Anita Writes at The American Bar, The Savoy

 

One of my most favorite Bar experiences occurred during my last trip to London in 2020 (which seems like eons ago now). 

It was unplanned and it was a wonderful treat. I was spending my day otherwise when I came across this bar at The Savoy London. I was scheduled for a viewing of the play, 9-5 at the Savoy Theatre. However, due to some last minute lockdown notices, it was cancelled. With so much time on my hands, I decided to do the next best thing, pop round to the hotel to see what type of activity I could use to pass the time. 

Unbeknownst to me the hotel had this popular renowned bar, aptly called The American Bar that is known for their award-winning cocktails and bartenders. It was a dark mahogany themed old Hollywood looking bar with a jazz piano lounge singer and a very charming courteous waitstaff. Based on this intro, you already know the vibe sets the mood for some grown up cocktails, and discussions. 

I had my usual grown lady drink, a Manhattan. Even though it cost almost £14 for one drink served in the teeniest of cocktail glasses that you can gulp down with one solid gulp, the drink was solid. One of the best Manhattans I've ever had. When I have them in Lagos, they always taste sour, with a bitter aftertaste that boasts that something in the liqueur is not fresh or has gone bad. But this one was smooth, smoky and earthy, you could tell the whiskey was aged perfectly. It came with some fresh nuts and a glass of water to douse the alcohol's intensity. In Lagos, you would have to pay for the water and specifically request for the nuts.

Something about sitting there, soaking it all in, sipping that very expensive cocktail while listening to the jazz piano made me feel so grown. It was way above budget for me at that time and still is with the Forex towering over our local currency. But I thought, when next will I get this opportunity? How often do we get to do this, live in this moment, occupy this space and time, how often? So I ordered another one just so it doesn't live as a fleeting moment in my life instead as something I would savor, until the next trip to London. 

If you're reading this from London, have a cocktail (or two) at The Savoy on my behalf.

 

Nigerian Identity in Question

Had written the spirited post below meant for LinkedIn after a typical weekend in Nigeria where nothing works. You deal with the stupidity of an oil-rich talented country that is eternally frustrating and then you scroll through LinkedIn and it's filled with achievements, accolades and laurels. How accomplished can one truly be if nothing works in this country?

What is it about Nigeria that things do not get better they just get progressively worse. 

And I'm saying this to you all as you're all in reasonable positions of power. 

Y'all come on here and talk about the good you're doing at your jobs, etc but still STILL things do not get any better in Nigeria they seemingly and regrettably get worse. 

So, please ask yourself is what I'm doing in my little corner of Nigeria aimed at making us better or just selfishly making me better. 

Because if it's just to give you bragging rights then that's regressing us even further. 

What is it about Nigeria as a Nigerian asking anyone in Nigeria that identifies as Nigerian, what is it about us that it is not getting better but it is getting excruciatingly worse?

 

To be a Nigerian is to understand what motivates Nigerians. Who are they and why do they act the way they do?

I certainly do not understand the motivation.

That's why when people ask me if I am Nigerian, I pause and contemplate the ask. Because it goes beyond ancestry to acceptance of culture. I know that I don't subscribe to their school of thought, to their lavishness. Simplified, I do not "identify" with Nigerians. And there should be a category for us in life who do not clearly identify with our birthplaces or ancestry.

Thoughts on Christmas/New Years as a Mature Singleton

Had a very lonesome Christmas festive season celebration.

For the first time I actually appreciated what they said about Christmas being somewhat of a lonely period for some people. Well, not the 1st, the 2nd time, the 1st time was when I turned 40 (coincidence there) and I had recently returned to Nigeria. I assumed 10 years later I would have better, more communal Christmases such as we had when we were kids, filled with friends, family and neighborhood parties. Everyone is an adult now and some more important adults than others. They all have their niche networks that invite them out, so they go out and don’t invite anybody, like an elite bunch the lot of them. As the years have worn on I have noticed this trend but then I had a job so that afforded me the solo outings that gave me a measure of fun. I did a staycation a few times for New Years', did nightclubs, loads of solo dinners, just did me -  Single Gal fun.

However, this year I can barely stay afloat, let alone take in a cost-intensive festive celebration. Got a couple of handouts from people to celebrate Christmas but that was still insufficient. There’s something about the festive period that literally saps all your money. It makes you want to go out to be part of the fun that you can literally hear from your windows and once you’re outside, the outside takes over. By the time they slip you the check you start wondering, but I was only here for 2 hours, what if I had stayed longer, what would the bill have been? Cost-intensive.

As the handouts quickly disappeared I decided it was in my best interest to just stay home and cook dinner, eat it in front of the TV and sip my cheap wine. Kept hoping someone would invite me out so they would cover the bill, but that never happened. It never happened.

At some point I started getting pissed (and somewhat envious, or FOMO'd), at what everyone was celebrating really. 2024 was not a particularly good year. Generally for everyone it was financially draining. We all assumed that there’d be a more subdued festivity this year but instead it was crazier than I’ve ever seen it. People were crashing out of nightclubs with N92M bills that were recorded on social media for maximum effect. In all that merriment, I was sat at home in front of my TV, sipping my cheap wine and mumbling to myself.

You quickly realize the people that have you in mind at times like that, people that appreciate you or want you in their presence and in my case, not a lot of people do. When you isolate that thought it sinks into the psyche of your self-worth and solidifies how downright depressive and non-celebratory the festive season can be.

Perhaps, if I were someone important (with a cushy job, status family, or maybe someone prettier, younger, intriguing or someone who gave up the booty) it would have made a difference, and since I am not (either of those things), this was my Christmas for the 10th time in Nigeria.