she spoke about the movie, JAPA culture, and gave her honest thoughts about the matter. Here is what Nancy Isime said.
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Speaking about the movie The Imported Wives which she is a part of, Nancy Isime said:
NANCY ISIME: It’s a story of people that come from the abroad to take a wife and the family gives off the woman, and the woman has her own thoughts about what the marriage will be like, and the man has his own thoughts about what the marriage will be like. At the end of the day, they’re both not on the same page. But towards the end, there’s a lot of empowerment that happens, that I feel like it would be nice for viewers to start with, and then be surprised nicely at the end.
When asked what she would advice people who want to JAPA from Nigeria, Nancy Isime said:
NANCY ISIME: First, I don’t think people should leave. Here is home. You can go relax, or work, or I don’t know, just go for some time and then come back. Because if we all leave here, who is going to build here for the kids? So first, I’m not entirely comfortable with the japa syndrome. But you must do what you must do. I don’t like to advice people because they know where you know, the shoe pinches, so advising such people who probably don’t have any hope here to stay back because you are staying back, it doesn’t really tally. But one thing I’ll say is I don’t buy the idea of leaving. So I can’t really advice those people.
What do you think about what Nancy Isime said? And also, by extension, what do you personally think about the whole JAPA culture and syndrome. Do you think it’s necessary, do you think it’s unncessary? Do you advocate for it? Do you not? What do you think about JAPA and people coming from abroad to take wives from Nigeria as well?