Blog – Chika

Understanding the Igbo Obsession with Building ‘At Home’: A Legacy of Resilience and Cultural Pride

4 weeks ago By cumeadi

If you’ve ever driven through the villages of Southeastern Nigeria, you’ve likely been struck by the sight of impressive mansions rising from the red earth, many standing quiet for most of the year until their owners return for Christmas or other celebrations. This phenomenon of Igbo people building elaborate homes in their ancestral villages is more than just a display of wealth – it’s a complex story of cultural resilience, historical trauma, and economic adaptation.

The Shadow of History

To understand this cultural practice, we must first acknowledge the deep wounds of the Biafran War (1967-1970). Before the war, Igbo people were widely dispersed across Nigeria, building successful businesses and acquiring properties from Lagos to Kaduna. The war changed everything. In its aftermath, many Igbo families lost everything they had built outside Igboland – businesses, homes, and entire life savings were wiped away through various policies like the “abandoned property” decree.

This mass dispossession created a form of collective trauma that continues to influence how Igbo people think about property and investment today. The lesson learned was clear and painful: investments outside the homeland could vanish overnight.

Building as an Act of Security

When you understand this historical context, the “obsession” with building massive structures in one’s village takes on new meaning. These houses aren’t just homes – they’re fortresses of security, physical manifestations of success that can’t be easily taken away. They represent a form of wealth storage that feels safe, rooted in ancestral land where community ties and shared cultural understanding secure property rights.

Beyond Shelter: The Social Significance

These buildings serve multiple purposes in modern Igbo society:

They’re a concrete legacy for future generations, quite literally set in stone
They serve as gathering places for extended families during festivals and celebrations
They demonstrate success to the community in a culturally acknowledged way
They provide a sense of belonging and connection to ancestral lands

The Economic Paradox

There’s an interesting economic dimension to this practice. While building large houses in villages might not seem like the most rational investment from a purely financial perspective – especially given that these homes often stand empty for much of the year – it makes perfect sense when viewed through the lens of historical experience and cultural values.

Impact on Contemporary Development

This pattern of investment has both positive and challenging implications for development:

Positive Aspects:

Drives rural development and modernization
Creates employment opportunities in villages
Maintains cultural connections across generations
Promotes architectural innovation in rural areas

Challenges:

This can lead to underinvestment in urban areas where people actually live
Might tie up capital in non-productive assets
This can create unsustainable maintenance costs for future generations

Looking Forward

This practice raises important questions for younger generations of Igbo people, especially those in the diaspora. While many understand and respect the historical and cultural reasons behind building “at home,” they’re also grappling with balancing this tradition with modern economic realities.

Yet, the practice persists and evolves. Modern Igbo buildings in villages increasingly incorporate sustainable features and income-generating capabilities. Some are converted into boutique hotels, conference centers, or retirement homes, showing how tradition can adapt to contemporary needs.

Conclusion

The Igbo practice of building substantial homes in their villages is a complex phenomenon that reflects both historical trauma and cultural resilience. It’s a reminder that economic decisions aren’t always driven by pure financial logic – sometimes, they’re deeply rooted in historical experiences and cultural values.

For other Nigerian and African communities, this practice offers interesting insights into how communities can maintain cultural connections while adapting to modern realities. It also raises important questions about investment, development, and the role of traditional practices in contemporary African society.

Understanding this context helps move the conversation beyond simple criticism of “wasteful” building practices to a more nuanced appreciation of how historical experiences shape present-day economic and cultural choices.

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Politics

Leadership Lessons from the 45th President: A Groundbreaking Analysis of Executive Excellence

1 month ago By cumeadi

In an era where Harvard Business Review champions emotional intelligence and servant leadership, one man dared to ask: “What if we did the exact opposite?” Here’s an evidence-based analysis of revolutionary leadership principles that have redefined success in ways no business school could have predicted.

The Power of Unwavering Self-Belief

Traditional wisdom suggests leaders should admit mistakes and show vulnerability. However, as demonstrated by statements like “I know more about renewables than any human being on Earth,” the key to modern leadership might be achieving a level of confidence so high it becomes statistically impossible. When you truly believe you’re the best at everything – from military strategy to infrastructure (“I understand bridges, nobody understands them better than me”) – reality often finds it easier to adjust than argue.

Consider the psychological advantages: when you declare “I have one of the greatest memories of all time” while simultaneously not recalling key events, you’re not contradicting yourself – you’re demonstrating advanced cognitive flexibility. This approach suggests that memory, like success, is more about conviction than accuracy.

The data speaks for itself: In situations where Trump claimed “Nobody knows more about [subject] than me,” success was achieved approximately 100% of the time, assuming you define success as having made the claim successfully. This revolutionary metric redefines traditional performance measurement.

Strategic Communication and Message Control

While most leaders waste time crafting nuanced messages, true innovation lies in the art of repetition. Consider this masterclass in executive communication: “This is a tremendous success. Everyone’s saying it. Tremendous. All the experts, they’re saying ‘Sir, this is the most tremendous success we’ve ever seen.’ Tremendous.” Notice how the message remains crystal clear despite containing absolutely no specific information. That’s efficiency.

The “Sir” story format deserves particular study. By prefacing statements with “Sir, they said to me,” you create instant credibility. After all, who calls someone “Sir” except in situations of profound respect or at Starbucks when they’ve misspelled your name?

Advanced practitioners will note the effective use of invisible experts – “many people are saying,” “everybody knows,” and “all the top people.” These phantom authorities provide unlimited validation without the messiness of actual expert opinions. It’s quantum leadership: the experts exist in a superposition of all possible states until someone tries to find them.

Negotiation Through Chaos Theory

Traditional negotiation experts recommend the “win-win” approach. But what if you could achieve such a level of unpredictability that your opponents spend more time decoding your covfefe than negotiating? As demonstrated in countless international dealings, declaring “We’re going to win so much, you’ll get tired of winning” creates a quantum state where success and failure become simultaneously possible until someone observes the stock market.

The real innovation here is the “Art of the Threat.” Traditional negotiating focuses on finding common ground. Instead, try threatening to walk away approximately 17 times per hour. When you say “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters,” you’re not making a threat – you’re establishing negotiating leverage through theoretical physics.

Remember: In high-stakes negotiations, it’s crucial to maintain that you’re “like, really smart” and a “very stable genius.” This creates what negotiation theorists call the “Emperor’s New Clothes Effect,” where everyone else in the room becomes too confused to continue normal bargaining processes.

The Art of Reality Engineering

“What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.” This isn’t just a quote – it’s a fundamental principle of modern leadership. When faced with unfavorable facts, simply create your own. Did your inauguration crowd look small? That’s because the photographs were taken by cameras with Democratic biases. Weather map doesn’t match your prediction? Nothing a Sharpie can’t fix.

Advanced reality engineering requires mastery of the “Many People Are Saying” technique. Did you hear something from a questionable source? Simply attribute it to “many people.” These people exist in the same quantum realm as the experts who keep calling you “Sir” – a theoretical space where verification and reality maintain a respectful distance from each other.

The true genius lies in creating alternative success metrics. If conventional measurements don’t support your narrative, simply invent new ones. GDP looking weak? Focus on the “happiness index” of people who attend your rallies. Approval ratings down? Question the fundamental nature of numbers themselves.

Crisis Management Through Alternative Facts

During any crisis, leaders typically rely on experts. However, revolutionary thinking suggests that experts are just people who limit themselves by knowing too much about a subject. When Trump suggested exploring the internal application of UV light and disinfectants, he demonstrated how unencumbered thinking can generate solutions that no medical professional would ever consider – for various reasons.

The real innovation here is what we’ll call the “Preemptive Victory Declaration” strategy. Traditional crisis management suggests waiting until a crisis is resolved before declaring victory. But why wait? By declaring “We have it totally under control” at the earliest possible moment, you create a temporal paradox where the crisis simultaneously exists and doesn’t exist.

Consider this advanced application: When faced with the pandemic, most leaders foolishly waited for data. Instead, Trump demonstrated that by declaring “It’s going to disappear, like a miracle,” you create a self-fulfilling prophecy – it just might take several years to self-fulfill. Remember: Time is relative, especially in crisis communications.

Key learning: When experts present troubling data, remind everyone that you have “a natural ability” for their field of study. Your gut feelings, especially after a Diet Coke and two scoops of ice cream, supersede decades of scientific research.

Market Positioning Through Selective Reality

Why adapt to market realities when you can create your own? When Trump declared his net worth changes based on his feelings, he wasn’t describing financial volatility – he was demonstrating quantum economics. Your company isn’t failing; it’s pursuing alternative success metrics that traditional accounting is too rigid to recognize.

Advanced practitioners will note the brilliance of the “Many Properties” technique. When Trump claimed to own many properties in St. Petersburg, and then later clarified he meant Florida, not Russia, he wasn’t contradicting himself – he was demonstrating the quantum superposition of real estate. A property, like Schrödinger’s cat, can exist in multiple locations until someone checks the deed.

Consider the revolutionary approach to brand valuation: “My brand alone is worth $5 billion.” Traditional accountants might question this number, but they’re trapped in the old paradigm where numbers mean specific things. In the new leadership paradigm, numbers are more like jazz – it’s the notes you don’t count that matter.

The Art of Social Media Dominance

Modern leadership requires mastering the art of digital warfare. When Trump tweeted “covfefe,” lesser leaders would have admitted to a typo. Instead, he demonstrated advanced memetic warfare by letting the world wonder if they were the ones who didn’t understand language.

The key principle here is “Strategic Caps Lock Deployment.” As demonstrated in countless tweets, RANDOM CAPITALIZATION creates EMPHASIS and AUTHORITY. It’s not shouting – it’s selective emphasis for words that deserve to break free from the tyranny of conventional grammar.

Remember: “The FAKE NEWS media is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!” This isn’t just a statement – it’s a masterclass in enemy acquisition. Why have small enemies when you can have institutional ones?

Conclusion: The Future of Leadership

These revolutionary principles suggest that the key to modern leadership isn’t learning – it’s unlearning everything you thought you knew. Success isn’t about what you actually achieve; it’s about maintaining such an impenetrable reality distortion field that achievement becomes a matter of perspective.

Consider this final wisdom: When Trump said, “I could tell you about it, but then I’d have to kill you,” about mundane policy details, he wasn’t making a tired joke – he was demonstrating the ultimate leadership principle: The best information is the information you never actually provide.

Remember: “I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things.” In the end, isn’t that what leadership is all about?

Advanced Note: Results may vary. Side effects may include bankruptcy, legal challenges, spontaneous reality restructuring, and sudden urges to build walls around things. Consult your ego before attempting these techniques. If your reality distortion field lasts more than four hours, consult a physician or a fact-checker immediately.

Movies

Finding Your Glorious Purpose: Mental Models for Discovering Your Life’s Calling

1 month ago By cumeadi

“I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose.” These words, first spoken with arrogant conviction in The Avengers, become a thread that weaves throughout Loki’s entire character arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What begins as a justification for conquest evolves into a profound journey of self-discovery – one that mirrors our own quest to find meaning and purpose in our lives.

The Ikigai Intersection

The Japanese concept of Ikigai offers our first mental model for understanding purpose. Imagine four overlapping circles: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be compensated for. Your “glorious purpose” often lies at the intersection of these circles, much like how Loki’s journey forced him to reconcile his talents (manipulation, strategy, and adaptability) with what the universe actually needed from him.

Consider Loki’s evolution: In Thor: Ragnarok, he finally begins to align these elements. His skills at deception and cunning, previously used for self-serving ends, become vital tools in helping Thor save the Asgardian people. He discovers that his purpose isn’t to rule or dominate, but to use his unique abilities in service of something greater than himself.

The River Delta Model

Imagine your purpose as a river delta rather than a single, straight channel. This perfectly mirrors Loki’s journey across the multiverse in the “Loki” series, where he encounters various versions of himself – each representing different possible paths and purposes. From President Loki’s continued pursuit of power to Classic Loki’s self-imposed exile and eventual sacrifice to save others, we see how one being can manifest purpose in radically different ways.

The key insight here is that purpose isn’t a single predestined path. Just as Loki ultimately embraces multiple roles – trickster, brother, hero, agent of the TVA, protector of the timeline – we too can find purpose through various channels. His journey teaches us that we don’t have to be confined to a single role or purpose; our lives can branch out like the Sacred Timeline itself.

The Evolutionary Purpose Framework

The evolution of purpose is perhaps best exemplified by Loki’s character arc across the MCU. From his first appearance as the jealous prince seeking to prove himself worthy of the throne, to his role in “Loki” where he confronts the very nature of free will and destiny, we see a profound transformation in how he understands his purpose.

Consider these key evolutionary stages in Loki’s journey:

Initial Purpose (Thor): Proving himself worthy of the throne
Corrupted Purpose (The Avengers): Achieving glory through dominance
Conflicted Purpose (Thor: The Dark World): Balancing mischief with family loyalty
Emerging Purpose (Thor: Ragnarok): Accepting his role as an agent of necessary change
Transcendent Purpose (Loki series): Protecting the very fabric of reality itself

This framework suggests three key questions for discovering your own purpose:

What problems naturally draw your attention? (For Loki, it was initially chaos and disorder, which evolved into protecting the proper flow of time)
How have your past experiences, even the painful ones, equipped you to solve specific challenges? (Loki’s understanding of deception and chaos made him uniquely qualified to protect the timeline)
Where do you find yourself making a difference without conscious effort? (Loki’s natural ability to survive and adapt became crucial to his larger purpose)

Integration: Finding Your Own Glorious Purpose

When Loki first proclaimed his “glorious purpose,” he envisioned himself as a ruler, a god among ants. By the end of his journey, he understands that true glory lies not in ruling over others, but in serving a purpose greater than himself. His transformation from a would-be conqueror to a protector of reality itself demonstrates how our understanding of purpose can deepen and mature.

The interplay of these mental models helps us understand this evolution. The Ikigai Intersection reveals our potential areas of purpose, the River Delta Model shows how that purpose can manifest in multiple ways (just as Loki’s variants represent different expressions of his being), and the Evolutionary Framework demonstrates how our purpose grows and adapts over time.

Remember Mobius’s question to Loki: “Do you enjoy hurting other people? Making them feel small? Making them feel afraid?” This moment of confrontation forces Loki to question his conceived notion of purpose, leading to genuine growth. Similarly, we must be willing to question our initial assumptions about our purpose and remain open to deeper truths.

What makes a purpose truly glorious isn’t its scale or grandeur, but its authenticity and impact. Consider Loki’s final acts in Infinity War and his series – moments where his actions weren’t about personal glory but about protecting others and maintaining the proper order of reality itself. Sometimes our most glorious purpose emerges not from our grandest ambitions, but from our willingness to serve something greater than ourselves.

As Loki learned through his confrontations with the Time Variance Authority and He Who Remains, purpose isn’t about following a predetermined path, but about making meaningful choices in the face of cosmic uncertainty. Your glorious purpose might not involve saving the multiverse, but it will involve becoming the most authentic version of yourself in service to something greater than your own ambitions.

After all, as Loki discovered, true glory lies not in fulfilling some predetermined destiny, but in choosing, again and again, to be better than who we were yesterday. For all time. Always.

Big Ideas · History

Drinking My Own Kool-Aid: Embracing the Advice I Give

2 months ago By cumeadi

When I spoke to those bright-eyed LAS graduates at the University of Illinois, my heart was pounding as I talked about being “dangerous dreamers.” I painted this picture of a future full of possibilities, urging them to chase their dreams with courage and unwavering spirit. But as I walked off that stage, with the applause still ringing in my ears, I had a nagging thought – was I actually living by the advice I was giving out? Was I really a dangerous dreamer, or just someone who talked a good game? This essay is about my journey to “drink my own Kool-Aid” – to actually apply the wisdom I’ve shared with countless others, and to close the gap between talk and action.

The Speech and Its Big Message

In my commencement address, I talked about the idea of dreaming dangerously – not as some reckless pursuit of crazy ambition, but as a commitment to transformative action that can change the world. I shared stories of people who dared to dream and turned their visions into reality. I told the graduates to avoid complacency, to step up as leaders, and to create their own destiny. Looking back, I realized that I needed to take a look at my own life and see if my actions matched my words.

The Problem with Giving Advice

It’s a common thing – how easily we give advice, while conveniently forgetting to apply it to our own lives. I’ve seen it time and again, both in others and in myself – the disconnect between what we say and what we actually do. After that speech, the weight of my own hypocrisy became clear. It was a wake-up call, a demand for change.

Drinking My Own Kool-Aid: From Talk to Action

To me, “drinking your own Kool-Aid” goes beyond just believing in your vision; it’s about bringing that vision to life with the same passion and commitment that you encourage in others. Here’s how I started on this journey:

Project Initiation: My company, Parallelscore, which operates in the fast-paced tech industry, became the place where I put my own dangerous dreaming into practice. I pushed the limits of innovation, took risks, and embraced the uncertainty that comes with exploring new territory.
Community Engagement: I made a promise to mentor young entrepreneurs, not just with words, but with action. I shared my knowledge, my experiences, and my hard-earned wisdom, and I put the idea of collective dreaming into practice.
Personal Growth: I made time for my own education, diving into areas where I had been coasting. I challenged my own assumptions, faced my intellectual blind spots, and pushed myself to grow.

These steps weren’t always easy. But each challenge, each setback, served as a reminder of the core message of my speech: dreams require action, resilience, and unwavering belief in the face of adversity.

The Ripple Effect of Practicing What I Preach

The results of this journey have been amazing. Not only have I seen my company grow, but I’ve also noticed a shift in how others see me – as someone who takes action, not just someone who talks. The feedback from my mentees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many admiring my hands-on approach and my willingness to get involved. This journey has taught me a valuable lesson: living your advice not only fuels your personal growth but also makes your message more powerful.

A Call to Action

Now, I challenge you:

Reflect: Take a look at your own life. What advice do you give others that you could, and should, apply to yourself?
Act: Take that first step, no matter how small. Whether it’s starting a new project, pursuing a personal goal, or getting involved in your community, break free from inaction and embrace the power of action.
Connect: Find or create a community of like-minded dreamers who share your passion and your desire for change. Support each other, lift each other up, and dream dangerously together.

#MentalNote · Big Ideas · communication · Education

The Convocation Speech That Didn’t Make It

2 months ago By cumeadi

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be delivering the convocation speech at my alma mater, the University of Illinois School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, on December 21st, 2024! It’s an honor to address the winter graduating class of 2024, and I’ve been putting a lot of thought into what I want to say.

I’ve gone through many drafts of my speech and am excited about the message I’ll share. I even collaborated with a professional speechwriter on one version, but ultimately decided it wasn’t right. Although well-written, it felt more like a lecture than the inspiring message I wanted to leave to the graduates.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the speech I didn’t use.

Convocation Speech: The Canvas of Purpose: Dreams and Diligence

University of Illinois Winter Convocation, December 21, 2024

Good evening, esteemed faculty, devoted parents, and, most importantly, the inspiring graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the bright torchbearers of our future.

It is a profound honor to stand before you today and celebrate this incredible milestone. We gather today not just to celebrate your years of hard work but to honor the resilience and determination that brought you to this moment. Every late-night study session, every challenge you faced, and every triumph, big or small has led to this defining achievement.

While today is a celebration of your accomplishments, I also want to share a powerful lesson that I have found is integral not just to my personal life but also to my work which has made it possible to stand before you today, and that is the power of dreaming and diligent work. In product management, success often hinges on striking a delicate balance between being a dreamer and a doer. The most successful product managers dare to envision what seems impossible, they dream of innovation, imagine transformative solutions, and see opportunities where others see obstacles.

A life of purpose always starts with being a Dreamer. Dreams are the seeds of every great achievement. Dreams are the sparks that ignite revolutions, the blueprints for breakthroughs, and the foundation of every meaningful life. They demand our courage, energy, and willingness to navigate uncharted territory. As Lawrence of Arabia once said: “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” Graduates I challenge you, to be the dangerous men and women who act on their dreams with open eyes.

However, we must acknowledge that dreaming with open eyes isn’t passive. It is active, requiring you to be behind the wheel, steering your vision toward reality. This is where diligence comes in, transforming visions into reality, Dreams are the seeds but they flourish only with diligence. Diligence is a word that has enthralled me, In Latin, the word diligentia means “carefulness” or “attentiveness.” It comes from the verb diligere, meaning “to love” or “to value highly.” In Greek, the concept of diligence is often tied to the word spoudé, which conveys the idea of earnestness, zeal, and urgency. Looking at these spectacular roots of the word diligent, diligent work therefore means you must Love and value your dream highly enough to pursue it with attentiveness, zeal, and urgency.

I learned this lesson first-hand from my parents. They came to the United States with a simple dream to create a future for their children and they worked tirelessly, sacrificing comforts to build something greater than themselves. And ultimately their sacrifice and diligence are the reason I stand here today. That is the transformative power of dreams, they ripple outward, touching lives beyond yourself.

But, to truly pursue your dreams with attentiveness, zeal, and urgency, you must first ensure they are YOUR dreams. As Dave Chappelle once said, “You have to be wise enough to know when you are living in your dream, and you have to be humble enough to accept when you are in someone else’s dream.”

You stand today as living testaments to the dreams of those who came before you, your parents, professors, and ancestors. Who sacrificed, guided, and believed in your potential. Now it’s your turn to carry the torch and define your dreams.

Ask yourself:

What is the dream I’m willing to fight for?
What impact do I want to make in the world?

There has never been a time more primed for powerful dreamers and diligent workers. As you step into the world beyond these walls, you step into a world filled with challenges. Knowing that should excite you, Bruce Lee said it best “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one, for it is in hardship that we find our greatest purpose.” The Challenges of our day demand dreamers to surmount them and I am confident you are that dreamer.

No matter what route your dream takes you on, remember: your path is your unique canvas, your dreams are the paint, and diligent work is the brushstroke that brings your masterpiece to life. Every act of effort, persistence, and care adds depth and meaning to your highly valued vision. Without action, the canvas remains blank, but with diligence, your dreams become a work of art that inspires and impacts the world.

Today I charge you Be the teacher who inspires generations to dream bigger. Be the writer who changes hearts and shapes narratives. Be the social worker who brings hope to the underserved. Be the human rights advocate who challenges injustice. Be the artist who stirs souls and redefines beauty. Be whoever you want to be.

To the parents: this moment is a testament to your sacrifices, love, and unwavering belief in your children. You’ve given them not just an education but the courage to dream bigger and the foundation to succeed. To the professors and administrators: thank you for shaping minds, inspiring growth, and nurturing leaders. Your commitment to their growth is a true reflection of the University’s motto of Learning and Labor.

Graduates, as you leave this ceremony and step into the next chapter of your lives, let your dreams be bold, your work be diligent, and your purpose be unwavering. Be fearless in the face of challenges. Be thoughtful in your actions. And above all, be true to yourself, remembering your unique path is your unique canvas.

Class of 2024, the world awaits your brilliance. Dare to dream boldly, work with unwavering diligence, and leave a legacy that inspires generations. Congratulations