A resurfaced video of social media influencer Sisi.Oyibo has reignited debate on identity, migration, and belonging in Nigeria.
The clip, reshared on Sunday by X user Sir Dickson (@Wizarab10), shows the influencer defending her Nigerian identity against critics who questioned her background.
In the video, Sisi.Oyibo dismissed doubts about her roots, saying, “I said I’m white, I’m French, Lebanese, but they raised me in Ajah since I be pikin. I cannot be from somewhere again.” She likened her experience to that of Nigerians who identify with foreign cities after being raised abroad.
She argued, “If they raise you somewhere… every time you ask somebody for this America, even Nigerians, you ask them, where are you from? They will tell you Houston, Texas, because they raised them in Houston. So me, that was raised in Lagos, I cannot say I’m from Nigeria again…”
Sir Dickson, while sharing the video, criticized what he described as double standards. “A Nigerian would be raised in London or Atlanta and start claiming to be British or American. But when a foreigner raised in Nigeria does the same, you talk down on them. Migration happens both ways,” he wrote.
Reactions on Instagram largely favored the influencer. Many praised her command of pidgin English and Lagos upbringing, with one user, smartalliolayinka, declaring: “You are a Lagosian. Period.” Another, paolofrancis07, commented: “I’m loving it for the way u speak, girl. It’s awesome.”
On X, however, the debate expanded into broader discussions about identity and geography. User @Amaafrikaa argued that belonging is not just about ancestry but also about where one grows and builds a life.
Others suggested that the controversy was tied to Lagos specifically. “Most of these people are not angry that she identifies as Nigerian; the problem is the Lagos that is involved. If she had mentioned any other part of Nigeria, they would have celebrated her online,” wrote @UC_Emeliem.
Some voices defended her position outright. “If you are born and brought up in Lagos, you are rightfully a Lagosian. Period,” wrote @PontiffVoice.
