Esther, 26
Born in Sango Ota, Nigeria
Came to Australia in January 2003
What is your occupation?
I am a commercial lawyer specialising in private equity. I work with big businesses on all of the transactions in a private M & A context. I also do venture capital work, working with founders who want to raise capital.
I also own a small business, called SHADIE BY EA. I provide skin tone intimates for women that are sustainably made. I came up with the idea when I was in university. I was supposed to be travelling overseas for a law competition, and it was very hard for me to find stockings that suited my skin tone. I thought “Why should I have to pay more for something that is so inconsequential simply because my skin tone is darker?”
I launched the brand in 2021, and I took a break for a year in 2022 because I felt like I was just achieving goals and losing my sense of self. I sit on a couple of boards, sitting on the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board and I also advise the regional director of the NSW Department of Home Affairs. In terms of long term goals, I want SHADIE BY EA to be a household name brand in the Asia-Pacific region for people with darker skin tones. It isn’t just underwear - stockings, socks, shapewear etc.
I studied a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Arts majoring in Politics and International Relations at the University of Notre Dame.
Why did you come to Australia?
In 2003, Nigeria was actually a better place than it is now. My parents could see the general direction in which the country was going, so they decided to leave. People don’t have the resources to realise their potential, due to endemic corruption and instability. Back then, there were very few Nigerians in Australia and Australia wasn’t really on the radar for people seeking to move overseas.
Back then, John Howard was Prime Minister of Australia and we came here on skilled migrants visas as there was a big demand for that. My dad came as an accountant and my mum studied industrial chemistry.
What do you like about Sydney?
One of my favourite things about Sydney is its diversity, not just in terms of people, but also vibes. For example, there’s so many incredible people in Western Sydney solving real-world problems. Newtown gives you alternate vibes whereas there are gorgeous houses in the Eastern suburbs. If you know where to find it, you can really find something for you.
The weather is gorgeous. Nothing is better than a Sydney summer.
Everyone is naturally very friendly. We’re always happy to say “Good morning” and are very happy to help you.
What don’t you like about Sydney?
We are quite a multicultural country, but not many people know what that comes with, or what that entails. The makeup of our multicultural society changes all the time: people need to be more aware of the different migration waves that have occurred during Australian history.
When people think of Australians, they think of white people with blonde hair and blue eyes. This isn’t necessarily the case anymore. We are not a monolithic society. We are still discovering what it means to live in a new age Australia.
I wish for a day where African-Australians can just be themselves and not always have to act “on their best behaviour” as they feel like they’re representing all African people.
What would you like to say to Sydneysiders?
Be more open-minded and welcome people with a blank slate, without any preconceived notions of who they are. Give them the opportunity to represent themselves as individuals.
A few years ago, there was this vilification of South Sudanese “gangs” in Melbourne and all black people were painted with the same brush. There is a clear double standard where we’re only lauded as Australians when we achieve outstanding accomplishments, but are considered “others” when anything negative happens.
What languages do you speak?
English, Yoruba
Yoruba is one of the national languages of Nigeria, other than Hausa and Igbo. I speak it with my parents and community members.
In the early 2000s growing up in Nigeria, English was deemed the “gold standard” and thus my parents didn’t emphasise learning our cultural languages. There’s been a big uptake in first generation and second generation migrants reconnecting with their cultural languages.
Teach us one word/phrase from your native language.
Bawo ni
How are you?
The literal translation would be “How are things?”
It’s a very deep language. For example, the way to say “calm down” is farabale. The literal translation would be “take your body and let it meet the ground.”
What is one thing you want us to know about your native country?
Some of the world’s greatest minds are in Nigeria, in terms of academia, business, art and industry. Something that is embedded within Nigeria is the need to overachieve. There is an overwhelming drive to succeed in Nigerian society. We have the unofficial motto “Naija no dey carry last.” Lofty expectations are bestowed upon Nigerian children from an early age. For example, among my family friends, a lot of them have PhDs.
Nollywood - Nigeria’s film industry - is the second biggest in the world and is booming. Some movies that you should check out are The Wedding Party and Chief Daddy.
Who is the most famous person in your native country?
Burna Boy, Tems, Wiz Kid
These are 3 of the biggest musical Nigerian acts. Tems and Wiz Kid performed the song Essence, which they later did a remix with Justin Bieber.
There’s also a fashion website called Jendaya, which brings together a mix of African and Western fashion designers. They’ve dressed people like Wiz Kid.
What is the best dish in your native country?
Jollof rice
This is our most well-known dish. I probably eat it once a month but in the party season in December, this is all that people eat. Jollof rice is a tomato and rice-based entree that is available throughout the region. There’s even a Jollof War about who makes the best Jollof rice among West African communities.
One of my other favourite dishes is pounded yam and egusi soup. The dish consists of diced yams (sometimes topped with ground peanuts) combined with eggplant, which studded with garlic, dried pepper, and other spices are pounded to a paste until it is formed into a solid block around one or two inches in size.
Disclaimer: All posts are personal opinions and perspectives of the interviewees and are not a perfect representation of the whole country/experience.
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