Nigerians are doing well - especially in the United States:
... it is not just in music and entertainment that Nigerians are, for want of a better word, tearing up the dance floor. The runaway success of the country’s diaspora has been documented. For example, in the United States, Nigerian-Americans are among the most successful immigrant groups, topping the charts in a wide array of fields. According to the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute (MPI), Nigerians in the United States are the most educated immigrant group, with 61 percent holding at least a bachelor’s degree, “compared with 31 percent of the total foreign-born population and 32 percent of the US-born population.”
This, however, has created The Nigerian Conundrum:
Accordingly, the Nigerian conundrum consists precisely in the discrepancy between the demonstrated success of Nigerians, resulting in an unmistakable cultural confidence, and the country’s notorious political sclerosis. Nigerian entertainers may be redefining the global soundscape, giving American entertainment a run for its money; yet, Nigeria as a country cannot seem to get out of its own way. Not only is it one of the world’s most corrupt countries, ranking 150 out of 180 countries in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2022, it is, perhaps deservedly, a global byword for dysfunction and infrastructural decay.Nevertheless, despite its political troubles, culturally Nigeria makes a huge impact - including on the United States - with the Nigerian prom dresses that have the wow factor for US teenagers:
When Brianna made a TikTok video of herself in her African prom gown, she did not expect the reaction she got - it went viral and her post now has more than 1.1 million views. This reflects a growing interest that has driven demand for custom-made outfits with bold designs and unique embellishments. What began as a TikTok and Instagram trend - with people like Brianna flaunting their garments - has led to a booming business that links fashion designers in Africa to young people outside the continent.
The average price for an African-made prom dress ranges from $600 to $1,000 (£440 to £740), depending on the complexity of the design, fabric choice and added details. Custom luxury pieces can exceed $1,500. This may sound expensive but is much cheaper than having a garment custom made in the US - where the cost starts at around $3,500 and can go much higher depending on the designer and materials.
The BBC spoke to five fashion designers in Nigeria and Ghana who, in all, fulfilled more than 2,800 orders for prom dresses during the 2025 season, most of them bound for the US...
However, it's not all good news for the Nigerian economy: the US funding cuts have affected aid groups in Nigeria; when exporting to America under the new tariff regime, Nigeria now requires $80 Prepaid Duty each time; and Nigeria has been hit by US cuts to visa duration.
And yet, Nigeria tops South Africa as the Continent’s biggest economy - and culturally, the impact of Nigeria continues to grow, as Nigeria is the country that loves to overachieve.
And the cultural impact on the United States is particularly impressive, with Nigerian filmmakers at the Sundance film festival and Nigerian’s Afrobeat heavyweights at the Grammy awards.
Let's see how this develops!
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