Sisters celebrate their African heritage

Chelsea, Jessica and Jennifer Anukam

By Miranda Davis

At Emporia State University, there is a wide range of student diversity.  The question is how many students with diverse backgrounds have taken the opportunity to learn about their culture and heritage at a closer angle?

At least three students have.

Jennifer, 23, Chelsea, 20, and Jessica Anukam, 18, sisters from Wichita and ESU students have all had the experience of traveling to Nigeria, Africa to learn more about their family. 

The Anukam sisters’ father was born in Nigeria and was able to receive a Visa into the United States in the 1980’s.  In 1995 Mr. Anukam and his family took a trip to Africa to visit his relatives and teach his children about their background.  In 2000 all but Jennifer went back to Africa to spend a year with relatives and attend school.

“The whole purpose of our trip to Africa, Nigeria to be more specific, was to see and experience our actual background, our other home, our African family,” said Jessica, freshman nursing major.  “My dad originates from Nigeria and he wanted his children to experience where he is from and to see our African family. He wanted us to know where we came from and let us know we are not only American, but also African.”

I went [to Africa] when I was 16 years old and what I remember was how simple life was there. I woke up to hearing the roosters’ crow. I walked around the village to the street markets to buy food with my dad. I watch my grandma and uncles cut up live chickens to cook Nigerian stew,” said Jennifer, Graduate Student in Instructional Design Technology.  “I remember bathing in the rain with soap and a can filled with water. I remember not always having electricity. I remember being treated like royalty because I was American.”

In 2000 when the family returned to Africa for a year they attended school and learned more about the culture and values.

“All of the children around all the villages would surround us and look at us like we were a piece of art. The children loved hearing about America and would tell me how they would like to go one day to "Live the American Dream". The children always came around to ask if they can have an American dollar or have an American souvenir. I remember everyone there always being happy about life and happy to be alive,” said Jennifer

According to Chelsea they learned about how important it is to greet their elders out of respect.

“At school my sister (Jessica) walked past a teacher and didn’t say anything.  She was flogged [hit] with a bamboo stick and surprised because she didn’t greet him.  Also when a teacher walks into a room they stand up for them,” said Chelsea.

The Anukam sisters take pride in participating in Black History Month because it is a large part of their history. 

“Black History Month is a very important month for many African Americans and normally I celebrate Black History month by acknowledging those Blacks that have made a difference or paved a way for black people today, whether it be wearing a shirt displaying someone important, reading a book about an important black person, or doing research,” said Jessica.

“When I came to ESU in 2003 there was not many African Americans students [on campus] and I didn’t expect that,” said Chelsea, junior Sociology major.  “It was the first time I was the only one in my class, but it has grown some since then.”

Chelsea explained that the biggest value that they brought back with them was an appreciation for education.  Education is valued more in Nigeria then it is in America even tough they do not have the best conditions to learn in.  They have smaller classrooms and sit tightly next to one another in uncomfortable spaces.  In Nigeria, they have better study habits then in America even though the odds are against them.

The Anukams’ father growing up in Nigeria had the same values, and when he came to America, he went to college and completed his PhD in Business Administration while working and raising his family.

“Going to college was never a choice,” said Chelsea.

Jennifer wants to be a web designer with her own business.

Chelsea wants to go to law school.

Jessica wants to be a pediatrician.

All three women are in college because of their father and the culture he was raised in.  The sisters have goals and dreams that are getting closer each day because of the values they learned in Africa.

“I learned to appreciate my life and how fortunate I am to live in America and the many opportunities that we have,” said Jennifer.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>